Question:

Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ?? e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc. Stimbo Medford, NJ — Posted with Ink Spot (for PocketPC) from DejaVu Software, Inc. Usenet wherever you are – http://www.dejavusoftware.com/

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writes: Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ?? e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc. Stimbo Medford, NJ

Did it last winter in my Archer.  Get the packet from AOPA with all the needed forms and helpful hints.  Have the documents filled out before landing makes it easier and quicker.  Aircraft number (on side) needs to be 12 inches.  Mine are 3 inch so I got blue 2 inch masking tape and put temp numbers on.  Practiced on the washing machine at home.  We had the only 85B  washing machine.<G  You need to call Miami radio at least half hour out and identify yourself before flying into the ADIZ.  I flew in and out of of West Palm.  Cleared at Marsh Harbor in Bahamas.  You need life jackets but do not require life raft(we did not carry one).  Customs was easy at both ends though the US is more involved. With altitude – 8 or 9 thousand – you aren’t away from land for long.  Have fun on the adventure.   Chuck Archer 2185B

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I went in my Glasair II a couple of months ago. Departed Ft. Pierce, they will help with info and docs. I flew into N. Eleuthra and it took about 10 minutes to clear customs. Got a crusing permit and had a ball. Great pilot deals as some hotels in the out islands will discount 20%. Went to Staniel Cay and Pittstown point. At Pittstown Pt. you could see the plane from the room (runway is close by) and the water was about 40 ft from the room. Get "The Bahamas and Caribbean pilots guide", it has everything you need to know about flying and procedures. It can be found on the internet. have fun Steve

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ?? e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc. Stimbo Medford, NJ — Posted with Ink Spot (for PocketPC) from DejaVu Software, Inc. Usenet wherever you are – http://www.dejavusoftware.com/

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Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ?? e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc.

I used to work as a dispatcher for Executive Jet (now NetJets) and we would have to call Bahamian Customs to let them know we had an aircraft that would be arriving. The typical response from the person on the other end of the line was, "Ya mahn, we be here." Included in REMARKS box of our release form for the pilots was the comment, "Spoke with Inspector Ya Mahn."

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ?? e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc. I used to work as a dispatcher for Executive Jet (now NetJets) and we would have to call Bahamian Customs to let them know we had an aircraft that would be arriving. The typical response from the person on the other end of the line was, "Ya mahn, we be here." Included in REMARKS box of our release form for the pilots was the comment, "Spoke with Inspector Ya Mahn."

I’ve never flown in the islands, but I’ve sailed them (Bahamas, US & British Virgins, Windwards).  Everything runs on island time down there.   "Ya man, we be here" sounds about right. We pulled some pretty wierd stunts.  On one trip, we were traveling with a Chinese national with no visa and an expired Chinese passport.  About the worse we ever got from the Customs folks was "You know dis is against de rules, mon?  You could get into a lot of trouble, mon.  Enjoy your stay, and please spend lots of money while you be here in our island paradise, mon"

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Enjoy your stay, and please spend lots of money while you be here in our island paradise, mon"

I live in SE florida and some of my pilot friends fly to the Bahamas. Now they charge $15.00 per head just to land. Plus the hassle with customs and FSS. Never saw anything in the Bahamas that I wanted. I spend my money right here in the USA. But to each its own. Hank

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I have been a couple of times.  It can be very interesting and fun.  Last time I went, had an engine failure on takeoff on  return trip.  Not a good place to have mechanical problems.  Long story on replacing engine and getting plane back to U.S. so I won’t bore you with details. My advice, have backup plans for your backup plans but have a great time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ?? e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc. Stimbo Medford, NJ — Posted with Ink Spot (for PocketPC) from DejaVu Software, Inc. Usenet wherever you are – http://www.dejavusoftware.com/

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Wondered if anyone had some tips on flying a C172 (or similar) to the Bahamas from FXE (Ft. Laud. Exec.) ??

Haven’t flown to the Bahamas since I moved from FL in 1990, but we would always use Ft. Pierce for customs on the way back. Used to be a lot less crowded than the other So. FL airports of entry, don’t know if that’s still the case. We’d usually plan the initial route from FL to the west side of Grand Bahama, on that route you’re only out of sight of land for about 45 minutes or so. I’d vote for a retractable given an option (if you have to ditch a fixed-gear AC, it’s probably going to flip over when the gear hits the water).  But if you’ve got a healthy engine it doesn’t have a clue whether it’s over water or land (do a mag check before getting too far over water for some added peace of mind, we do that even when flying out to Catalina here in SoCal). e.g. best guidebook, rafts needed?, easiest island to fly to, customs procedures, etc.

I’ll second the recommendation for "The Bahamas and Caribbean Pilots Guide" – It used to be chock-full of useful info, since it’s still in print I’d assume that’s still the case. Have fun! — GregR – Another Beemer Biker …o&o CA/IFR/BGI – KVNY [This space for rent - inquire within]

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I live in SE florida and some of my pilot friends fly to the Bahamas. Now they charge $15.00 per head just to land.

They’ve charged landing fees for years, but you can usually get around them if you’re (ahem…) creative with your "flight crew" (i.e. pilot, co-pilot, second officer, navigator), etc. I can’t remember us ever having to pay a pax charge over there.  :-) Plus the hassle with customs and FSS.

Hassle? Haven’t made the trip post-9/11, so I don’t know what the norm is lately – but it used to be that customs would only ask us to open a bag or two, would sometimes ask for an estimate of how many US-registered planes were on the ramp at our departure airport (I guess to get a gauge as to what their workload was going to be later on), then told us to have a nice day and sent us on our way. I’ve heard horror stories about customs ordering pilots to practically disassemble the plane on the ramp, but for us they were always pleasant and professional. Never saw anything in the Bahamas that I wanted.

You really should get out more often… Great boating, diving, snorkeling, fishing, eating, island-hopping, etc. etc. etc. Just a great place to get away from it all, plus the natives are really friendly. All within an easy couple hours’ flight from the US mainland.  I’d go back tomorrow given the chance. — GregR – Another Beemer Biker …o&o CA/IFR/BGI – KVNY [This space for rent - inquire within]

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We pulled some pretty wierd stunts.  On one trip, we were traveling with a Chinese national with no visa and an expired Chinese passport.  About the worse we ever got from the Customs folks was "You know dis is against de rules, mon?  You could get into a lot of trouble, mon.  Enjoy your stay, and please spend lots of money while you be here in our island paradise, mon"

Sailing into a Bahamas port I was concerned about the water depth and called into an attendant on the dock, "How’s the water depth in there."  The answer came back, "Plenty water mon, just spread thin!" We went in slowly and there was enough. Chuck

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You really should get out more often… Great boating, diving, snorkeling, fishing, eating, island-hopping, etc. etc. etc.

As I stated I live in SE Florida and we have great boating, diving, snorkeling,fishing and eating right here. No need to take my hard earned money over there. Besides I need it to keep my plane in the air. Hank

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You really should get out more often… Great boating, diving, snorkeling, fishing, eating, island-hopping, etc. etc. etc. As I stated I live in SE Florida and we have great boating, diving, snorkeling,fishing and eating right here. No need to take my hard earned money over there. Besides I need it to keep my plane in the air. Hank

And you are packed like sardines in south Florida.  My folks live in Naples in the winter and I have driven thru the gretaer Miami metro area during the high season.  Go 150 mile east and you are virtually alone on a miles long strand of beach.

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And you are packed like sardines in south Florida.  My folks live in Naples in the winter and I have driven thru the gretaer Miami metro area during the high season

You correct, I live 60 miles north of Miami. But the population has increased also. All the folks from up north comming down. Houses used to sell for 80 to 90 K Now they go for 300 and up. Guess the folks up north sell their houses for mor than that and think they are getting a bargain. When I fly west I used to see farms now the are building house next to the everglades, Hank

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And you are packed like sardines in south Florida.  My folks live in Naples in the winter and I have driven thru the gretaer Miami metro area during the high season You correct, I live 60 miles north of Miami. But the population has increased also. All the folks from up north comming down. Houses used to sell for 80 to 90 K Now they go for 300 and up. Guess the folks up north sell their houses for mor than that and think they are getting a bargain. When I fly west I used to see farms now the are building house next to the everglades,

The snowbirds are not selling their houses up north.  You’ll notice Florida gets deserted every April.  They’re all going somewhere.

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smf schrieb: Get "The Bahamas and Caribbean pilots guide", it has everything you need to know about flying and procedures. It can be found on the internet.

To be exact, at http://www.pilotpub.com/id2.html – $49.95 plus shipping. Harald

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Question:

I just had an incredible bit of luck run into me. Yesterday one of my coworkers came into my office and said that he noticed from my office decorations that I enjoyed fly fishing. He had run across one of those fly fishing coffee table books for $1.00 in the local bargain bin and bought it for me. As I thanked him, one bit of conversation led to another and he mentioned he had an old fly rod in his garage collecting dust and asked if I’d like it. It turns out that this guy used to camp and hunt in Keene, NH about 15-20 years ago. One day while he was there, his hunting partner asked if he would mind helping the landowner pack a few things into a moving truck. Long story short, they ended up at Lee Wulff’s place in Surry. He said that Mr. Wulff was spending more time reminiscing about each thing he packed than actually packing the U-Haul for his move to New York on the Beaverkill. At the end of the day, Mr. Wulff gave my coworker his Cortland Model 502-A, 2-piece 7′6" 7WT rod, of which I am now the proud owner. Judging from the wear on the tip-top, this rod was used frequently. Although the rod itself may not be of much value (and of this I’m not sure – I can’t find any info on it), the fact that Mr. Wulff once fished with it makes it something I will cherish. When told of his death, Charles Kurault said, "Lee Wulff was to fly fishing what Einstein was to physics." As someone recently said here, life is good. — TL, Tim

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just had an incredible bit of luck run into me. Yesterday one of my coworkers came into my office and said that he noticed from my office decorations that I enjoyed fly fishing. He had run across one of those fly fishing coffee table books for $1.00 in the local bargain bin and bought it for me. As I thanked him, one bit of conversation led to another and he mentioned he had an old fly rod in his garage collecting dust and asked if I’d like it. It turns out that this guy used to camp and hunt in Keene, NH about 15-20 years ago. One day while he was there, his hunting partner asked if he would mind helping the landowner pack a few things into a moving truck. Long story short, they ended up at Lee Wulff’s place in Surry. He said that Mr. Wulff was spending more time reminiscing about each thing he packed than actually packing the U-Haul for his move to New York on the Beaverkill. At the end of the day, Mr. Wulff gave my coworker his Cortland Model 502-A, 2-piece 7′6" 7WT rod, of which I am now the proud owner. Judging from the wear on the tip-top, this rod was used frequently. Although the rod itself may not be of much value (and of this I’m not sure – I can’t find any info on it), the fact that Mr. Wulff once fished with it makes it something I will cherish. When told of his death, Charles Kurault said, "Lee Wulff was to fly fishing what Einstein was to physics." As someone recently said here, life is good. — TL, Tim

That is awesome Tim. Congrats Russell -Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

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Awesome.  Write down the "provenance" with as many dates and names as you can get.  If you decide to just keep the rod and later sell it, this will definately increase its value. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

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Awesome.  Write down the "provenance" with as many dates and names as you can get.  If you decide to just keep the rod and later sell it, this will definately increase its value.

Already working on it. I’ve written to Joan Wulff to see if she can verify the circumstance. Also, my coworker was keeping a diary during the time this happened, so he thinks he can give me some more exact timeframe. Even though it’s designated as a 7WT, the rod feels like it would handle a WF5F line pretty well, which is usually what I use. Has anyone out there fished with this kind of mismatch before? Any tips? — TL, Tim (excited like a kid in a candy store)

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Already working on it. I’ve written to Joan Wulff to see if she can verify the circumstance.

OTOH, she might want her rod back.  :-) Joe F.

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All I have to say is: we should have gone fishing yesterday.  You were destined to catch that once in a lifetime wild 30 inch Swift River brookie.

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Awesome.  Write down the "provenance" with as many dates and names as you can get.  If you decide to just keep the rod and later sell it, this will definately increase its value.

Absolutely.  In fact, you might even wish to contact Joan Wulff and see about a letter.  While it may seem unimportant now, when and if it becomes important, it will be more difficult, if not impossible, to gather the needed information.  Also, make sure that your documentation/research is clearly spelled out and your family knows about it (or at least where to find your documentation).  Trust me on this – I speak from personal experience. You might also wish to check with the Catskill FFing Center: Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum 1031 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor, New York 12758 http://www.cffcm.org/cmc.html  or the Anglers’ Club of New York: The Anglers’ Club of New York 101 Broad St. New York, NY 10004 Voice: (212) 425-7333 Fax: (212) 809-9089 IIRC, they were involved in auction of Wulff items a couple of years ago, and might be able to give you a rough idea of value for insurance, etc.   Congrats on the "find." TC, R

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Awesome.  Write down the "provenance" with as many dates and names as you can get.  If you decide to just keep the rod and later sell it, this will definately increase its value. Absolutely.  In fact, you might even wish to contact Joan Wulff and see about a letter.  While it may seem unimportant now, when and if it becomes important, it will be more difficult, if not impossible, to gather the needed information.  Also, make sure that your documentation/research is clearly spelled out and your family knows about it (or at least where to find your documentation).  Trust me on this – I speak from personal experience. You might also wish to check with the Catskill FFing Center: Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum 1031 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor, New York 12758 http://www.cffcm.org/cmc.html  or the Anglers’ Club of New York: The Anglers’ Club of New York 101 Broad St. New York, NY 10004 Voice: (212) 425-7333 Fax: (212) 809-9089 IIRC, they were involved in auction of Wulff items a couple of years ago, and might be able to give you a rough idea of value for insurance, etc.

Thanks for the info — I’ve written both and will let you know the results. — TL, Tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Congrats on the "find." TC, R

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All I have to say is: we should have gone fishing yesterday.  You were destined to catch that once in a lifetime wild 30 inch Swift River

brookie. No kidding! And I probably wouldn’t have even minded the heat. <g — TL, Tim

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"Stan Gula" All I have to say is: we should have gone fishing yesterday.  You were destined to catch that once in a lifetime wild 30 inch Swift River brookie. No kidding! And I probably wouldn’t have even minded the heat. <g

While you wimps were enjoying your cold drinks, I actually fished. Caught 30" of brookie more or less equally divided into five fish. Comgrats on the rod, Tim…gonna bring it next week? BTW, this good fortune also enhanced your Kreh number, (Lee must have known Lefty, right?), not to mention what it did to your Wullf number. <G George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

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"Stan Gula" All I have to say is: we should have gone fishing yesterday.  You were destined to catch that once in a lifetime wild 30 inch Swift River brookie. No kidding! And I probably wouldn’t have even minded the heat. <g While you wimps were enjoying your cold drinks, I actually fished. Caught 30" of brookie more or less equally divided into five fish.

This takes counting to a whole new level. Comgrats on the rod, Tim…gonna bring it next week?

Yes. If you’re really nice to me I’ll let you hold it . . . just for a moment. BTW, this good fortune also enhanced your Kreh number, (Lee must have known Lefty, right?), not to mention what it did to your Wullf number. <G

Hey, anything that increases either of those is good. I’m almost at "1" now! — TL, Tim

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Awesome.  Write down the "provenance" with as many dates and names as you can get.  If you decide to just keep the rod and later sell it, this will definately increase its value.

it’s a unique piece of luck and to be treasured. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

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Question:

my god, stefan, as they say in rowan county, you ain’t worth shootin’! your friend in the old north state wayno

Sounds comforting, since I haven

Question:

Lots of good fishing on Bushkill Creek, but Ressica Falls is extra-special.  Actually, there are a lot of Big and Little Bushkill Creeks in Pennsylvania; Ressica Falls is near 611 & 402. Ressica Falls is owned by the Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a permit is required to fish there.  Way worth it. The stream is as pretty as any you’ll find, the water as suited for trout as you could like, and the water is so well-stocked with nice trout that first time visitors are likely to be flabbergasted.  Hatches are common in spring and summer, and can be quite abundant.  Imagine standing in hemlock lined pool, fishing a riffle, with ten trout rising noisily all around you.  Now imagine miles of stream just like that.  Now imagine you’ve just hooked a 14" brown, and boy is he pissed.  That’s Ressica Falls. Wednesday evening was quite warm.  Once again, forgot to check the water temp, but was comfy while wading wet, until my pipe started rattling in my teeth, and I started shaking violently as soon as I stepped out to go home.  ’Bout 55 degrees? Quill Gordon duns and spinners, as well as grannoms were out and about.  a tan-colored fly was also laying eggs on the water, but I wasn’t able to get a good look.  The trout were taking small brown imitations, quill gordens, henrysville, etc.  As it got dark and I was forced to switch to lighter colored flies, hits became tougher to get. Also out in profusion were buffalo gnats.  These are like the no-see-ums of the North, except that you can see them.  In fact, you can rope ‘em and ride ‘em.  You usually won’t get bitten by one; you’ll get bitten by 5 or 6.  As a repellent, I recommend a burly pipe tobacco, as they are quite aggressive. The stream bed is rocky, with numerous pools and riffles, and it’s full of brookies, browns , and rainbows.  Careful wading is important.  The scenery is beautiful, and the entire experience is more than worth the modest permit fee. Two words of caution: first, pesky bears.  Bothersome bears occasionally hassle folks in this area.  Just don’t be afraid of them. Bears can smell fear, you know.  Don’t poke them with a stick either; they really don’t like that, take my word for it. Chiggers – very common here.  Any exposed skin can become home to those cuddly little burrowing mites, and I’ve got a red dot on the side of my knee to prove it. Jeez, I feel bad that I forgot to get the water temp for you.  I’ll go back up this evening & do it right this time.  That is, if I don’t forgot again, what with the trout rising all around me, bitey gnats nipping at my ears, tobacco fog all around my head, snarly bears trying to get my attention, minimites digging holes through me like a swiss cheese, and me with the wrong fly all tangled up around the tip of my rod. Timothy Juvenal In sleep every dog dreams of food, and I, a fisherman, dream of fish.     -Theocritus

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Lots of good fishing on Bushkill Creek, but Ressica Falls is extra-special.  Actually, there are a lot of Big and Little Bushkill Creeks in Pennsylvania; Ressica Falls is near 611 & 402. Ressica Falls is owned by the Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a permit is required to fish there.  Way worth it.

Timothy, Your posts, which are quite pleasant to read, would be even more so if you would kindly set your line length to 70-75 or so. JR — To reply, remove the Qs from the address above

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"JR" wrote …  kindly set your line length to 70-75 or so.

Oops.  Thanks for the tip. Timothy Juvenal

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Question:

Use a Griffitt’s Gnat The best advise I have is do not try to fish a midge hatch with a match in size. It is generally futile. The hook size is impractical for decent hookups and, think about it, the trout are going to pick out your tiny fly from all the mass that have hatched? Good lucK. I suggest you fish a Griffitt’s Gnat instead. Unlike most aquatic insects, the midges are hatching from CLUSTERS of eggs in the meniscus . . . little gooy egg masses. The Griffitts imitates the egg clusters. Thats what the fish are going for because it gives them more food per gulp. The Griffitts is also big enough to carry a decent hook, and to tie on with normal vision. End of advice Dave

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I’m in Colorado and been fly fishing for 15 yrs. Let me say this, we tend to fish the same nymph and vary the color and size…different colored rib and collar. My tip, when fishing in the early A.M. start very small (22-24) on your dropper and swim it just off the bottom. Add only enough weight to keep it low and clean. The colder it is on the river the more slight the touch. Success is tight line to the hook and set on the tiny movement of your indicator.

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: Hello: : This message is pretty similar to one I posted a while ago, but if anyone : has any new or additional comments they’d like to post, I would be most : interested. : Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges. Aren’t we all? : Would be interested in opinions relative to to whether : midges are most productive in; : -very early spring : -heat of the summer : -fall Midges are an all year round possibility in Aus. especially in lakes. : Also, large or small flies [generally] best for each of these three seasons? Rarely less than size 18, things like black spiders, griffiths gnat, work for me.  I’d also use some more imitative pupa but prefer the simpler flies (the fish seem to as well).   Tied on a light hook the spiders (also do well as ants ) will float low in the film, a heavier hook gets them down an inch or two.     The Gnat I use mainly, when there are  mating swarms over the water, although it fishes well as a single bug too. : Thanks, : Bob Good Luck. Steve

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We have some really good midge fishing in Nevada on the East Walker River near Bridgeport, which can be fished year round.  Some of our other rivers could have good midge fishiing, but they are closed during the winter. My opinion is that midge fishing is good only when ther are not many large flies around.  Therefore midge fishiing  is usually good in the winter when the mayflies and caddis’s have disappeared, and before the stoneflies and BWO’s come out.  However, if they are the dominant fly at other times, fish will feed on them.  I carry my midge box year round, but don’t use it much in the warmer months. In regards to size, match the natural as closely as possible.  You will probably be to large!  Dry flies should be tried during the warmest part of the day.  My favorite rig is a size18-22 parachute adams as a point fly and a black midge emerger or brassie as a dropper. Good luck

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello: This message is pretty similar to one I posted a while ago, but if anyone has any new or additional comments they’d like to post, I would be most interested. Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges. Would be interested in opinions relative to to whether midges are most productive in; -very early spring -heat of the summer -fall Also, large or small flies [generally] best for each of these three seasons? Thanks, Bob

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Hello: This message is pretty similar to one I posted a while ago, but if anyone has any new or additional comments they’d like to post, I would be most interested. Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges. Would be interested in opinions relative to to whether midges are most productive in; -very early spring -heat of the summer -fall Also, large or small flies [generally] best for each of these three seasons? Thanks, Bob

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midges are most productive in; -very early spring -heat of the summer -fall

Actually Bob, I have had some of my best days with midges during warm spells in January and February.  The best times will naturally correspond to the hatching regimes if the midges in the streams that you fish. Once the mayfly and caddis hatches are done in the summer, fish will turn there attention to terrestrials and midges, so for a general answer, late summer, fall, winter, and early spring would probably be the best times. The size of flies you use will be keyed to the insect activity in the area that you fish. You really need to put your time in on the streams, and ask questions of the local anglers. You will be surprised how quickly you will learn, and how your successes will increase. Best of luck. George Adams

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Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges.

I hate it when I’m put on a hook and thrown in a river.  This midge’ is staying on dry ground.  :) Vern

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Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges. Would be interested in opinions relative to to whether midges are most productive in; -very early spring -heat of the summer -fall

There is no straight forward answer to that. On many tailwaters the fish feed heavily on midges year round. In the free stone streams here in Colorado and much of the West, the only hatches still occurring in late Fall, Winter, and early Spring are midges. The surface feeding fish are generally feeding on the emerging insect and sparse flies that float in the film are usually best. Many midges are extremely tiny and although it’s best to match the size, I find that when going below a size 22 hook, hookups are a problem.  If your presentation is good enough, you can get away with using a larger fly. A dead drift presentation is a must. A long light tippet and a downstream presentation helps. When the midges are hatching heavily enough to bring the fish to the surface, you have alot of natural flies to compete with and your presentation must be right on the money because the fish won’t move for your fly.   Midge fishing can be fun but it is very fussy fishing. You are usually targeting a single fish trying to get the perfect presentation and take. Sometimes you’ll get a fish on your first cast but often MANY casts must be made before you have success. Midges will bring up good fish to the surface especially in the Winter when there is no other insect activity. I’ve caught some of my better fish on midges. Also, large or small flies [generally] best for each of these three seasons?

There are lots of exceptions to this but as a general rule, Spring has the hatches of the bigger insects.  As the seasons progress, the insects get smaller in size. Willi

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I have seen midges mostly in early spring and this time of year. Looking in my notebook they seem to like waters around 55*. The lake I fish in the spring has some very large midges (#14) that the trout go bonkers for. When the Mayflies and Caddis start hatching they aren’t as common. Then again after the water temps drop I start to see them again albeit a bit smaller (#18). sf

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello: This message is pretty similar to one I posted a while ago, but if anyone has any new or additional comments they’d like to post, I would be most interested. Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges. Would be interested in opinions relative to to whether midges are most productive in; -very early spring -heat of the summer -fall Also, large or small flies [generally] best for each of these three seasons? Thanks, Bob

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello: This message is pretty similar to one I posted a while ago, but if anyone has any new or additional comments they’d like to post, I would be most interested. Trying to learn a bit more (still) about fishing Midges. Would be interested in opinions relative to to whether midges are most productive in; -very early spring -heat of the summer -fall Also, large or small flies [generally] best for each of these three seasons? Thanks, Bob

All others posting a reply assume you are interested in fishing rivers.   On many lakes and reservoirs midge fishing is the best game going from Nov-April, assuming you can find open water.  The lake midges can be very large by river standards, sizes 12-16.  4x tippets will work with the jumbo imitations and are probably necessary since the lakes will give up a lot of 20+ inch fish.  This will be a very lazy style of fishing, seldom to visible fish.  I look for a shoal area in which fish are occasionally seen taking midges on the surface, and just fish the water with a floating line and a very SLOW hand-twist retrieve.

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Question:

I re-tilled and seeded my lawn this spring with Yuma a hybrid Bermda grass. Just now starting to have a good solid growth of new grass, but also have an over abundance of nut grass. Anyone have advice on how to get rid of nut rog

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I re-tilled and seeded my lawn this spring with Yuma a hybrid Bermda grass. Just now starting to have a good solid growth of new grass, but also have an over abundance of nut grass. Anyone have advice on how to get rid of nut rog

  If this is the same thing I’ve got here in NC it’s the worst weed going.  Nodules distributed along little thin roots, so pulling it out just breaks the root and makes more plants.  I’ve tried RoundUp painted carefully along the grass blades or dripped into the crown with no success.  I’m told it doesn’t get past the first nodule.  The only thing I’ve found to do is lift up the top several inches of soil and dispose of it (where?).  Obviously that has its limitations. — Lloyd R. Fortney ….. http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney physics, research, teaching, photography, flower gardening, travel, and fly fishing

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Can someone describe what nutgrass looks like?? thanks Timothy B. Dyeson, PhD, LMSW University of North Texas Department of Applied Gerontology Minority Aging Research Institute www.unt.edu/depts/mari/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I re-tilled and seeded my lawn this spring with Yuma a hybrid Bermda grass. Just now starting to have a good solid growth of new grass, but also have an over abundance of nut grass. Anyone have advice on how to get rid of nut rog   If this is the same thing I’ve got here in NC it’s the worst weed going.  Nodules distributed along little thin roots, so pulling it out just breaks the root and makes more plants.  I’ve tried RoundUp painted carefully along the grass blades or dripped into the crown with no success.  I’m told it doesn’t get past the first nodule.  The only thing I’ve found to do is lift up the top several inches of soil and dispose of it (where?).  Obviously that has its limitations. — Lloyd R. Fortney ….. http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney physics, research, teaching, photography, flower gardening, travel, and fly fishing

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I’ve got the same problem — who doesn’t?! How about nuking the whole yard and starting over????  <g http://members.aol.com/wilona1/index.html Pages updated June 6, 1997 – NEW:  Handmade Baby Afghans!!! Gardening – Genealogy – Newsletter – Links

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I’ve got the same problem — who doesn’t?! How about nuking the whole yard and starting over????  <g http://members.aol.com/wilona1/index.html Pages updated June 6, 1997 – NEW:  Handmade Baby Afghans!!! Gardening – Genealogy – Newsletter – Links

Try a product called Image.  Also there is one called Manage. You can also use MSMA.  If you pull it make sure you loosen the soil that will give you  a better chance of getting the nutlet out of the ground.  The nuts grow out and down.

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Nut grass is also a good indicator plant of other cultural problems Compaction Poor drainage acid soil A long term investment in changing the culture will reduce nut grass – also consider a shrub/mulch planting.

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Can someone describe what nutgrass looks like?? thanks

  What I call nutgrass is a medium course, mostly vertical grass growing from a crown.  It has maybe 4-6 stiff leaves from each crown and there is usually a colony of at least a couple of dozen crowns.  They are maybe 1/4" or so wide and up to a foot or more in height if you don’t mow or pull it first.  It easily outgrows my bermuda: a day or two after mowing it will be twice as high as the bermuda.  But underground is where the real problem lies.  I havn’t tried the chemicals mentioned in another reply, but I’m going looking tomorrow. — Lloyd R. Fortney ….. http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney physics, research, teaching, photography, flower gardening, travel, and fly fishing

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This may be the one time that having a cat in your garden could help. My cats just love nut grass and have made it a scarce commodity in my yard. Lisa Peterson — Without Trucks, Minnesota Stops! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I re-tilled and seeded my lawn this spring with Yuma a hybrid Bermda grass. Just now starting to have a good solid growth of new grass, but also have an over abundance of nut grass. Anyone have advice on how to get rid of nut rog

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USE A CHEMICAL NAMED "MANAGE" 2 -APPLICATIONS

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Question:

Ok, so they are overpriced.  But they had a couple of things which I’ve been unable to find anywhere else.  I put in an order last week and the site said I’d receive an email reply confirming, but as yet I haven’t received one.  Has anyone else ordered off the waysidegardens.com website and what has been your experience? Thanks Wayne **I’m not out to pasture, just gone to seed.**

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Wayside is owned by Park Seed co I have dealt with Park Seed since the 70’s and have been treated well. Tom There is an extra Bee in the Email address after the AOL.com

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I ordered a dogwood tree from them and I got an email the following day.  I got the tree last Thursday.  You might want to email them, letting them know you never got an email. Lisa http://home.earthlink.net/~scrapnstamp/ <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~scrapnstamp/"Lisa Lee’s  Webpages</a

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, so they are overpriced.  But they had a couple of things which I’ve been unable to find anywhere else.  I put in an order last week and the site said I’d receive an email reply confirming, but as yet I haven’t received one. Has anyone else ordered off the waysidegardens.com website and what has been your experience? Thanks Wayne **I’m not out to pasture, just gone to seed.**

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I put in an order last week and the site said I’d receive an email reply confirming, but as yet I haven’t received

one. I suggest you give them a call since you didn’t receive your e-mail confirmation. Sometimes it’s hard to beat talking to a real live person! http://www.waysidegardens.com/contact.htm Telephone 800-845-1124 Peace! Dan D.  Louisville KY Before you buy.

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I sent in a large order for English roses to Wayside in January – I got no confirmation so I e-mailed them. I did get a pleasant reply with approximate shipping date. I found Wayside English rose prices to be quite reasonable. I have ordered roses from four different companies. So far Miller’s roses [9] of them including Heritage arrive well packed with great roots and many thick canes. Their prices were very good though selection not large. I’ll report back on other 40 or so roses when they arrive and again in the fall to let the group know which roses did the best and which companies were the best in terms of roses and service. After some gardeners recently reported that their Wayside roses arrived in bad shape and had to be returned, I e-mailed the company again to alert them to my order and the fact that I am expecting a decent shipment since I ordered early. I will be a very unhappy [and vocal] camper if my large Wayside order is not up to snuff. Randy —

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Ok, so they are overpriced.  But they had a couple of things which I’ve been unable to find anywhere else.  I put in an order last week and the site said I’d receive an email reply confirming, but as yet I haven’t received one.  Has anyone else ordered off the waysidegardens.com website and what has been your experience?

Last year and this year; no problems at all . . . I got my confirmation e-mail in less than an hour, though, so I would give them a ring and see if the order went through. Chris Owens

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Figures.  After posting this, I got the email confirmation.  Only one item was unavailable, which was a fragrant hosta that I would have liked, but don’t mind keeping the twenty-five bucks.  I’ll let y’all know how the order comes and if I’ll order more.  Wayside has always had a good reputation, but on the expensive side. Thanks for the replies. Wayne **I’m not out to pasture, just gone to seed.**

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I just received my order of three Clematis plants from Park and the instructions they included said something about Wayside gardens. Is Park a subsidiary/parent of Wayside or do they get their plants from Wayside? Inquiring minds want to know…… Jane Bergen Wayside Gardens and Park Seeds are indeed under the same ownership,

with Wayside specializing in plants and Park in seeds and a few plants. Don Martinson

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Prices to high! Quality too low. That’s my experience. But they have great pictures to help you through the winter! Glenn

I agree with the above. Wayside is a tantalizing source book, and they boast a broad variety of plant materials.  Still, their offerings within a particular species are quite modest when compared to specialist nurseries, which also are often considerably less expensive and can offer you more knowledgeable advice if you phone them. One thing Wayside _does_ do, apparently, is carry huge stocks of each offering: I have never found them to be out of anything I have ordered from them. Boyd Zone 7 (Central VA)

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each offering: I have never found them to be out of anything I have ordered from them.

Oh, I have; actually probably just slightly more often then other places I order from (but then I generally just order from them things I can’t find from other places, which may be the type of things that are likely to be in short supply).      -Sue Sanders

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My parents bought my husband and me a ‘Betty Prior’ rose from Wayside

for Christmas.  It arrived at the appropriate planting time.  It was in very good condition (they had pre-pruned it).  They enclosed very detailed planting instructions.  And, last but not least, it’s growing!  I just planted it a couple weeks ago and it has leaves on it already.  I will probably order from them myself sometime… Just my $.02. Erica P.S. Price was comparable to local nursery. Prices to high! Quality too low. That’s my experience. But they have great – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – pictures to help you through the winter! Glenn I agree with the above. Wayside is a tantalizing source book, and they boast a broad variety of plant materials.  Still, their offerings within a particular species are quite modest when compared to specialist nurseries, which also are often considerably less expensive and can offer you more knowledgeable advice if you phone them. One thing Wayside _does_ do, apparently, is carry huge stocks of each offering: I have never found them to be out of anything I have ordered from them. Boyd Zone 7 (Central VA)

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Prices to high! Quality too low. That’s my experience. But they have great pictures to help you through the winter! Glenn

I just received my order of three Clematis plants from Park and the instructions they included said something about Wayside gardens. Is Park a subsidiary/parent of Wayside or do they get their plants from Wayside? Inquiring minds want to know…… Jane Bergen

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Prices to high! Quality too low. That’s my experience. But they have great pictures to help you through the winter! Glenn I’ve been ordering from Wayside for over 10 years now and have almost

always found their quality to be excellent.  Any problems that I encountered (and there were a few), they corrected and gave a refund/replacement with no questions asked.  Yes, they are pricey, but you generally get what you pay for. "Good plants are not cheap and cheap plants are not good."  However, it does pay to shop around.  Wayside is an intermediate dealer for many of the plants that they offer and if you shop at some of the smaller, more specialized plantsmen, you can save quite a bit. Example, a friend wanted a weeping pussywillow, Salix capreolata cv. pendula.  Wayside wanted over $100 for it, but I found it offered by Arborvillage Farm Nursery (Holt, MO) for $35.00. Don Martinson                           "Existing order thrives upon ignorance and lies.   Objective truth and individual reason are feared above all."

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Prices to high! Quality too low. That’s my experience. But they have great pictures to help you through the winter!

I agree.  I buy from them what I can’t get from another source.  My experience has been that their woody plants are good quality, and the herbaceous stuff is chancier.  But they do honor the guarantee when things go wrong.  Of course, so do a lot of much cheaper places.  But the pictures–I’ll bet their catalog has gotten more people entrapped into gardening than any other single thing.                                                                                                                                                        -Sue Sanders

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Prices to high! Quality too low. That’s my experience. But they have great pictures to help you through the winter! Glenn

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Does Wayside Gardens have a web site? or e-mail address? Or a fax number? Thanks! Tim

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Does Wayside Gardens have a … fax number?

800-817-1124 — Lloyd R. Fortney ….. http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney physics, research, teaching, photography, flower gardening, travel, and fly fishing

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Last time I checked, I couldn’t find a URL or email address for Wayside. White Flower Farm is on the web — I like them just as well as Wayside.  I have bought from both many times in the past and am happy with stock and service. You can find WWF at: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/ — http://home.att.net/~theherndons

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Question:

I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions.

Get a fishing fly.  One with a hook in it.  Tie it to a piece of monofiliment.  Tie the other end to a long pole.  Twitch it in front of him.  When he grabs it, jerk the pole to set the hook.  Then unhook him and let him go.         Bill

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I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions. We bought this thing as a tadpole when he was all cute and cuddly(and quiet). Seeing as how we have poststamp size lots where I live, this frog is becoming hated by the neighborhood(along with me). I don’t want to here how nice they sound and I won’t kill him. He will go to a wetland where he belongs. Thanks Faith H.

 The flashlight should work. It does blind them and if your quiet, you should be able to catch him. Steve Johnson http://lornet.com/~alside

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I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions. We bought this thing as a tadpole when he was all cute and cuddly(and quiet). Seeing as how we have poststamp size lots where I live, this frog is becoming hated by the neighborhood(along with me). I don’t want to here how nice they sound and I won’t kill him. He will go to a wetland where he belongs. Thanks

Don’t worry!  I doubt if you’ll get flamed for wanting to relocate a recalcitrant bullfrog.  Although this technique is usually used by people who intend to eat the bullfrog, therefore gentleness is not an issue, the method I’ve heard is to "blind" them with a flash light.   Then you could slap a net over it.  I’m not saying this will be easy!! — Signed- Kellie  USDA zone 7/8, Sunset Zone 33 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!  <http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/newsletter.html

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I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions. We bought this thing as a tadpole when he was all cute and cuddly(and quiet). Seeing as how we have poststamp size lots where I live, this frog is becoming hated by the neighborhood(along with me). I don’t want to here how nice they sound and I won’t kill him. He will go to a wetland where he belongs. Thanks Faith H.

Response:

I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions.

Get a fishing fly.  One with a hook in it.  Tie it to a piece of monofiliment.  Tie the other end to a long pole.  Twitch it in front of him.  When he grabs it, jerk the pole to set the hook.  Then unhook him and let him go.         Bill

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I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions. We bought this thing as a tadpole when he was all cute and cuddly(and quiet). Seeing as how we have poststamp size lots where I live, this frog is becoming hated by the neighborhood(along with me). I don’t want to here how nice they sound and I won’t kill him. He will go to a wetland where he belongs. Thanks Faith H.

 The flashlight should work. It does blind them and if your quiet, you should be able to catch him. Steve Johnson http://lornet.com/~alside

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I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions. We bought this thing as a tadpole when he was all cute and cuddly(and quiet). Seeing as how we have poststamp size lots where I live, this frog is becoming hated by the neighborhood(along with me). I don’t want to here how nice they sound and I won’t kill him. He will go to a wetland where he belongs. Thanks

Don’t worry!  I doubt if you’ll get flamed for wanting to relocate a recalcitrant bullfrog.  Although this technique is usually used by people who intend to eat the bullfrog, therefore gentleness is not an issue, the method I’ve heard is to "blind" them with a flash light.   Then you could slap a net over it.  I’m not saying this will be easy!! — Signed- Kellie  USDA zone 7/8, Sunset Zone 33 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!  <http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/newsletter.html

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I need help on how to catch a bullfrog…any suggestions? I mean serious suggestions. We bought this thing as a tadpole when he was all cute and cuddly(and quiet). Seeing as how we have poststamp size lots where I live, this frog is becoming hated by the neighborhood(along with me). I don’t want to here how nice they sound and I won’t kill him. He will go to a wetland where he belongs. Thanks Faith H.

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Question:

Does anyone have information on fly fishing for silver salmon in  Alaska? I plan to raft (class 3 water) in the fall of 97. Self  guided trip. I am looking for good river in Bristol Bay region.  I prefer a river with no lodges present.

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I have fished silvers on three trips to Yakutat (SW AK, on the coast) but somewhat differently than your planned trip. Drive to the river, never more than 30 min. from a hot shower and a cold drink. 8 wt. outfit, hooks size 4-6, streamers with the "egg sucking leech" in black being favored, 10-15# tippet. Fish in your possesion still belong to the bears. This is not a F&G regulation but common sense. Have a great trip! Len Hunter No. CA

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I have fished silvers on three trips to Yakutat (SW AK, on the coast) but somewhat differently than your planned trip. Drive to the river, never more than 30 min. from a hot shower and a cold drink. 8 wt. outfit, hooks size 4-6, streamers with the "egg sucking leech" in black being favored, 10-15# tippet. Fish in your possesion still belong to the bears. This is not a F&G regulation but common sense. Have a great trip! Len Hunter No. CA

  I’m a little disturbed at the suggestion that it may be OK to give fish to a bear. This creates a problem very quickly with bears and the bear  will end up dead. I have run into bears in the bush that have learned that they can get a free fish by approaching fishermen and invariably the bear will be dead within a year, as they will be killed by someone that knows better than to feed a bear.  Do not ever give a fish or any food to a bear!    If you do come to AK and do a raft trip do not keep salmon until your pick-up day, unless you have some bear proof containers. I’m convinced that more bears get killed each year by folks that don’t know what they’re doing than are killed legitimately by hunters and people in defense of life and property.    If you’re not familiar with brown bear behavior I do not believe that you should be camping on a salmon stream in the Bristol Bay area without a guide. It ain’t California.                                                           Jim

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snipped to fit:    If you do come to AK and do a raft trip do not keep salmon until your pick-up day, unless you have some bear proof containers. I’m convinced that more bears get killed each year by folks that don’t know what they’re doing than are killed legitimately by hunters and people in defense of life and property.    If you’re not familiar with brown bear behavior I do not believe that you should be camping on a salmon stream in the Bristol Bay area without a guide. It ain’t California.                                                           Jim

If you need to shoot a charging bear and shoot it, it will cost you a fine of $15,000.00 dollars.  We are sure this will decrease dramatically the problem of charging bears and anyone’s life is certainly worth $15,000, the think-tank boys have concurred. Makes sense to me. Mr. G.

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Question:

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

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

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

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