Question:

I am looking to move to Bend and would love to hear about rivers and boatin in the area…John

Response:

John, There are a couple of good oregon books: Soggy Sneakers and Oregon River Tours. Bend is a pretty place, lots of great fly fishing nearby (my fav. hobby). As far as boating rivers: The Deschutes river is nearby, it actually flows through bend (the upper section), but the lower section is the one most often boated.  It is probably the most popular rafting river in oregon.  The river has 5 or 6 class IV rapids and a couple of falls that are pretty much unrunable (unless you’re one of those crazy guys I see on tv).  The river also has a myriad of class 1 through 3 rapids.  The floatable section is close to 90 miles long.  However it is conviently broken by access points into two three day floats, with a couple of one day floats possible as well. The river gets very heavy traffic however.  In the middle of july, expect to count up to two dozen rafts in each direction.  Midweek brings much smaller crowds.  The Rangers have done a really good job discouraging the drunken Frat House parties, thus everyone is pretty pleasant. You also have access (2 or three hour drive) to the Rogue River.  It’s a scenic river with limited entry in the summer.  It is amazing! Since I raft and driftboat, I don’t have experience with smaller boats in Oregon. However, I think that other rivers close to bend may well accomodated kayaks. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking to move to Bend and would love to hear about rivers and boatin in the area…John

Response:

Question:

Recently I – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – bought an Airflo Polyleader (floating, light trout variety) from ezflyfish.com and really like its ability to turnover. Unlike Maxima, this tapered leader is very flexible – feels like a gel.  It limply rolls off my reel with nearly imperceptible coiling, every time – no need to stretch it out. Also when casting, it seems like it has better momentum transfer from fly line to leader than my hand tied leaders.  The Maxima leaders work well, but the Polyleader really rolls off the end of the cast.  However it does seem also to create a bit more disturbance when lifting off the water.   Depending on the size of the fly and making an adjustment in my casting stroke I can completely straighten out my leader using either type but the Polyleader appears to have better unfurling properties.  Rather than a leader butt, it’s more like a clear finely tapered fly line floating tip.  Might be similar to some of these new clear or clear tipped fly lines available.  Your observations? experiences?

I was introduced to the Airflo leaders in NZ this February by my guide, and have been using them ever since.  I agree with your assessment of their capabilities — they’re fantastic. Michael — www.geocities.com/yosemite/falls/3363 Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Mu We haven’t exchanged posts in a while, how’s it going?   I make my own leaders and I’ve been downsizing the butt rather than making them from thick, stiff mono.  I’ve found that the lighter lines (<5 wt.) sometimes have problems turning them over.  The line rolls out in a nice tight loop but the leader opens up then the tippet and fly lands in a heap.  A sign that the tip of the fly line wasn’t able to move the butt.  I haven’t used the poly leader but I have used their older ones and they definitely turn over better than stiff butt factory leaders.  No  question. Peter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve always heard that you need a stiff butt for your leaders for better turnover. Maxima Chameleon is stiff and I like the color and strength so I have been using it most of the time for tying my own leaders.  Recently I bought an Airflo Polyleader (floating, light trout variety) from ezflyfish.com and really like its ability to turnover. Unlike Maxima, this tapered leader is very flexible – feels like a gel.  It limply rolls off my reel with nearly imperceptible coiling, every time – no need to stretch it out. Also when casting, it seems like it has better momentum transfer from fly line to leader than my hand tied leaders.  The Maxima leaders work well, but the Polyleader really rolls off the end of the cast.  However it does seem also to create a bit more disturbance when lifting off the water.   Depending on the size of the fly and making an adjustment in my casting stroke I can completely straighten out my leader using either type but the Polyleader appears to have better unfurling properties.  Rather than a leader butt, it’s more like a clear finely tapered fly line floating tip.  Might be similar to some of these new clear or clear tipped fly lines available.  Your observations? experiences? Mu Young Lee                         Ann Arbor, MI   USA

Response:

I’ve always heard that you need a stiff butt for your leaders for better turnover. Maxima Chameleon is stiff and I like the color and strength so I have been using it most of the time for tying my own leaders<snip

Hi Mu, Thirty plus years ago, we nail knotted on an ~24" butt of clear hard Mason mono. Then we blood knotted on a Berkley tapered knotless leader. We then used Gladding ‘Gladell’ tippet from France(?). Boy, 6x ‘Gladell’ was pretty hot stuff in those days. I thought that I read something by Lefty Kreh recently that the diameter or mass of the leader butt is what caused the leader to ‘turn over’, not the stiffness. I think he is promoting soft leader butts now? The old rule of thumb was to use two-thirds the diameter of the tip or point of the fly line for a proper butt diameter. I try to get the rigidity of the mono butt section to match the rigidity of the end of the fly line. The best thing to do is get a friend to help you do some testing. One guy cast, while the other one watches the leader turn over?

Response:

I tried some polyleaders at a fly fair in Denmark, and was so impressed with the difference that I bought a whole set of them in various types, Floating, intermediate, slow sinking and ultra fast sinking.  I have not had much chance to use them yet, but I find them far superior to the standard nylon tapered leaders, and they also turn over better than my own carefully hand tied ones. I will be using them as often as possible as soon as I get to do some fishing again. ( too much work at the moment ! ).  I find the floaters do not "pick off" quite as cleanly as nylon, but that is a minor disadvantage if at all. Still have not figured out why this is, but suspect they actually do float a little lower, and this makes them more difficult to pick off. Will have to try a few experiments. Mine are not from Airflo, but from a firm called Scierra. May not be entirely the same. Tight lines ! Mike Connor

Response:

I tried some polyleaders at a fly fair in Denmark, and was so impressed with the difference that I bought a whole set of them in various types, Floating, intermediate, slow sinking and ultra fast sinking.  

Yeah, Walt sells them in a set too but I couldn’t afford to buy it so I just tried the floating one. I have not had much chance to use them yet, but I find them far superior to the standard nylon tapered leaders, and they also turn over better than my own carefully hand

I was quite surprised by that too.                 I find the floaters do not "pick off" quite as cleanly as nylon, but that is a minor disadvantage if at all. Still have not figured out why this is, but suspect they actually do float a little lower, and this makes them more difficult to pick off. Will have to try a few experiments.

The coating feels like some sort of gel.  It’s definitely not as smooth as nylon.  My guess is that under a microscope it probably will display many small inrregularites which can momentarily hold water as it’s being lifted off the surface. Mine are not from Airflo, but from a firm called Scierra. May not be entirely the same.

I believe Rio also makes similar products.  A friend had told me about Polyleaders last December but I couldn’t really find them anywhere.  A few months ago I ordered a fast sinker from a mail order outfit (Feathercraft) but they didn’t have any that were suitable for a 4 wt (they offered two varieties, a Trout series and a Salmon/Bass series). It wasn’t until I stumbled upon ezflyfish.com that I realized that Airflo also had a Light Trout series.  At ~$7 each they can get pricey.  So far I’ve been quite pleased.  The test will be to see how long they last. Mu

Response:

There’s nothing like forgetting to bring t.p. to make you keep a stiff butt. — something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

To all dos ROFFers and ROFFets who geff so yenerously to ar last butt apple Verst I vant to say dat back in May I tink it vas you guys ver dealing wit dis picture dat Torben sent from Norvey off de butt-challanged Nordska on is veb site. IAnd dis vomen had a butt dat youst made dis old man cry, becouse da vomen Ive sen parading into de  local Sons of Norway Hall in Poulsbo, Washington (USA) are more posterially endowed den dat undernourished pixie in Torbens veb site.  Vich is anuder sample of da superiority of de Nortmerican diet but dats a hole nudder kettle of lutafisc. Vell now de topic is stiff butts und I vant to extend de offer originally made on behaf off de poor Scandahovian waifs, to da sufferers off dis stiff butt ting. I don relly no dat much about it, but wat da hell it  zounds like a fit. Come on you guys, do ve need anuder Marshall Plan or vhut? Lets veed dese schildren!!! Send da tax  deductable contribution to da Ad Hoc Nordska Butt Fund, General = Delivery, Poulsbo, WA "A mind is a terrible ting to vaste, but a sckinny butt? I tell you, dats a whole lot versor. Ya you betcha!" (Now serffing da sterf butted as vell. Becas ve care a lot.) Daveff PS: un update on da Evil Torkleson Rototiller Luttefisk  barrel  record yump attemp.  Volks, he’s going fur fife barrels dis year at da Poulsbo Vikingfest, ant ittle be a ting ta see. Da new bearings are in from Harley, ant vhen Ole’s back from da halibut fishing ve vill get dem in.

Response:

I’ve always heard that you need a stiff butt for your leaders for better turnover. Maxima Chameleon is stiff and I like the color and strength so I have been using it most of the time for tying my own leaders.  Recently I bought an Airflo Polyleader (floating, light trout variety) from ezflyfish.com and really like its ability to turnover. Unlike Maxima, this tapered leader is very flexible – feels like a gel.  It limply rolls off my reel with nearly imperceptible coiling, every time – no need to stretch it out. Also when casting, it seems like it has better momentum transfer from fly line to leader than my hand tied leaders.  The Maxima leaders work well, but the Polyleader really rolls off the end of the cast.  However it does seem also to create a bit more disturbance when lifting off the water.   Depending on the size of the fly and making an adjustment in my casting stroke I can completely straighten out my leader using either type but the Polyleader appears to have better unfurling properties.  Rather than a leader butt, it’s more like a clear finely tapered fly line floating tip.  Might be similar to some of these new clear or clear tipped fly lines available.  Your observations? experiences? Mu Young Lee                         Ann Arbor, MI   USA

Response:

To all dos ROFFers and ROFFets who geff so yenerously to ar last butt apple Verst I vant to say dat back in May I tink it vas you guys ver dealing wit dis picture dat Torben sent from Norvey off de butt-challanged Nordska on is veb site.

<gasp What would St. Olaf say about all this? Mu

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve always heard that you need a stiff butt for your leaders for better turnover. Maxima Chameleon is stiff and I like the color and strength so I have been using it most of the time for tying my own leaders<snip Hi Mu, Thirty plus years ago, we nail knotted on an ~24" butt of clear hard Mason mono. Then we blood knotted on a Berkley tapered knotless leader. We then used Gladding ‘Gladell’ tippet from France(?). Boy, 6x ‘Gladell’ was pretty hot stuff in those days. I thought that I read something by Lefty Kreh recently that the diameter or mass of the leader butt is what caused the leader to ‘turn over’, not the stiffness. I think he is promoting soft leader butts now?

Absolutely right! The physics of the thing goes with limp leaders NOT stiff ones. Ideally, the whole cast (line/leader/tippet) should involve a steadily decreasing local mass being turned over by the waning energy of the cast. Here in Britain, when we’re reservoir fishing in boats ‘on the drift’, we often use leaders of straight through thin mono, sometimes 20 feet or more long, with droppers. Leader turnover isn’t a problem, because by definition we’re fishing down wind and the breeze helps straighten things out. But this kind of set up is much more difficult (sometimes impossible) to use into the wind and one knows the difference straight away, when the breeze dies to a calm. You have to shorten the leader, or (better) change to a proper tapered one to fish effectively in calms or into the wind. Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

Response:

Question:

John, garlic is good for keeping people away, but doesn’t work on mosquitoes. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh

     Sorry, but it does work. Smoking does also. Mosquettos like all other blood sucking insects home in on the carbon dioxide animals exhale, humans included. This is a known fact. It is also known that some perfumes including aftershave cause reactions among stinging insects. I suggest you research the subject a bit more. If you buy honey from a bee keeper ask what after shave he uses before working the hives. I’ve had, on occasion to work hives at night, moving them. Besides the usual precautions such as proper smoking of the hive and easy sure movements: tail lights are used for elumination and a weight on the brake pedal is best. Reason-bees cannot see red light. By the way Before I developed an allergy to bee stings I kept bees and would innoculate myself each spring with 3 or 4 stings. Even after the hives were calmed with smoke I never breathed directly on the frames of bees it would agitate them. I never used perfumed soaps or deoderant or aftershave for the same reason.                                                         John Popp                                                       in Sanford Fl.

Response:

My experience with this goes back about 15 years ago, BC (before children).  My best buddy and I were AVID backpackers, taking two one week trips and at least 4 long weekenders a year in the Sierras, mostly between 8,000 and 10,500 elevations. These were all summer and fall trips, and the mosquitos were brutal- the only saving grace was they were so big, you’d either see their lights or hear the landing gear dropping as they came in on you! =8^) But seriously folks…..when we went out for a week at a time, and KNEW we’d never see anyone else that we cared if we offended or not, we would start taking garlic OIL capsules two days before our trip and take them daily with every meal until two days before we came back out into the real world again.  We had little if any problem with mosquitos on these trips, but did carry Cutter’s or OFF with us in the event of an unusually persistent swarm. Believe you me though, YOU WILL REEK all the while it’s in your system…you sweat it out bigtime and that’s why it keeps them off of you.  When we returned and it was washtime for the trail clothes and sleeping bag…they STUNK of garlic something fierce. I think you may need to experiment with how much to use, everybody’s different, but make sure it’s the kind of garlic oil capsules that have the odor..some of them don’t. Larry #:)#

Response:

[snip] Blood sucking varmits are attracted by carbon dioxide, masking your exhalation with garlic does work as does smoking.

CO2 has no odor, but if you eat enough garlic you can smell it on your skin. As for smoking, I expect it’s the odor on your clothes that does it, not your breath. — Charlie…

Response:

An interesting argument John, you state the fact that mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide as if that proved garlic worked and wind up discussing bees.  I think I will just stick to my Cutter’s mosquito repellent.:-) — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – John, garlic is good for keeping people away, but doesn’t work on mosquitoes. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh      Sorry, but it does work. Smoking does also. Mosquettos like all other blood sucking insects home in on the carbon dioxide animals exhale, humans included. This is a known fact. It is also known that some perfumes including aftershave cause reactions among stinging insects. I suggest you research the subject a bit more. If you buy honey from a bee keeper ask what after shave he uses before working the hives. I’ve had, on occasion to work hives at night, moving them. Besides the usual precautions such as proper smoking of the hive and easy sure movements: tail lights are used for elumination and a weight on the brake pedal is best. Reason-bees cannot see red light. By the way Before I developed an allergy to bee stings I kept bees and would innoculate myself each spring with 3 or 4 stings. Even after the hives were calmed with smoke I never breathed directly on the frames of bees it would agitate them. I never used perfumed soaps or deoderant or aftershave for the same reason.                                                         John Popp                                                       in Sanford Fl.

Response:

writes It is recomended to crunch whole garlic cloves however it must be done at the beginning of a long weekend when your wife or girlfriend or both are out of town.

Hi John, why not start chewing on Thursday, that will guarantee the ladies will be out of town at the weekend. No more snakes I hope?  Regards, — Bill

Response:

An interesting argument John, you state the fact that mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide as if that proved garlic worked and wind up discussing bees.  I think I will just stick to my Cutter’s mosquito repellent.:-) — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh

      Sorry about the digression, it was offered as other little known facts of insect behavior from personal experience. If cutters works for you that is fine. The question was "does garlic work and why". The answers were "yes" and "through masking of cabon dioxide in the breath." . This is also true of noseeums (sand gnats).                                                           John Popp                                                         in Sanford Fl.

Response:

[snip] Blood sucking varmits are attracted by carbon dioxide, masking your exhalation with garlic does work as does smoking. CO2 has no odor, but if you eat enough garlic you can smell it on your skin. As for smoking, I expect it’s the odor on your clothes that does it, not your breath. — Charlie…

     There is no DETECTED odor (by humans). However the noseeum plague that has recently affected Fl. school yards has prompted studies that concluded "sand ghnates are attracted by carbon dioxide exhalations" a means has been developed whereby a microb emitting carbondioxide is used in traps around school yards to attract and trap the insects. It worked, it was also found that the traps contained mesquitos also, due to the same olfactory stimuli.      It is an asumption on my part that the masking of the breath is the reason garlic or smoking work. It is however a plausable conclusion when if biting insects are bothering me, I light up and they go away as has happened many times as has chewing a few sections of garlic cloves before beginning mowing where I know there are gnats or mesquitos. I’m never bothered and don’t feel like a greased pig.                                                            John Popp                                                         in Sanford Fl.

Response:

John, garlic is good for keeping people away, but doesn’t work on mosquitoes. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh      Sorry, but it does work. Smoking does also. Mosquettos like all other blood sucking insects home in on the carbon dioxide animals exhale, humans included.

I am sorry, but I disagree.  If this is the case, Koreans, Greek, and Italians who love garlic will never get bitten by mosquitos or will never get married. Garlic is not a good repelent.  Smoking, on the other hand is a fairly good method of keeping people and mosquitos away.  If you are not a smoker, however, you should stick to good old chemical repelent. Kanghoon Lee

Response:

[deleted] I am sorry, but I disagree.  If this is the case, Koreans, Greek, and Italians who love garlic will never get bitten by mosquitos or will never get married. Garlic is not a good repelent.

[deleted] Ya don’t eat it Kanghoon…you light it on fire and throw it at the little bastards… — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [deleted] I am sorry, but I disagree.  If this is the case, Koreans, Greek, and Italians who love garlic will never get bitten by mosquitos or will never get married. Garlic is not a good repelent. [deleted] Ya don’t eat it Kanghoon…you light it on fire and throw it at the little bastards… — TimW – Halfordian Golfer Guilt replaced the creel…

You mean, use it just like a stink bomb?  I never thought of that Thanks. Kanghoon

Response:

Anything that deters the moeskeeters must be worth a try — Regards Peter

  – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -While garlic may well work, anything with  deet works better than any natural repellent etc. deet interfere with the CO2 receptors of the moskeeter’s.

Response:

Do you want Garlic or do you want the best ? While garlic may well work, anything with  deet works better than any natural repellent etc. deet interfere with the CO2 receptors of the moskeeter’s.

Response:

Do you want Garlic or do you want the best ? While garlic may well work, anything with  deet works better than any natural repellent etc. deet interfere with the CO2 receptors of the moskeeter’s.

Its also a known carcinogen. I love the stuff, but if garlic works (and its good for your heart)…. I’ll bite (bad pun)

Response:

It works great for vampires, too.  I’ve been using it for two years now and still haven’t been bitten!! Ed

Response:

It works great for vampires, too.  I’ve been using it for two years now and still haven’t been bitten!!

Ah! but have you been out at night, fishing for sea trout? Bewaaaare! The Vampire Coachman will get you. — Bill

Response:

[snip] Blood sucking varmits are attracted by carbon dioxide, masking your exhalation with garlic does work as does smoking.

Hi All, A friend of mine that lives in BC doesn’t have a problem with mosquitos himself. They bite him and nothing happens?  I guess he is not effected by the anti- coagulants that they inject into you so they can keep the blood flowing. I guess the itchy bumps that we get are a reaction to the anti-coagulants? I like to stop in Williams, CA, just off Hwy I5, about an hour north of Sacramento for a garlic fix! We stop at Luie Ciro’s(sp) in the town of Williams for some of the best Italian food in the area. They have what they call ‘Luie Bread’. It is baked French bread with about a 1/2" of chopped fresh garlic on top. Wow, what a smell! Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

I would welcome information from anyone with views on whether garlic keeps away mosquitoes.  I have heard from several sources that it works, and have read that the British Army give garlic capsules to their troops in Belize.  However, I am always sceptical about these remedies until enough people provide some type of proof.  For a while people said that Vitamin B 12 was effective; but I feel that if it truly was, then we would all know by now.   If someone has had experience of the effectiveness of garlic, then I would be keen to know if they think that the capsules are as effective as the real thing. John www.travelbooks.co.uk www.cheapflights.co.uk —

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would welcome information from anyone with views on whether garlic keeps away mosquitoes.  I have heard from several sources that it works, and have read that the British Army give garlic capsules to their troops in Belize.  However, I am always sceptical about these remedies until enough people provide some type of proof.  For a while people said that Vitamin B 12 was effective; but I feel that if it truly was, then we would all know by now. If someone has had experience of the effectiveness of garlic, then I would be keen to know if they think that the capsules are as effective as the real thing. John www.travelbooks.co.uk www.cheapflights.co.uk —

     It is also said to keep away vampires and definatly keeps people out of your private space. Blood sucking varmits are attracted by carbon dioxide, masking your exhalation with garlic does work as does smoking. Here in florida "no seeums" are really bad during dry seasons but I am not bothered by them due to my smoking. Garlic will do wonders for your colesteral count and inhibit the pesky little critters. It is recomended to crunch whole garlic cloves however it must be done at the beginning of a long weekend when your wife or girlfriend or both are out of town.                                                     John Popp                                                   in Sanford Fl.

Response:

John, garlic is good for keeping people away, but doesn’t work on mosquitoes. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would welcome information from anyone with views on whether garlic keeps away mosquitoes.  I have heard from several sources that it works, and have read that the British Army give garlic capsules to their troops in Belize.  However, I am always sceptical about these remedies until enough people provide some type of proof.  For a while people said that Vitamin B 12 was effective; but I feel that if it truly was, then we would all know by now.   If someone has had experience of the effectiveness of garlic, then I would be keen to know if they think that the capsules are as effective as the real thing. John www.travelbooks.co.uk www.cheapflights.co.uk —

Response:

Question:

Dams and pondliners prevent the escape of valuable fluids.

Right. And when (not if) those liners fail: 100 years, 500 years, even 2000 years if wer’e really lucky, the entire area becomes a superfund site.  Note that the acid leaches lots of heavy metals, highly toxic, *other* than gold, which poison the ground and the water supply. – - – the cyanide is not the major problem!    it’s the leached metals – - – which Jim won’t discuss I suppose Jim is gonna claim that the damn $1.83 per acre will pay for the impossible clean-up, like it has in Colarado? Jim, exactly how would you clean up those Colorado acid leach sites ??? – - –   Funny thing these ‘white people’: They see a mountain, all they want to do is blow it into a pile of acid leaching crap (note the acid leached a lot of *really* poisonous heavy metals). For a few pounds of shiny yellow metal, which they’ve already got more of in Fort Knox than they can do anything productive or pretty with.   Then these ‘white people’ take the money, declare the company bankrupt, and skip town… all the time whining about how we are interfering with ‘their west’.   If this is an excuse to make them rich at taxpayer expense, lets just bring back welfare and GIVE them the damn money *not* to totally fuck up the place. Let ‘em sit at home and watch TV. I’ve seen enough hard rock mining shit to care a lot about this… I’m not sorry about the language.

Response:

Yeah sure cyanide disappers quickly. We have an old  Phelps Dodge outside Pecos, right on the river. Between the mercury and the cyanide in that area you are not advised to eat the fish. I have fished that area and the coating on my fly poles have been eaten off. Actually a mining engineer told me that cyanide is so reactive with carbon compounds, that it is totally absorbed very quickly in a river bed. Oh sure its toxic, but it doesn’t last long or travel far. I understand how you feel about this, but these mining operations are not as slip shod as you suggest. Phelps Dodge uses a closed recycling leach method where the leached metal ions are first removed by electrowining, then the water solution is pumped back onto the leach pile. Dams and pond liners prevent the escape of valuable fluids.

Seadog – Still lost at Sea

Response:

  The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp.- America’s largest copper producer- has <snip has never mined gold in the United States. Wrong. Copper mining in leach pits is very similar to gold mining. Phelps Dodge removes huge quantities of gold from its copper operations.   Cyanide is a highly toxic substance- even in minute amounts.  Mining companies spray cyanide over huge heaps of low grade ore to extract gold. Most mines that use this heap- leach method have leaked cyanide into nearby streams and aquifers where it can persist for a long time.

Yes, cyanide is highly toxic, but please explain the statement regarding MOST mines leaking cyanide into nearby streams. While it is true that there have been cyanide leaks,  the word MOST is very misleading.  Some specific numbers would be quite interesting to see.  And cyanide does not persist for a long time. Shawn

Response:

  The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp.- America’s largest copper producer- has <snip has never mined gold in the United States. Wrong. Copper mining in leach pits is very similar to gold mining. Phelps Dodge removes huge quantities of gold from its copper operations.

Yes, but this is the first ever "gold" mining venture, in which gold is the primary objective.  Of course they have removed gold from copper operations, but they were not "gold" mining.    Cyanide is a highly toxic substance- even in minute amounts.  Mining companies spray cyanide over huge heaps of low grade ore to extract gold. Most mines that use this heap- leach method have leaked cyanide into nearby streams and aquifers where it can persist for a long time. Yes, cyanide is highly toxic, but please explain the statement regarding MOST mines leaking cyanide into nearby streams. While it is true that there have been cyanide leaks,  the word MOST is very misleading.  Some specific numbers would be quite interesting to see.  And cyanide does not persist for a long time. Shawn This statement is also true.  Mines that have used the heap-leach method

use impoundment dams that collect the waste cyanide.  The dams are lined with polyurethane liners that are as thick as a nickel.  In addition, the ore piles are put on top of polyurethane sheets which are supposed to keep the cyanide out of groundwater.  Every major Montana mine; and large mining companies are the primary users of cyanide-leaching has been cited for some type of water quality violation, most of which are related to cyanide leakage.  The liners are often the reason for the leak; holes, tears, seam leakage.  Rain storms have been a cause also, as they have filled up waste reservoirs and caused them to overflow.  If cyanide gets into groundwater, it gets into streams.     A large enough cyanide spill, or consistent leakage can persist for a long time in streams and rivers.  Usually, by the time groundwater leakage of cyanide is detected by the EPA or the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), because mining companies are not likely to report, or even know about many of these leaks, they have already done their damage.  Aquatic life is much more sensitive to cyanide in lesser amounts than non aquatic life.   Shawn, keep in mind that the mining industry in Montana may be different from the industry in other states.  Our water quality laws are much more lenient than many places, thus, it is important to pass I-122.  Our past mining history shows that.  If you have any questions about the record regarding cyanide leakage, just contact the Montana Environmental Information Center, who’s address is in my original letter.  Or better yet, come to Montana sometime and see the destruction left in the place where a mountain was before, and fish the rivers that once had fish!                            Craig

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp.- America’s largest copper producer- has <snip has never mined gold in the United States.   Cyanide is a highly toxic substance- even in minute amounts.  Mining companies spray cyanide over huge heaps of low grade ore to extract gold. Most mines that use this heap- leach method have leaked cyanide into nearby streams and aquifers where it can persist for a long time. Actually a mining engineer told me that cyanide is so reactive with carbon compounds, that it is totally absorbed very quickly in a river bed. Oh sure its toxic, but it doesn’t last long or travel far. In 1991 the Summitville Mine in Colorado spilled cyanide and heavy metals into the Alamosa River, killing all aquatic life in a 19 mile stretch. This was after assurances were given when the mine opened that "state of the art" pollution controls were being used. There is a 120 mile section of the Clark Fork River in NW Montana that is a Superfund site because of mining pollution. Dams and ponds do nothing when you have torrential rains and flooding, causing the cyanide and heavy metal solution to overflow, which has happened at a number of mining sites.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah sure cyanide disappers quickly. We have an old  Phelps Dodge outside Pecos, right on the river. Between the mercury and the cyanide in that area you are not advised to eat the fish. I have fished that area and the coating on my fly poles have been eaten off. Seadog – Still lost at Sea

Response:

  The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp.- America’s largest copper producer- has

<snip has never mined gold in the United States. Wrong. Copper mining in leach pits is very similar to gold mining. Phelps Dodge removes huge quantities of gold from its copper operations.   Cyanide is a highly toxic substance- even in minute amounts.  Mining companies spray cyanide over huge heaps of low grade ore to extract gold. Most mines that use this heap- leach method have leaked cyanide into nearby streams and aquifers where it can persist for a long time.

Actually a mining engineer told me that cyanide is so reactive with carbon compounds, that it is totally absorbed very quickly in a river bed. Oh sure its toxic, but it doesn’t last long or travel far. I understand how you feel about this, but these mining operations are not as slip shod as you suggest. Phelps Dodge uses a closed recycling leach method where the leached metal ions are first removed by electrowining, then the water solution is pumped back onto the leach pile. Dams and pond liners prevent the escape of valuable fluids. Jim

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp.- America’s largest copper producer- has <snip has never mined gold in the United States. Wrong. Copper mining in leach pits is very similar to gold mining. Phelps Dodge removes huge quantities of gold from its copper operations.   Cyanide is a highly toxic substance- even in minute amounts.  Mining companies spray cyanide over huge heaps of low grade ore to extract gold. Most mines that use this heap- leach method have leaked cyanide into nearby streams and aquifers where it can persist for a long time. Actually a mining engineer told me that cyanide is so reactive with carbon compounds, that it is totally absorbed very quickly in a river bed. Oh sure its toxic, but it doesn’t last long or travel far. I understand how you feel about this, but these mining operations are not as slip shod as you suggest. Phelps Dodge uses a closed recycling leach method where the leached metal ions are first removed by electrowining, then the water solution is pumped back onto the leach pile. Dams and pond liners prevent the escape of valuable fluids.

In 1991 the Summitville Mine in Colorado spilled cyanide and heavy metals into the Alamosa River, killing all aquatic life in a 19 mile stretch. This was after assurances were given when the mine opened that "state of the art" pollution controls were being used. There is a 120 mile section of the Clark Fork River in NW Montana that is a Superfund site because of mining pollution. Dams and ponds do nothing when you have torrential rains and flooding, causing the cyanide and heavy metal solution to overflow, which has happened at a number of mining sites.

Response:

            BIG INDUSTRY GOLD MINE WILL RUIN MONTANA RIVER   The Blackfoot River, which has flowed clean and cold in Montana from its headwaters near the continental divide for thousands of years is now being threatened by a huge open-pit cyanide heap-leach mine.  The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp. and Canyon Resources Inc. – the Seven-Up Pete Joint Venture, wants to mine the river’s headwaters for gold.  The mine site, including 172 million pounds of cyanide, which will be poured over 980 million tons of removed ore from the mountain will sit just 1/4 mile from the Blackfoot River.  (The Blackfoot River, by the way was recently made famous by Norman Maclean in his novel "A River Runs Through It".)   To get at the gold, buried 1,200 feet underground in trace amounts, the mining company will have to dismantle two pine-covered buttes, and for each ton of ore, the miners will recover 0.02 ounces of gold.  The remaining pit, more than a mile across and deep enough to hide the Washington Monument will collect groundwater which will be contaminated with heavy metals, and will have to be pumped out at the rate of 15.8 million gallons a day.   In Butte Montana, the Berkely Pit copper mine, which is no longer in operation has a similar sized hole.  The pit is filling up with water, and officials have no way to get rid of the Carcinogen’s, toxins or metals in it, which have already leaked into the water table of the town of Butte.  The mines copper smelter, the Anaconda Smelter has dumped tons of waste sediment into the Clark Fork River which has already caused several fish-kills, and water quality problems in my town, Missoula MT.   The Blackfoot River feeds into the Clark Fork to the East, before it flows into Missoula, which means that a spill or leak of cyanide or heavy metals into the Blackfoot, would also terminally harm the Clark Fork. Both rivers are currently used regularly for rafting, kayaking, fly fishing and other recreations.   The Phelps Dodge Mining Corp.- America’s largest copper producer- has had accidents at virtually all its mines.  It has been cited and fined frequently for toxic discharges into nearby waters.  The company has never mined gold in the United States.   Cyanide is a highly toxic substance- even in minute amounts.  Mining companies spray cyanide over huge heaps of low grade ore to extract gold. Most mines that use this heap- leach method have leaked cyanide into nearby streams and aquifers where it can persist for a long time.  Even in dilute solutions, cyanide kills fish and other life forms.  A leak of this chemical poison into the Blackfoot could finish the river for decades.   In November, the people of Montana will be voting for or against Initiative 122, "The Clean Water Initiative".  This initiative demands higher standards for removal of carcinogens and toxins before being discharged into state waters.  The current law, one of the most lax water quality laws in the country, allows mine discharges to be diluted after release into state waters, where it is measured down stream after a "mixing zone".  The "mixing zone" technique uses the river to dilute waste rather than using expensive machinery to filter it out. The current "easy to mine cheaply" water law is one of the reasons so many mining corporations seek Montana sites over mine sites in other states.   The Phelps Dodge Mining Co. has spent over 1 million dollars on TV and radio adds in recent months, which Missoula and other communities across the state have been bombarded with.  The adds claim that state water laws are sufficient, which they clearly are not, and that stricter laws for removing higher levels of poisons before discharge from mines will put many mines out of business and hurt the states economy. The so-called "Montanans for Common Sense Water Laws" advertisements that the mining industry has created have been cited as being "illegal" by the fair-election watchdog group, "Common Cause".   "Using a misleading name, "Montanans for Common Sense Water Laws," to run a million-dollar media blitz, the Industry is succeeding in changing citizen beliefs, and they’re breaking the law to do it."  (Hal Harper, Democratic state representative from Helena, MT.)  Unfortunately, many people in the state have been scared by these ads, and swayed into believing that I-122 will hurt the economy and that it unfairly targets the mining industry.  The fact is that mining state-wide, accounts for less than one percent of the workforce, and mining has a long history of causing post mining recessions that hurt the economy.     On top of the adds, the mining industry has donated computers to the local high school, X-ray machines to the local clinic and it helped to insulate the local senior citizens facility in an attempt to win support for the upcoming vote against the Clean Water Initiative.  Proponents of I-122 believe that if a mine can not find a way to clean up their mess before they release water into the river, they should not be mining in the first place.     Supporters of I-122 have raised only around 300 thousand dollars toward the fight to make higher water quality standards law, so we need as much support as possible.  The Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Coalition recommends writing or contacting the following people to voice your opinion or concerns:  Write to Montana governor Marc Racicot, who currently favors mining and opposes I-122.                              Gov. Marc Racicot                          Capitol Station                          Helena, MT 59620                          (406)444-3111 The Phelps Dodge Mine Co. has applied to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality  (DEQ) for a permit to build this mine.  Write Sandi Olsen at the DEQ.  Ask her to put you on the mailing list for public scoping on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that the DEQ will prepare once it deems Phelps Dodge’s application complete.  The findings are what determine whether the state approves or denies this permit.                          Sandi Olsen                          Montana DEQ                          P.O. Box 200901                          Helena, MT 59620                          (406)444-4988   Write a letter to your local newspaper.  Explain that the Blackfoot is too precious to trade for the short-term and questionable benefits from mining.  Remember; this is not just a Montana problem.  We all need to speak out against giant corporations that value their own interests of profit and gain over people and environment!  For more information and updates on this issue, please contact the following:                           Clark Fork- pend Oreille Coalition                       P.O. Box 7593                                                     Missoula, MT 59807                       (406)542-0539                       Montana Council of Trout Unlimited                       P.O Box 7186                       Missoula, MT 59807                       (406)543-0054                       Montana Environmental Information Center                       P.O. Box 1184                       Helena, MT 59624                       (406)443-2520    I am a University of Montana student and am not affiliated with any of the above organizations.  I am just attempting to help get the word out that what may happen if I-122 loses, is the destruction of a river and an eco-system that can not be replaced for decades.   Much of the above information came from articles from the San Francisco Examiner, The Missoulian, the Great Falls Tribune, the Clark Fork-pend Oreille Coalition and my own research and discussions with other sources.                   Craig Murphy

Response:

Question:

Hi guys-    Am going to Borneo on a cave mapping trip in October through December. Anybody know anything about the fisheries there or who to contact? -Ralph —

Response:

Hi guys-   Am going to Borneo on a cave mapping trip in October through December. Anybody know anything about the fisheries there or who to contact? -Ralph —

        oh, god, what a great post.  thanks, cutter.  haven’t had a laugh like this in months.                 a. wayne harrison

Response:

        oh, god, what a great post.  thanks, cutter.  haven’t had a laugh like this in months!                 a. wayne harrison

        No. Really.         I’d hate to show up with a box of PMD’s when the centipede hatch was going bonkers.         Seriously though, if anyone has any leads regarding fish or fishing in Borneo I’d appreciate a word. -Me

Response:

        oh, god, what a great post.  thanks, cutter.  haven’t had a laugh like this in months!                 a. wayne harrison         No. Really.         I’d hate to show up with a box of PMD’s when the centipede hatch was going bonkers.         Seriously though, if anyone has any leads regarding fish or fishing in Borneo I’d appreciate a word.

I do not. RE: Fish in Caves… Once I was in a cave in Colorado that had running water in it (on an extended backpacking rip)…it was FULL of brookies…wierd little huge jawed brookies…that would hit anything. We ate a lot of them… We kept ‘em alive on a stringer…bonk one…cut off the head…insert weenie stick along spine and cook like a marshmallow.  DELICIOUS ! TimW

Response:

Try contacting  Hock-Heng Pro Fishing in Singapore , they are pretty knowledgable from what I remember . Unfortunately I do not have their contact information anymore , but remember the name . G

Response:

Question:

My wife and I are driving our camper to Alaska this summer (with part of the trip on the Alaska ferry).  Along with the sightseeing and flyfishing, I do need to keep in touch with my office (unfortunate, but true) because I will be gone for an extended period.  Does anyone have any experience with cellular phones in southeast or southcentral Alaska?  When you get away from Anchorage or Fairbanks, is there any reasonable service?  Thanks for any information.  Please E-mail me in

Response:

: My wife and I are driving our camper to Alaska this summer (with part : of the trip on the Alaska ferry).  Along with the sightseeing and : flyfishing, I do need to keep in touch with my office (unfortunate, : but true) because I will be gone for an extended period.  Does anyone : have any experience with cellular phones in southeast or southcentral : Alaska?  When you get away from Anchorage or Fairbanks, is there any : reasonable service?  Thanks for any information.  Please E-mail me in I recommend that you ignore all answers to this question.  Just go.  If the cell phone doesn’t work, shrug your shoulders, put it in the glove compartment, and tell the office that at least you tried…when you get back. You’ll be oh-so-much more productive for having taken a real vacation, after all. — Laboratory for Applied Logic    Dept. of Computer Science University of Idaho             www: http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~foster —–BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—– Version: 2.6.2 mQCNAzDtvLEAAAEEAKAC21G2Be0K0DMgjLpxrwLmsYfCz8rWcfgyABjr3Ryfk1dO nV7fFFpUF3xohR7die+/B2V9oqRQzTLeSF2ECKlsTY/yUyw2kn+P2ju1umh4Fwzd cVTvc+H69q1+Ft3kmw/PE0Pan+g0PUGGJ43stw3q4OgBHdixbRd/f9giJFDxAAUR tCZKYW1lcyBBLiBGb3N0ZXIgPGZvc3RlckBjcy51aWRhaG8uZWR1PokAlQMFEDD8 ReEXf3/YIiRQ8QEBFrAD/2AFuRWcD/3MENC3qJMC/Or1qxknjkK7Uv+TDf2LHPOY GHBbG9PyWuXQ8of0Dd+JYwf/tzlO9Yk1s1zTdikfriak21FW0bCokxDIhA3myppZ IZDWVA9CyvDYHuP5Ii1NkBvocab813JzDLZA+0iVN5sebGb9zSXR4Za47hlriHeP =RDHK —–END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–

Response:

: My wife and I are driving our camper to Alaska this summer (with part : of the trip on the Alaska ferry).  Along with the sightseeing and : flyfishing, I do need to keep in touch with my office (unfortunate, : but true) because I will be gone for an extended period.  Does anyone : have any experience with cellular phones in southeast or southcentral : Alaska?  When you get away from Anchorage or Fairbanks, is there any : reasonable service?  Thanks for any information.  Please E-mail me in Get serious. It’s time you learned what the word "rural" means.  And you better expect about three days without that precious phone in Canada.  What am I saying…might as well switch it off when you get to Montana. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    | ad hominem University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    | ad hominem Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Response:

Question:

The show is scheduled for September 11-14. In years past, Organizers, Etc. (800 283-2754) have helped attendees with travel and lodging reservations. You might give them a call for details.

Response:

Hello Simon: Contact the staff of the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show at: PO Box 370 Camden, ME 04843 Clay

Response:

I am very keen to attend the Denver Fly Fishing Trade Show in September. Could someone please furnish me with details.

The organization behind the promotion of this show is Fly Rod & Reel Magazine.  Their address is:         Fly Rod & Reel              PO Box 370              Camden, Maine 04843 You can also send E-Mail from their home page at: http://flyfishers.com/fly-rod-reel.html Regards, Trent P Roberson          Rx F Fish "For Your Good Health, Fly Fish" URL=http://www.xnet.com/~rxffish

Response:

I am very keen to attend the Denver Fly Fishing Trade Show in September. Could someone please furnish me with details.

You can write Fly Tackle Dealer Magazine at Box 370 Camden, Maine 04843. You can probably e-mail Fly Rod and Reel (same group) through their web site (sorry, don’t know the Domain Name).    -Ralph Ralph Cutter, California School of Flyfishing. http://www.flyline.com

Response:

Question:

                            FLY FISHING BOOKS                                  FOR THE                                 SPORTSMAN * The American Sportsman Treasury, ‘71, by Knopf.  A collection of Fly Fishing and Hunting stories, with terrific art work and photos.  Chapters on fly fishing for Brown and Rainbow Trout, fly patterns that produce results, bamboo fly rods; and hunting white tail deer, woodcock, water foul, mountain sheep, grouse, etc. All written by famous authors, eg. Charles F. Waterman, Lee Wulff, Leonard M. Wright, Roderick Haig-Brown, William G. Sheldon and many others. An excellent book for the all around sportsman, and a way to reflect on the sporting heritage. * The Treasury of Angling, ‘63 by Koller.  A comprehensive history of angling, and the birth and growth of fly fishing. Chapters on angling in antiquity, early american angling, tackle, flies, entomology, Salmon, Trout, Bass, and other fresh water fish.  Terrific photos and art work.  Learn about the history of fly fishing and game fish, and gain a full sporting knowledge of the art of fly fishing. E-mail me if interested in these books, and I will e-mail cost info. JWTrout/2/11/96

Response:

I’m interested. Thanks, Wayne Lance

Response:

Question:

What’s wrong with polar bear hackle? I use grizzly hackle myself – floats well too, once you remove the claws.

Response:

mr. bulldog- badger refers to the patterning of the feathers, not the type of animal the fur/ feather came from-if you think about this, there is also grizzly hackle, and i believe something called "furnace" hackle which definitely did not come from a furnace…

: Could this be related to Badger hackle?  You guys have been ragging, but : I haven’t seen hackle on a badger, but every fly tier knows, that they : sell badger hackle! : Give the dude a break…hey, I should talk, but I DO have a question?   : Does anyone know where I can get Kodiak hackle? : Bulldog : #                         |  "I am neither loitering nor trespassing.     # : # Paul "Cousin" Graham    |   I have simply chosen an advisable location  # : #                         |     – from the movie, ‘Fletch’                #

Response:

Whatever turns you on !

Seems every year they pull someone out of the polar bear compound who apparently tried that. Seems it’s not too healthy. multitudes of synthetic "furs" available out there? I’ve been tying pike streamers with Super Hair lately. Ties nice if all you want is a straight streamer, but I’d like something with some flare (as in flares like deer hair). Any suggestions? JL 8-Wt Editor

Response:

Hmmm . . . Must be one of them flying polar bears I’ve heared tell about. Could be dangerous if one o’ them critters gets confused an’ lands on some statue down in Nu Yawk City! But, I guess you could get some mighty big necks off one of ‘em! JL 8-Wt Editor

Whatever turns you on ! Pete Marrow, Global Seismology Research Group, British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA. UK. tel: 031-667-1000          Fax: 031-667-1877  

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – mr. bulldog- badger refers to the patterning of the feathers, not the type of animal the fur/ feather came from-if you think about this, there is also grizzly hackle, and i believe something called "furnace" hackle which definitely did not come from a furnace… : Could this be related to Badger hackle?  You guys have been ragging, but : I haven’t seen hackle on a badger, but every fly tier knows, that they : sell badger hackle! : Give the dude a break…hey, I should talk, but I DO have a question?   : Does anyone know where I can get Kodiak hackle? : Bulldog

Mr. Santos, I KNOW why badger and grizzly hackle are so named, but I decided to make a joke.  Whew, I guess you didn’t get the hint from my last question/sentence.  Anyway, I hope that one day, everyone will spend as much on their sense of humor as they do their fly fishing equipment (and some should fork out a little more)! Ruf, Bulldog #                         |  "I am neither loitering nor trespassing.     # # Paul "Cousin" Graham    |   I have simply chosen an advisable location  # #                         |     – from the movie, ‘Fletch’                #

Response:

: mr. bulldog- : : badger refers to the patterning of the feathers, not the type of animal the fur/ : feather came from-if you think about this, there is also grizzly hackle, and And I thought "grizzly hackle" referred to some of those road-kill birds I’ve been known to drag home! Charley

Response:

I recently saw and ad in Flyfishermens Mag. about some guys who sells polar bear hackle.  I was curious to see if anyone has ever used or knows much about it.  

Response:

I recently saw and ad in Flyfishermens Mag. about some guys who sells polar bear hackle.

Hmmm . . . Must be one of them flying polar bears I’ve heared tell about. Could be dangerous if one o’ them critters gets confused an’ lands on some statue down in Nu Yawk City! But, I guess you could get some mighty big necks off one of ‘em! JL 8-Wt Editor

Response:

Could this be related to Badger hackle?  You guys have been ragging, but I haven’t seen hackle on a badger, but every fly tier knows, that they sell badger hackle! Give the dude a break…hey, I should talk, but I DO have a question?   Does anyone know where I can get Kodiak hackle? Bulldog #                         |  "I am neither loitering nor trespassing.     # # Paul "Cousin" Graham    |   I have simply chosen an advisable location  # #                         |     – from the movie, ‘Fletch’                #

Response:

Question:

Perry) writes:

<Move up from a $40 rod: advantages, disadvantages? John– It’s like everything else. While a $40 rod will catch fish, the more you get involved with the sport of fly fishing, the more you appreciate a higher level of performance from your equipment. There’s a maxim that has been around the fly fishing circuit since I started 20 years ago, buy the best you can afford. It still holds ture. The rods in the $300-$400 range are extremely good… Loomis (4 piece and 2 piece IMX, GLX), Sage, and T&T are excellent. If you need to cast a full line, do curve casts, or just want to become the best caster you can be, you’ll need a great (expensive) rod. Low and mid-priced rods will never get you there. Hope this helps. Cordially, Bob Elliott, Rochester, NY

Response:

I’m thinking of moving up to a nicer rod.  So far I’ve been fishing on a $40 graphite.  Is there any advantage/disadvantage to having more or less sections in a rod?  What I mean is, does a 4 piece rod fish as good as a 3, as a 2, etc.?

   The only problem I’ve had or seen with 4 piece rods is a tendency for one or more sections to work loose while you are casting.  I’ve seen and had the end section come off during a cast, although usually its a lower joint and you can feel it before it comes completely off.  Despite this, I have only 4-piece rods now because they can travel as carry-on luggage. — Lloyd Fortney —Opinions, just opinions—

Response:

I have a few rods – one of which is a 4 piece pack rod.  I find the pack rod casts very nicely and wasn’t terribly expensive (St. Croix 8ft. for 4- 5wt lines, $105.00).  If you want a lower cost alternative to the $300-$400 rods and need their line throwing performance, consider building your own.  A little patience and a decent book (I used Skip Morris’s) and you can make a wonderful rod. Good luck, Kris Kristoferson Seattle, WA

Response:

I’m thinking of moving up to a nicer rod.  So far I’ve been fishing on a $40 graphite.  Is there any advantage/disadvantage to having more or less sections in a rod?  What I mean is, does a 4 piece rod fish as good as a 3, as a 2, etc.? Thanks, John P.

Response: