Question:

Hello!  Has anyone hiked in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada? I’ll be heading up there in June and I’m looking to spend a couple nights in the backcountry and flyfish.  I’d like to hike in, camp and fish, hike to a second location, and camp for the second night/fish.  Any route suggestions? TIA!

Response:

Haven’t been to that particular park, but anywhere in N.Ontario is bad for bugs at that time of year. Be prepared for blackflies and mosquitoes, i.e. bring bug jackets and bug dope (DEET).

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello!  Has anyone hiked in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada? I’ll be heading up there in June and I’m looking to spend a couple nights in the backcountry and flyfish.  I’d like to hike in, camp and fish, hike to a second location, and camp for the second night/fish.  Any route suggestions? TIA!

Response:

Hello!  Has anyone hiked in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada? I’ll be heading up there in June and I’m looking to spend a couple nights in the backcountry and flyfish.  I’d like to hike in, camp and fish, hike to a second location, and camp for the second night/fish.  Any route suggestions? TIA!

Don’t know about fly fishing, but the Gargantua Harbour / Warp Bay area is excellent to hike and explore for several days. Orphan Lake Trail will get you down to the coast where there are several sites to pitch a tent. Peter

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Question:

Hi. Just wondering if anyone out there has fished the tailwaters of the Smith Lake Dam in Cullman, Alabama in the last few days. I’m new to flyfishing and was wondering what the trout are feeding on these hot days of summer. If anyone has fished this water lately, please email me and give me an idea of what and how to fish there. I’ve asked the locals, but they are very closed mouth about it. If anyone has any suggestions on what to try, I’d appreciate that also. Thanks, Richard Hollingsworth

Response:

… If anyone has any suggestions on what to try, I’d appreciate that also.

Have never fished below Smith Lake Dam but every tailwater fishery I’ve ever heard of has a population of sow bugs. You might want to try sculpins too. — Ken Fortenberry

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Question:

If you fish lakes for trout and other species, this is for you. Whether a pro or a beginner the articles will be welcomed. Fly patterns techniques, how-to and all the pitfalls when selecting equipment and where to use it and when. Best of all it’s FREE!

Response:

Ok it’s free, but where the heck is the site? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you fish lakes for trout and other species, this is for you. Whether a pro or a beginner the articles will be welcomed. Fly patterns techniques, how-to and all the pitfalls when selecting equipment and where to use it and when. Best of all it’s FREE!

Response:

Ok it’s free, but where the heck is the site?

I can’t help you with the URL for the original poster’s magazine (can’t find it myself), but there is a decent on line magazine at http://www.fishandfly.co.uk , if you’re interested. Brian Cass

Response:

Ok it’s free, but where the heck is the site? If you fish lakes for trout and other species, this is for you. Whether a pro or a beginner the articles will be welcomed. Fly patterns techniques, how-to and all the pitfalls when selecting equipment and where to use it and when. Best of all it’s FREE!

Try http://www.rural.escape.ca/angling_north/ and click on "fly fishing".

Response:

Try http://www.rural.escape.ca/angling_north/ and click on "fly fishing".

And it will be well worth your time — set aside an evening for it. Bob Sheedy knows more about flyfishing for trout in lakes than all the rest of us put together, and I suspect he catches more 20+ inch trout before lunch on the average weekend than I have caught in my life. Be sure to get a towel to wipe the drool off your keyboard when you see the pictures of the trout he catches.  Bob, if you’re listening, you want to set up a Prairie Clave sometime? Kevin

Response:

What’s the address dude?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you fish lakes for trout and other species, this is for you. Whether a pro or a beginner the articles will be welcomed. Fly patterns techniques, how-to and all the pitfalls when selecting equipment and where to use it and when. Best of all it’s FREE!

Response:

Question:

I’ve been told that the current up-and-coming pack animal is the lowly goat. I’m not kidding. I understand that the forest service uses them as pack animals in Idaho. They are very sure footed and can eat anything. They gotta be cheap, and you can eat them in a pinch or when you’re done with them.                         Dale Lindsley – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

Response:

I’ve been told that the current up-and-coming pack animal is the lowly goat. I’m not kidding. I understand that the forest service uses them as pack animals in Idaho. They are very sure footed and can eat anything. They gotta be cheap, and you can eat them in a pinch or when you’re done with them.

        That was in 1995 in the Sawtooth NRA.  Might have been tried other places as well.   Didn’t work out and when I was back this summer, the goats were history.  Basically, they don’t do well when the person changes from trip to trip.  They take well to one owner and that’s pretty much it.  Not a good behavior pattern for a stock animal.  That was pretty much the behavior they had when my folks raised goats.  It always took some time before they could deal with changes in owners and routine.  The habit of eating anything was detrimental as well since they kept eating things which poisoned them. They are sure footed, we had to put the corner braces on the fences on the outside, othewise they’d walk up the brace and be gone over the fence.   Usually not far, we’d find them in the rhodendron – flat out with blue protruding tongue – take ‘em to the vet for the antidote. They did make good bar-b-que though.  Meat was a bit tough but I’ve never seen any that a pressure cooker couldn’t soften. Linux.  Isn’t he is the character that drags the blanket around all the time?

Response:

That is a training issue I take mine up to the snow every spring. They carry the X country skis up. The group skis down and one person leads the llamas back down. Como Say Llamas www.llamapacker.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jim- Funny you should mention Llamas, especially in Oregon. I was up on North Sister this weekend with an extremely experienced climbing friend. Anyway, he told me that one time, forget how long ago, he was up there and ran into a group of folks that had rented some Llamas for the weekend for just your purpose. The intent was to take them into Camp Lake by South Sister. Anyway, they got a ways up the trail and the Llamas absolutely REFUSED to cross snow. They tried and tried and tried, and couldn’t get them to cross snow. They waited a day and tried again. Nope. Not happening. If any of your trips involve snow, I’d check into this. Maybe it was just a training issue, maybe not. As far as I know, Llamas come from snow country but maybe if they’ve never seen it, they don’t want nothin’ to do with it. — Matt Jarvis addressing. I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

Response:

And some won’t cross large puddles if they can’t see the bottom. Obviously you want a trained one. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jim- …. Anyway, they got a ways up the trail and the Llamas absolutely REFUSED to cross snow. They tried and tried and tried, and couldn’t get them to cross snow…..

Response:

I just rented 2 llamas that hiked from Yosemite to Tahoe 153 miles. they crossed every obstical imaginable. They carried 90#s each and ranged from 8 to 12 miles a day with 1 lay over day. Como Say Llamas www.llamapacker.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And some won’t cross large puddles if they can’t see the bottom. Obviously you want a trained one. Mike Jim- …. Anyway, they got a ways up the trail and the Llamas absolutely REFUSED to cross snow. They tried and tried and tried, and couldn’t get them to cross snow…..

Response:

Jim- Funny you should mention Llamas, especially in Oregon. I was up on North Sister this weekend with an extremely experienced climbing friend. Anyway, he told me that one time, forget how long ago, he was up there and ran into a group of folks that had rented some Llamas for the weekend for just your purpose. The intent was to take them into Camp Lake by South Sister. Anyway, they got a ways up the trail and the Llamas absolutely REFUSED to cross snow. They tried and tried and tried, and couldn’t get them to cross snow. They waited a day and tried again. Nope. Not happening. If any of your trips involve snow, I’d check into this. Maybe it was just a training issue, maybe not. As far as I know, Llamas come from snow country but maybe if they’ve never seen it, they don’t want nothin’ to do with it. — Matt Jarvis addressing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

Response:

Llamas are great on the trail, but you need special expertise to handle them.  They will eat anything that grows along side the trail. Including plants that will kill them.  The Mt. LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is stocked via Llamas.  The handlers take them up the same trail three times a week, and know all the danger areas by heart.  Earlier this spring, a slide made their normal route up the Trillium Gap trail impassable, so they re-routed up Bullhead.  One llama keeled over dead right on the trail, and two others died back at the ranch.  They believe it was from rhoderdendron poisoning. Since then, they started using modified muzzels to prevent re-occurance. Also, even though they are easier on the trails than horses, many National Parks do not recognize this fact. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

Response:

You might check into goats. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

Response:

You might check into goats. Keith

     FWIW..  I was reading a book about flyfishing mountain lakes by a well-known (to fishermen, at least) author.  There was an entire chapter about pack animals.  The author said goats were the best, horses worst, and llamas and all others in between. — Yellowstone TRs:  http://www.cis.ksu.edu/~dha5446/hiking/yellowstone/

Response:

In defence of the llama….They only spit at each other over food or females…unless poorly trained and abused they never spit at people.  In the back country they do less damage than a pair of hiking boots, due to their padded feet.They can be turned loose when at camp and do about the same damage as a deer. Como Say Llamas Llama packing and llama rentals www.llamapacker.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Know they spit when annoyed so duck a lot.One golf course uses them as caddies for the golf bags.Quite a sight-men wearing lime green pants and mauve and chartreuse shirts following a llama that poops all over the place-can’t quite housetrain them. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Know they spit when annoyed so duck a lot.One golf course uses them as caddies for the golf bags.Quite a sight-men wearing lime green pants and mauve and chartreuse shirts following a llama that poops all over the place-can’t quite housetrain them. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

Response:

I operate a llama packing business in CA, I also rent them. You might check out my site listed below I have some info about them. You need at least 2 llamas, as they are herd animals. If you have an acre that is more than enough. If you are just getting started I would recommend 1 to be trained…..This means trained on the trail, at least a season or a couple hundred miles of loaded trail experience. It will make your experience much more enjoyable as the trained llama will train the green one for you. I do not sell them, but I do know where they are (most of the time). llamas for packing should be tall and narrow, but most important is they have to have the right attitude. I would be more than happy to talk in detail about what to look for. The prices average $500 for an untrained ( or very little) to $1500 for a fully trained llama. As with a backpack and hiking boots, the saddle is the most important part, I recommend the Sopris saddle ( about $600) ouch…worth every penny. David Drewry Como Say Llamas www.llamapacker.com 916 923 0408

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a really screwed up knee and backpacking is getting very difficult. I’ve seen various pack animals on trails and I’m wondering about Llamas… what do they cost, what kind of care do they require, and what amount of pasture/property do they need? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jim in Oregon The road goes ever, ever on…..

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Question:

(currently resident in bolivia)

Response:

Further evidence that people like us that venture forth into the malodorous backwaters of the unmoderated usenet need to be on our toes for *anything*, and that maybe this is *not* a good place for the squeamish and children, someone has posted a nekkid .jpg in the fishing pictures group.   Someday, the usenet will sport a web-page like rating system, but until then, please consider the neighborhood you are driving into… Just a warning… TimW Of course, one could argue that this is a pic showing the source of fly tying materials for the "Hairy Mary".

Response:

TimW Of course, one could argue that this is a pic showing the source of fly tying materials for the "Hairy Mary".

Well, at least you made your post fly-tying related.  Just be glad it wasn’t a related photograph showing the source for Tup’s Indispensible. *<|:-#)=-   (Santa Smiley) -Clyde

Response:

someone has posted a nekkid .jpg in the fishing pictures group. Have you reported it to net.abuse.*?

No, but I will… TimW

Response:

someone has posted a nekkid .jpg in the fishing pictures group.   Have you reported it to net.abuse.*?

Unfortunately, that’ll be akin to blowing against the wind… The professional spam artists (how’s that for an oxymoron?) seek out groups with "binaries" as part of the name and bombard them with ads for their porn sites. Get used to it – it’ll only get worse as the group propagates around Usenet… Cheers! /dave <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.       Alpha Server Engineering < < Parker Street Campus            Maynard, Massachusetts   < <        Charter Member of "Curmudgeons Unlimited"       < <<<<<<<<<<<< AMA 548313 <<<<<<<<<<<< Disclaimer: Opinion and content is mine alone, and unlikely             to be shared by my employer, etc…

Response:

: Have you reported it to net.abuse.*? : Unfortunately, that’ll be akin to blowing against the wind… : The professional spam artists (how’s that for an oxymoron?) seek out groups : with "binaries" as part of the name and bombard them with ads for their porn : sites. Get used to it – it’ll only get worse as the group propagates around : Usenet… Which is one reason I hate GUI newsreaders. All they do is allow stupid people to abuse the newsgroups. Even the binaries newsgroups had little trouble before Netscape and others like it allowed you to view pictures directly from the newsgroups. USENET predates the internet but if things keep up like this USENET will soon be just a minor website. It sucks. BiNM

Response:

For some reason I got a notice that said this group has been deleted?  Does it still exist? Pete – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – someone has posted a nekkid .jpg in the fishing pictures group.   Have you reported it to net.abuse.*?

Response:

Question:

Anybody know of a reputable flyfishing guide in the Marco Island, Naples Florida area? I’m going there second week of July and would like to book a trip or two. Thanks!!!

Response:

Anybody know of a reputable flyfishing guide in the Marco Island, Naples Florida area? I’m going there second week of July and would like to book a trip or two. Thanks!!!

Jim, Here’s a few that I’m aware of in the Naples area: Capt. Robert S. Collins Jr. 941-262-1970 Richard D’Onofrio 941-389-0114 Capt. Joe Wierback 941-643-4112 (home) 941-793-3370 (Fly Shop) Capt. Glenn Puopolo 941-594-1828 Capt. Jim Nickerson 941-353-5448 The word in the area is that all of the above are very good and USCG licensed. They all cover the areas of the Everglades, 10,000 Islands, Marco Island for Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, and Trout. Enjoy your trip Ken

Response:

Question:

We will be floating for 3 days on the John Day River in mid-July looking for smallmouth. I’ve never fished for smallmouth before and would appreciate any suggestions about the flies, poppers, etc. that I should bring. Sizes, color, types, etc.

The John Day is a magnificent smallmouth fishery, I used to fish it often when I lived in Washington. Now I’m stuck here in Montana and miss it dearly. Certainly go with traditional topwater flies, including deer hair/rubberleg bugs in the more natural colors (tan, white, brown, olive) that have a touch of flash in the tail or a bright stripe clipped into the body. I’ve always had better success with these types than with the bright yellow/green combos. But in mid-July, fishing can be tough if the weather is very hot. However, good news in that there is plenty of deeper water for the fish to cool themselves in. So, in this case, don’t hesitate to fish beneath the surface a few inches (the fish may be more receptive to a lure stripped just under the surface than one popping the top) and certainly don’t ignore deep (bottom) fishing (vary retrieve) if no surface action arises. For this type of fishing, try a Muddler Minnow with an orange collar and SILVER body (imitates baitfish that abound here) or similar streamer pattern (Mickey Finn with a thin but prominent clipped wool or deer hair head was always a favorite of mine here). There is one advantage to mid-July on the John Day during hot weather: you may run into a sparse to very good hatch of large (#12) caddis that often bring up "fishable" numbers of bass. In this case, go for the high floating patterns such as an elk hair caddis, but tie it in a size 8 or 10 and skitter it across the surface. The larger hooks make it easier to hook the "small"-mouth. For great fun, try skittering a large caddis to which is tied one of the above streamer patterns during the hatch. And whatever you do, don’t stop retrieving and hang on! (This is a good technique if the bass are cruising the shallows in the evenings for baitfish). Good luck! Ryan Jordan

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -We will be floating for 3 days on the John Day River in mid-July looking for smallmouth. I’ve never fished for smallmouth before and would appreciate any suggestions about the flies, poppers, etc. that I should bring. Sizes, color, types, etc. I’ll bring a 6/7 wt rod with 7WF line. Should I have a very heavy leader? How long? Should I fish surface or below? Lots of questions, and perhaps someone out there as a few answers. Thanks in advance, Mike —                     Michael S. Young The RREEF Funds, 650 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108          "Chaos is normal; normality is exceptional."

I also would like some information.  I am wondering what the average size of the fish in the John Day would be???  I have heard that there are some really nice Smallmouth in the river.  True?????                          MARTY MARTELLE                     Brittany’s, Chukars and Steelhead in                      Beautiful Boise, Idaho.                 and practicing law to support them             Homepage:Http://www.micron.net/~martelle

Response:

We will be floating for 3 days on the John Day River in mid-July looking for smallmouth. I’ve never fished for smallmouth before and would appreciate any suggestions about the flies, poppers, etc. that I should bring. Sizes, color, types, etc. I’ll bring a 6/7 wt rod with 7WF line. Should I have a very heavy leader? How long? Should I fish surface or below? Lots of questions, and perhaps someone out there as a few answers. Thanks in advance, Mike —                      Michael S. Young The RREEF Funds, 650 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108           "Chaos is normal; normality is exceptional."

Response:

In article We will be floating for 3 days on the John Day River in mid-July looking for smallmouth. I’ve never fished for smallmouth before and would appreciate any suggestions about the flies, poppers, etc. that I should bring. Sizes, color, types, etc.

I have spent many, many days fishing the John Day, but all of it has been with conventional tackle.  The most effective lure I found was 3" Mr. Twisters, a grub like jig with a very supple tail, with a 1/4 oz lead jig hook.  based on this, I think that weighted wooley buggars would be your best bet, in black, white and yellow.  Some purple and olive buggars would be worth trying also.  I know that Cabela’s sells a wooley buggar like fly that has the same type of tail, and these would sure be worth trying. I’ll bring a 6/7 wt rod with 7WF line. Should I have a very heavy leader? How long? Should I fish surface or below?

The rod should be more than adequate.  As for leader, I would take both 7 1/2 ft and 9 ft leaders with a tippet breaking strength of around 8lbs.  I suspect that most of the fish you catch will be deep, but if you get a quite morning or evening, I’d sure be trying some poppers! Good Luck                Dan

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Question:

Hi,   Sage now owns Lamson. Give them a call at 1-800-533-3004 and ask for Lamson Repairs and they will take care of you. Tight Lines, Jim, NV Jim’s Outdoor Sports, Elko, NV

Response:

Sage took over Lamson and your reel is warranteed for life by sage.   Contact them. cheers gp

: I have a Lamson reel that has never been used.  When loading fly line on : the unit that creates the clicking sound (pahl?) fell out.  It is simple : affair with a small screw that holds a triangular piece of metal that : clicks as the clogs turn.  What appears to be the screw came out and I : cannoth get it to hold.  The drag still works so the reel still functions : but I would like to produce sound as it was made. : Lamson has gone out of business.  Does anyone have any idea where I might : get this repaired? — gp

Response:

I have a Lamson reel that has never been used.  When loading fly line on the unit that creates the clicking sound (pahl?) fell out.  It is simple affair with a small screw that holds a triangular piece of metal that clicks as the clogs turn.  What appears to be the screw came out and I cannoth get it to hold.  The drag still works so the reel still functions but I would like to produce sound as it was made. Lamson has gone out of business.  Does anyone have any idea where I might get this repaired?

Actually, the good name Lamson is alive and well but now a part of through them, a suitable dealer/repair facility referral seems very likely. Regards,          Rx F Fish "For Your Good Health, Fly Fish" URL=http://www.xnet.com/~rxffish

Response:

I have a Lamson reel that has never been used.  When loading fly line on the unit that creates the clicking sound (pahl?) fell out.  It is simple affair with a small screw that holds a triangular piece of metal that clicks as the clogs turn.  What appears to be the screw came out and I cannoth get it to hold.  The drag still works so the reel still functions but I would like to produce sound as it was made. Lamson has gone out of business.  Does anyone have any idea where I might get this repaired?

Response:

I have a Lamson reel that has never been used.  When loading fly line on the unit that creates the clicking sound (pahl?) fell out.  It is simple affair with a small screw that holds a triangular piece of metal that clicks as the clogs turn.  What appears to be the screw came out and I cannoth get it to hold.  The drag still works so the reel still functions but I would like to produce sound as it was made. Lamson has gone out of business.  Does anyone have any idea where I might get this repaired?

Sage now owns Lamson, and are still producing the LP series of reels. David B.

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Question:

I suspect the dye you used was a problem – too many salts or something else.  Try a pure acid dye, and after dying, make sure to rinse the heck out of the hide. Thomas Gilg

It was RIT DYE….

Response:

writes: Rit dye gives fairly good results but tough colors like black Rit is not very good for fur or feathers. Of course there may be someone on the group who has good luck with Rit, my hats off to them

To get a good black with rit dye you need to add some brown dye to it. Now if I could only remember how much!                                                    Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Question:

Steve, How about sharing the outrageous p[attern.. This is one I have not heard of and would be most grateful for a reply.   Thanks

Response:

: Steve, : : How about sharing the outrageous p[attern.. This is one I have not heard : of and would be most grateful for a reply.   Thanks : No problem. Let me explain how we came across this fly. My dad saw the pattern advertised by C.I. Tackle Co. of Battle Ground, Washington.  He bought four and we took them with us on our 1992 trip to the Alaska Peninsula.  The Pinks and Silvers went nuts with them. In no time, those four were gone.  Since then we make them part of every trip since they catch quite a few different fish. The thing I did not like about these Outrageous (the ones purchased) was the hook.  They are very poor quality.  I bought just one more and use it as a pattern for tying my own. As I mentioned, I use a Tiemco 5263 hook, no.4. The thread color is orange. I tie them weighted, but be sure to leave enough room for the head, it can get cramped. The body is pink, using, well, it looks like dyed wool. I tie it so it completely covers around the lead wire and is about 5/8" past the bend of the hook. Then, there are two sets of feathers that go along each side. These feathers are pink and red, I use schlappin (sp?).  Cut these feathers (use the ends) about 3 1/8" long and tie them just behind the eye of the hook.  I tie them with the pink feather on the inside (closest to the body) and the red on the outside.  Again, these go on both sides.  Next, tie in some *electric blue* Flashabou on top, kind of between the two sets of feathers.  This is tied in just behind the hook eye as well.  Then goes the hackle.  This is one orange and one red schlappin feather tied in a palmered style about 3/16" behind the hook eye.  Use the orange thread to build a nice head and finish per usual methods. Now, just add water.  The fish part will take care of itself! If I can find the old packaging from the materials, I will pass that along so the exact body material can be identified. Kindest regards, Steve Kernosky

Response:

Since the subject has come up, I thought I would pass along some information concerning what flies worked on a recent trip to Alaska. Purple egg sucking leech-tied on a no.4 Tiemco 5263 hook. The egg was light pink to simulate the egg of a Chum salmon.  With this fly, I caught King salmon, Chum salmon, Rainbows (lots!), Char, and Grayling.  Really, this fly caught everything! Outrageous-Also tied on the no. 4 Tiemco 5263 hook.  This fly took King and Chum salmon, rainbows, and Char.  In previous trips, this fly has worked extremely well for Pinks and Silvers. Humpy-size 12.  Caught Grayling and Char with this fly.  The Char seemed to strike best when the fly was skated across the surface. The largest Grayling was about 22" (close to three pounds, maybe). Brown Drake-size 10.  Caught Grayling (lots!) and a few rainbow with this fly. Mice-this is the first trip where I have tried mice and I was absolutely amazed.  Char (upwards of seven pounds), rainbow, and even Grayling go after these things.  I tied some using caribou hair.  The final product was about an inch long but in the future I think I will cut this down just a bit.  The fish would often just keep striking the little critter until they were hooked. For the entire seven days, these are the only five flies I used.  I was fishing on the Alaska Peninsula through Blue Mountain Lodge, owned by Tracy Vrem.  The lodge is located about 15 miles southwest of Lake Becharof.  Without getting into too much detail (and sounding like an advertisement), Tracy conducts fly-out type fishing. The lodge itself is not really fancy. He has many places to fish within a short (say, twenty minutes) plane ride from the lodge. The fishing can vary from catching salmon on streamers to Grayling on dry flies. Thanks for you time. Best regards, Steve Kernosky Michigan Tech University      

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