Question:

Larry I probably watched you fly over with the sling loaded. I was there in 67-68 most of my time was around Chu Chi, Long Benh, and Ben Wha. I left Siagon just two days before TET 1968 to come home. Got home and watched on TV places being blown up in Siagon that I had been at two days before. Jerry (also wondering where the time has gone) Springer

It just slipped by, one day at a time. Bob Reed www.kisbuild.r-a-reed-assoc.com      (KIS Builders Site) KIS Cruiser in progress…Slow but steady progress…. "Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and Slide on the Ice!" (M.A.S.H. Sidney Freedman)    

Response:

As he said lets start a war.:) I did not think that highway looked like the ones I remember in Vietnam in 1967 and 68. Jerry

Jerry:  Did the Vietnamese ever paint centerlines?  I think that highway is either in Mass. or in Wisconsin.  I forget…it’s been too long. See my post below.  I know I didn’t fool you older coots.  I was pulling the legs of the younger bucks. BWB

Response:

Here’s a shot just north of An Loc, north of Siagon in 1971 flying the hwy just inside the Cambodian Border.

Same shot is on your website…. http://www.angelfire.com/nv/rvpilot/Helicopter.html Caption reads: A shot going from Sprinfield Mass over to Albany New York in the summer of 1973. I’m flying in the left seat most of the time while everyone else sleeps although I’m not rated I’m having a blast. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I was working for the company in them thar days, flying up to the border (but not crossing) looking for NVA supplies coming from the north down the Ho Chi Minh trail, through Cambodia then back into South Viet Nam.  We were flying real high here….up in the nose-bleed section.  Actually this was a stupid move to be this high.  We were sitting ducks to any sporting young gook who was trying to make his mark and bring down a "Big Bird."  When we flew this high we always placed our service pistola under our genitalia to stop any spurious bulletos from removing our reproductive organals in one surgical swipe of a 25 grain piece of lead moving at 2000 fps vertically and through your seat. BWB

Response:

As he said lets start a war.:) I did not think that highway looked like the ones I remember in Vietnam in 1967 and 68. Jerry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here’s a shot just north of An Loc, north of Siagon in 1971 flying the hwy just inside the Cambodian Border. Same shot is on your website…. http://www.angelfire.com/nv/rvpilot/Helicopter.html Caption reads: A shot going from Sprinfield Mass over to Albany New York in the summer of 1973. I’m flying in the left seat most of the time while everyone else sleeps although I’m not rated I’m having a blast. I was working for the company in them thar days, flying up to the border (but not crossing) looking for NVA supplies coming from the north down the Ho Chi Minh trail, through Cambodia then back into South Viet Nam.  We were flying real high here….up in the nose-bleed section.  Actually this was a stupid move to be this high.  We were sitting ducks to any sporting young gook who was trying to make his mark and bring down a "Big Bird."  When we flew this high we always placed our service pistola under our genitalia to stop any spurious bulletos from removing our reproductive organals in one surgical swipe of a 25 grain piece of lead moving at 2000 fps vertically and through your seat. BWB

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Was in Vietnam 67-68,  in the south most of the time, with 2 different Companies. We had 3 chinooks, use for recovery standby. Our job was sling loading back to base shot down aircraft and some maintenance aircraft. As a crewchief we have to do all maintance work on the CH-47 also. Slept many nights on them. When gunship pilots were in Vienam after 2 months, a lot of them though they were cowboys that could not be shot down. A lot of dumb pilot errors. One of our 330th Chinooks, after 1 1/2 years of flight time, had recovered many hundreds of aircraft. Some day I will have to show a picture of the right side of the Ch-47, with all the painted emblems of the recovered aircraft. One time at Vung Tau, we are working on the aft rotors. We are right next to the refueling depot. A huey is refueling, Another huey set beside him to refuel also. Ah,  the 2 hueys well, they connected rotor blades.What a mess. One of my crew was working on the aft rotor, Jumped to the ground, thats a long jump.. What a mess of chopper parts all over. Came back from service and got my Comm helicopter rating and flew 6 different types. Now days, the cost per hour, is to high to fly them any more. So now, build  fix wing aircraft full time. Now 55 years old. Where did the last 34 Larry Fitzgerald

Larry I probably watched you fly over with the sling loaded. I was there in 67-68 most of my time was around Chu Chi, Long Benh, and Ben Wha. I left Siagon just two days before TET 1968 to come home. Got home and watched on TV places being blown up in Siagon that I had been at two days before. Jerry (also wondering where the time has gone) Springer

Response:

Bob, If it was not for the AFCS it would be a bear to fly. We practice with the AFCS in the off position just to keep in touch with the bird. When the back wheels are on the ground the AFCS is only working 3/4 gain. Once that switch opens the AFCS goes to full gain and if you are not ready you will be along for a ride. We practice two wheel taxi too. It is a difficult balance of controls. A good person does it all without the brakes. There is a sweet spot with the nose in the air. That is the spot where the aircraft will stay put. Raise the nose a little higher than that and you go backward, a little lower and you move forward. This technique is used to back-up without hovering. I think one of the most scariest things is to hover or taxi backward.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All valid points but just a little trivia for ya, The CH-47 has a stick position indicator that must be at zero on the ground. Anything other than that will cause it to do weird things. (Snip) As Artie Johnson used to say, "Verrrrrrrry interesting!"  The AFCS in those ships must be incredible. Back in the 1960s, New York Airways operated the tandem rotor BV-107.  I was an excited twelve year-old, onboard one day when we touched down at JFK on the rear wheels, then taxied toward the Pan Am terminal with the front wheel still off the ground and the ship at a decidedly nose-up attitude.  Neato! My dad flew the predecessor of the CH-47, the Piasecki HUP-1 and HUP-2 way back in the day.  He related that they flew crappy in forward flight, as each rotor wanted to be "lead."  It wasn’t until Frankie’s team developed a workable helipilot for them that they got it to fly reasonably well. I landed in a buddies front yard last weekend in an R-44.  He’d told me to come by and do that anytime I was out screwing around. But, I never thought about his damn dogs.  As soon as I landed he came out and so did his two dogs.  Well, as dogs do, they went nuts watching this goofy machine sitting in their poop zone and ran at me.  They also ran at my tail for some reason. It is strange that dogs run for the tail rotor, and I’ve had that experience too and cannot explain it.  Luckily, the t/r of a 206 on high skids is, as you know, higher than most dogs, so they’d have to jump up to get it.  So far, *that* has thankfully not happened yet.  But with my luck…

Response:

All valid points but just a little trivia for ya, The CH-47 has a stick position indicator that must be at zero on the ground. Anything other than that will cause it to do weird things.

(Snip) As Artie Johnson used to say, "Verrrrrrrry interesting!"  The AFCS in those ships must be incredible. Back in the 1960s, New York Airways operated the tandem rotor BV-107.  I was an excited twelve year-old, onboard one day when we touched down at JFK on the rear wheels, then taxied toward the Pan Am terminal with the front wheel still off the ground and the ship at a decidedly nose-up attitude.  Neato!   My dad flew the predecessor of the CH-47, the Piasecki HUP-1 and HUP-2 way back in the day.  He related that they flew crappy in forward flight, as each rotor wanted to be "lead."  It wasn’t until Frankie’s team developed a workable helipilot for them that they got it to fly reasonably well. I landed in a buddies front yard last weekend in an R-44.  He’d told me to come by and do that anytime I was out screwing around. But, I never thought about his damn dogs.  As soon as I landed he came out and so did his two dogs.  Well, as dogs do, they went nuts watching this goofy machine sitting in their poop zone and ran at me.  They also ran at my tail for some reason.

It is strange that dogs run for the tail rotor, and I’ve had that experience too and cannot explain it.  Luckily, the t/r of a 206 on high skids is, as you know, higher than most dogs, so they’d have to jump up to get it.  So far, *that* has thankfully not happened yet.  But with my luck…

Response:

Was in Vietnam 67-68,  in the south most of the time, with 2 different Companies. We had 3 chinooks, use for recovery standby. Our job was sling loading back to base shot down aircraft and some maintenance aircraft. As a crewchief we have to do all maintance work on the CH-47 also. Slept many nights on them. When gunship pilots were in Vienam after 2 months, a lot of them though they were cowboys that could not be shot down. A lot of dumb pilot errors. One of our 330th Chinooks, after 1 1/2 years of flight time, had recovered many hundreds of aircraft. Some day I will have to show a picture of the right side of the Ch-47, with all the painted emblems of the recovered aircraft. One time at Vung Tau, we are working on the aft rotors. We are right next to the refueling depot. A huey is refueling, Another huey set beside him to refuel also. Ah,  the 2 hueys well, they connected rotor blades.What a mess. One of my crew was working on the aft rotor, Jumped to the ground, thats a long jump.. What a mess of chopper parts all over. Came back from service and got my Comm helicopter rating and flew 6 different types. Now days, the cost per hour, is to high to fly them any more. So now, build  fix wing aircraft full time. Now 55 years old. Where did the last 34 Larry Fitzgerald

Response:

The problem with crouching or ducking when approaching a helicopter is that people who are looking down at their sneakers are not looking where they’re going.  To paraphrase Martha Stewart, this is "a bad thing."   People talk about how a rotor can dip low.  And yes, approaching (or departing) any helicopter when the blades are not up to at least idle rpm is dangerous. Do not walk under undriven rotor blades!  Simple as that. Once the ship is idling, there is *usually* no danger to a man in a normal walk.  Although having said that, there are some small helicopters on low skid gear where the rotor is not all that high off the ground to begin with, in which the "idle" speed can be quite low (e.g. Enstrom).  Of the larger machines, only the Sikorsky S-76 poses a real danger (because of the low landing gear and forward tilt of the mast), but even it can be mitigated if the pilots simply pull back far enough on the cyclic to keep the tip path plane out of harm’s way. In all my years (20+) of flying helicopters, I’ve never had a gust of wind cause my idling rotor to do anything hinky.  Never.  Not saying it’ll won’t or couldn’t happen – just hasn’t.  (Start-up and shut-down?  Different story.) When I fly Bells, I keep the cyclic a little bit aft to hold the tip path plane up.  But I’ve seen pilots who are not very diligent about this.  Cyclics tend to fall forward if left unattended. A lot depends on which ship we’re talking about…  But if you’re a passenger who’s approaching a LongRanger on high-skids.  Can you depend on the pilot to make sure he keeps the tip path plane up and out of your way?  Sadly, no.  You better crouch a little just to be on the safe side.  Even I do, most of the time.  But please, "crouching" does not mean staring at the ground in a low-crawl.  Keep your head up so you can see, okay?  No baseball caps, and no fishing poles held over your shoulder. And no walking around the back of the ship.  That kind of thing makes our hearts stop…and could easily make yours stop too – permanently. "If you don’t know where you’re going,  Any road will take you there."                                          George Harrison

Response:

Slick = UH-1C or D model configured to haul bullits in and bodies out.  The bullets were "preventive medicine" called "dustoff"  now. LOH Light observation helicopter.  Forerunner of the 500 series helo’s. Worked in Hunter Killer teams usually, the loach would draw fire and the gunships would finish the fire.  One neat thing to note,  If a minigun was fixed on a hardpoint you had to have foreward momentum in order to fire, else the recoil would play havoc with the helicopter. BTW the LOH has evolved and is still in the inventory as the AH-6 and MH-6 of 160th SOAR fame. Instead of one minigun they now have two and FFAR boot. Still aimed the same way tho…….high tech grease pencil. and I was born in 71, am i yung enough fer ya ? all the best Sean "still dumpin shell casings out of the ruck and picken HE shrapnel outta the kevlar" Trost

Response:

    First Squadron, Ninth Cav         "Head Hunters"  First Cavalry Division (Airmoble)          1968 – 1969 I flew as a LOH crewchief for about 9 months. Hueys the rest of the year. Shot down twice. Crashed twice due to stupid pilot stunts. Yeah, the first time I was shot at, it was kind of "exhilerating".  The next 10 months weren’t so much fun. My "official" body count was 83, but I think 20 or 25 would be closer to reality.  It’s a Viet Nam thing. You wouldn’t understand… SP5 Richard Lamb       DFC

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here’s a shot just north of An Loc, north of Siagon in 1971 flying the hwy just inside the Cambodian Border. I was working for the company in them thar days, flying up to the border (but not crossing) looking for NVA supplies coming from the north down the Ho Chi Minh trail, through Cambodia then back into South Viet Nam.  We were flying real high here….up in the nose-bleed section.  Actually this was a stupid move to be this high.  We were sitting ducks to any sporting young gook who was trying to make his mark and bring down a "Big Bird."  When we flew this high we always placed our service pistola under our genitalia to stop any spurious bulletos from removing our reproductive organals in one surgical swipe of a 25 grain piece of lead moving at 2000 fps vertically and through your seat. BWB

Bill, I seem to remember a Shorts Skyvan poping into our base (Phu Loi 69-70) every once in a while. Along with the usual single engine stuff. Bill Higdon

Response:

Bob, All valid points but just a little trivia for ya, The CH-47 has a stick position indicator that must be at zero on the ground. Anything other than that will cause it to do weird things. For example; A little forward cyclic while on the ground the computers will slowly drive the rotors forward until the back wheels come off the ground and the squat switch opens. Then the forward tilt will be so fast that you will not be able to react to it and the aircraft will flip on its back. A little too much aft on the ground; if the breaks are set it will raise the nose until the aft rotor strikes the ground. If the breaks are not set it will start rolling backward.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The problem with crouching or ducking when approaching a helicopter is that people who are looking down at their sneakers are not looking where they’re going.  To paraphrase Martha Stewart, this is "a bad thing." People talk about how a rotor can dip low.  And yes, approaching (or departing) any helicopter when the blades are not up to at least idle rpm is dangerous. Do not walk under undriven rotor blades!  Simple as that. Once the ship is idling, there is *usually* no danger to a man in a normal walk.  Although having said that, there are some small helicopters on low skid gear where the rotor is not all that high off the ground to begin with, in which the "idle" speed can be quite low (e.g. Enstrom).  Of the larger machines, only the Sikorsky S-76 poses a real danger (because of the low landing gear and forward tilt of the mast), but even it can be mitigated if the pilots simply pull back far enough on the cyclic to keep the tip path plane out of harm’s way. In all my years (20+) of flying helicopters, I’ve never had a gust of wind cause my idling rotor to do anything hinky.  Never.  Not saying it’ll won’t or couldn’t happen – just hasn’t.  (Start-up and shut-down?  Different story.) When I fly Bells, I keep the cyclic a little bit aft to hold the tip path plane up.  But I’ve seen pilots who are not very diligent about this.  Cyclics tend to fall forward if left unattended. A lot depends on which ship we’re talking about…  But if you’re a passenger who’s approaching a LongRanger on high-skids.  Can you depend on the pilot to make sure he keeps the tip path plane up and out of your way?  Sadly, no. You better crouch a little just to be on the safe side.  Even I do, most of the time.  But please, "crouching" does not mean staring at the ground in a low-crawl.  Keep your head up so you can see, okay?  No baseball caps, and no fishing poles held over your shoulder. And no walking around the back of the ship.  That kind of thing makes our hearts stop…and could easily make yours stop too – permanently. "If you don’t know where you’re going,  Any road will take you there."                                          George Harrison

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The rotor of a Huey is some 11 feet up. It can dip to six, and in a gust, lower than that. 1000 hours combat assault time and I still duck. You flew Hueys? Lemme guess…. WO-1 out of Ft. Rucker, then Air Cav in country. Who with? I remember at Fritsche Field being out on the main ramp sometimes when the Cav detachment would come in. I just loved that unique Huey thump-thump-thump in chorus. Everyone transitioned to hover at about 3 feet, then taxied single-file to the Cav ramp. Always reminded me of circus elephants walking head-to-tail behind each other. David Ah, yes, the days of the Air Cav!!!!  I’m sure this dude was a WO-1 out of Rucker….hell, who wasn’t in them thar days?  You spent your time there before you went out and killed gooks in gun ships or flew dust off in slicks. (any of you younger punks know what a slick is/was?  How about a loach? LOH?)

The kids may not but I remember. At Ft. Ord we’d go over to the Navy Post Graduate School (NPG) O Club since the Navy had the good sense in WWII to buy (appropriate?) the Del Monte Hotel and adjoining grounds. In the bar different units would paint their logos on the 3′x3′ ceiling tiles. The one right above my barstool was an OH-6 Loach hovering under a spreading oak. The inscription read, "Army Loaches do it under the trees!" And Pasture Dave…the UH-1 Huey didn’t go thump-thump-thump….it went WOP-WOP-WOP when you dropped collective pitch for the descent.

Spelling how a sound sounds is not the easiest thing in the world to do, but thump-thump-thump sounds a lot more like a Huey than does Wop-Wop-Wop. I’ll split the difference with you… we’ll call it Whump-Whump-Whump. David

Response:

and I was born in 71, am i yung enough fer ya ? all the best Sean "still dumpin shell casings out of the ruck and picken HE shrapnel outta the kevlar" Trost

At-a-boy Sean!  Nice commentary.  I should have mentioned that I also love the smell of High Explosive (HE) in the mornings. Ahhhh for them good ole days when we blew up the jungle just for kicks. BWB

Response:

A lot depends on which ship we’re talking about…  But if you’re a passenger who’s approaching a LongRanger on high-skids.  Can you depend on the pilot to make sure he keeps the tip path plane up and out of your way?  Sadly, no.  You better crouch a little just to be on the safe side.  Even I do, most of the time.  But please, "crouching" does not mean staring at the ground in a low-crawl.  Keep your head up so you can see, okay?  No baseball caps, and no fishing poles held over your shoulder.

Nice post Bob.  I tell all my pax to maintain eye contact with me from the front as they approach the helicopter and stop outside of the rotor tip radius until I wave them in.  Then walk toward me always maintaining eye contact until you are right up to the cockpit.  Same thing upon disembarking.  You can’t maintain eye contact, but simply walk STRAIGHT FORWARD from the cockpit until you clear the rotors and crouch over a bit while you do. And no walking around the back of the ship.  That kind of thing makes our hearts stop…and could easily make yours stop too – permanently.

I landed in a buddies front yard last weekend in an R-44.  He’d told me to come by and do that anytime I was out screwing around. But, I never thought about his damn dogs.  As soon as I landed he came out and so did his two dogs.  Well, as dogs do, they went nuts watching this goofy machine sitting in their poop zone and ran at me.  They also ran at my tail for some reason.  I think they were drawn to the tailrotor spinning and thought it was a toy to play with.  Luckily I was still spooled up to 104% when they did.  I pulled pitch and lifted off.  From a 5 foot hover I motioned with the back of my hand at the dogs and he got the message, then put them in the house so I could land. I worry more about the tail rotor than anything since I can’t see it. Even landing here at the house there are kids on dirt bikes that drive up all the time while I’m winding down.  I’ve decided to put a fence around the pad just to protect them.  And, as you said above.  If you want to stop the heart of any helicopter pilot, just walk around toward the back of the ship.  I got a belt of lightening through my spine just reading your sentence and thinking about it. BWB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"If you don’t know where you’re going, Any road will take you there."                                         George Harrison

Response:

Here’s a shot just north of An Loc, north of Siagon in 1971 flying the hwy just inside the Cambodian Border. I was working for the company in them thar days, flying up to the border (but not crossing) looking for NVA supplies coming from the north down the Ho Chi Minh trail, through Cambodia then back into South Viet Nam.  We were flying real high here….up in the nose-bleed section.  Actually this was a stupid move to be this high.  We were sitting ducks to any sporting young gook who was trying to make his mark and bring down a "Big Bird."  When we flew this high we always placed our service pistola under our genitalia to stop any spurious bulletos from removing our reproductive organals in one surgical swipe of a 25 grain piece of lead moving at 2000 fps vertically and through your seat. BWB

Response:

Just like many here have stated. The rotorhead my be way up there but the tip-path-plan can get REALLY low. I fly the CH-47D Chinook. The rotorhead is up there some 25 feet but the tip-path-plan of the front rotor can easily dip to 4 feet or less. The AH-64 and AH-1 is way up there to but it is not uncommon in a radical control movement to take out the gunner in the front seat. When you are around a helicopter with all its moving pieces you should do two thing. Err on the safe side ALWAYS. Second just as important as the first, FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. If it is a helicopter with crewchiefs make sure they see you and you watch them ALWAYS. If it just a pilot, make absolutely sure he sees you before you come under the rotors.

Response:

yea… that’s who we need to get over hear from rec.aviation.rotorcraft. There was a good thread awhile back on this one and an "OSHA"/collegiate based attorney put up an entertaining battle over theoretical law and 2nd grade common sense.  That was a fun one!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Chris Woodhouse wrote … I have a question for you.  Why does everyone on tv bend over when they walk up to a helicopter with the rotors spinning?  I mean the rotors are way over their head so why duck? May not need to duck, but the rotors aren’t all that much higher. Back in September a Latin American pop star exited a copter & waved to his waiting fans — promptly losing several fingers to the rotors. Google for details.

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You flew Hueys? Lemme guess…. WO-1 out of Ft. Rucker, then Air Cav in country. Who with? I remember at Fritsche Field being out on the main ramp sometimes when the Cav detachment would come in. I just loved that unique Huey thump-thump-thump in chorus. Everyone transitioned to hover at about 3 feet, then taxied single-file to the Cav ramp. Always reminded me of circus elephants walking head-to-tail behind each other. David

Ah, yes, the days of the Air Cav!!!!  I’m sure this dude was a WO-1 out of Rucker….hell, who wasn’t in them thar days?  You spent your time there before you went out and killed gooks in gun ships or flew dust off in slicks. (any of you younger punks know what a slick is/was?  How about a loach? LOH?) And Pasture Dave…the UH-1 Huey didn’t go thump-thump-thump….it went WOP-WOP-WOP when you dropped collective pitch for the descent. I loved the Hueys.  Hell, I’ve got about 2000 hours logged just sleeping on the cot in the back. You speak about the transition from ETL (effective translational lift) into a hover.  What a roar that was in a UH-1.  The whole thing shook like the world was coming to an end.  Those days were a ball…taking enemy fire as you let down between the trees (chopping branches off) as your gunner was dusting the gooks with 50 cal rounds….the smell of napalm and death everywhere…it was exhilerating.   I was in Fire-3 (a HU-1H) one day when we took three bullets through the tail cone and the drive shaft to the tail rotor was severed.  It was a ball, we flew back to base at Pleiku at treetop level and about 120 knots then did a run on landing at about 60 knots into a rice paddy in water about 6 feet deep.  We didn’t give a shit.  We were half drunk and it was government equipment anyway…trashed the fucking  Huey.  That night back in my hooch we drank distilled pineapple juice that was about 100 proof and told lies about the day. I remember some guys had smuggled some whores in from the Qui Nhon who were real pretty and hid them in my buddies hooch next to mine.  They were giggling and laughing and drunk too.  We had some God damn fucking Major in there for inspections, but the other guys got him drunk early on and dished one of the whores to him to make him look the other way. One of my buddies (Rich Gilmore, call sign Gillous) took a few hard hits to his main rotor system in a loach and had to dump it in a hot zone.  I guess the gooks were everywhere.  Gillous called in the air boss for a naplm run and a couple F-4 Phantoms were handy.  They napalmed the whole area for about 15 minutes until he could use that 100 mph aluminum tape on his fucked up rotorblade to put the skin back together enough to fly it.  He spooled it up, pulled pitch and blew out of the hot LZ shaking like a God damn volcano or an earthquake at full roar.  The tape held half way back to Kontum but over Dak To she let go and he had to land agian for more field repair with 100 mph tape.  He took on fire the instant they got below treeline from some unfriendlies… it got worse when they landed, so…what do you do? What any red blooded WO-1 would do… more air support by the Air Farce to burn down the jungle and any unsuspecting shooting gook. Once the gooks were creamated and he’d rotor-braked the thing to a stop he jumped on a half cut down tree to grab the blade with the torn skin…three wraps of tape around it and he was back in spooling up the turbine before Charlie woke up and started firing again. Like the Air Cav that he was, he was off once again, roaring south to our base just north of Kontum…and he made it because he was drinking "hot" pinapple juice with us that night and telling us how brave he was. And to the guy who asked the quesiton about ducking as you walk up to the cockpit.  Jesus, you better duck.  A gust or a pilot simply scratching his balls might hit the cyclic (Stick to you fixed wing assholes), deflect it full left, right or forward and the rotor tips might even hit the damn ground.  The smart guy not only ducks when getting close to one of these contraptions, he crawls on the ground to mount one…especially in combat because the pilot might be drunk as hell to begin with. BWB

Response:

Chris Woodhouse wrote … I have a question for you.  Why does everyone on tv bend over when they walk up to a helicopter with the rotors spinning?  I mean the rotors are way over their head so why duck?

May not need to duck, but the rotors aren’t all that much higher. Back in September a Latin American pop star exited a copter & waved to his waiting fans — promptly losing several fingers to the rotors. Google for details.

Response:

The rotor of a Huey is some 11 feet up. It can dip to six, and in a gust, lower than that. 1000 hours combat assault time and I still duck.

You flew Hueys? Lemme guess…. WO-1 out of Ft. Rucker, then Air Cav in country. Who with? I remember at Fritsche Field being out on the main ramp sometimes when the Cav detachment would come in. I just loved that unique Huey thump-thump-thump in chorus. Everyone transitioned to hover at about 3 feet, then taxied single-file to the Cav ramp. Always reminded me of circus elephants walking head-to-tail behind each other. David

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 [Image]

I have a question for you.  Why does everyone on tv bend over when they walk up to a helicopter with the rotors spinning?  I mean the rotors are way over their head so why duck? — Chris

Response:

I have a question for you.  Why does everyone on tv bend over when they walk up to a helicopter with the rotors spinning?  I mean the rotors are way over their head so why duck?

Speak for yourself, Shorty!  :-) Seriously, I think it is both a natural reaction, and a wise one.  When I was in the Army, we constantly lost soldiers to main rotor strikes.  Not as common as problems with people running into the rear rotor, but at least once a year.  If the ground is uneven, or something strange causes the blades to flex, they can take the head off of a six foot individual.  A Blackhawk is a big bird, but even though the mast is way up over head, that doesn’t mean the tips are not closer than 6 feet to the ground where you are walking. Eric

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The rotor of a Huey is some 11 feet up. It can dip to six, and in a gust, lower than that. 1000 hours combat assault time and I still duck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a question for you.  Why does everyone on tv bend over when they walk up to a helicopter with the rotors spinning?  I mean the rotors are way over their head so why duck? Speak for yourself, Shorty!  :-) Seriously, I think it is both a natural reaction, and a wise one.  When I was in the Army, we constantly lost soldiers to main rotor strikes.  Not as common as problems with people running into the rear rotor, but at least once a year.  If the ground is uneven, or something strange causes the blades to flex, they can take the head off of a six foot individual.  A Blackhawk is a big bird, but even though the mast is way up over head, that doesn’t mean the tips are not closer than 6 feet to the ground where you are walking. Eric

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Question:

Im looking for any ‘how to tie’ freshwater jigs sites. Any recomendations? Jay Wirth Renaissance Ink Member GPA

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The basic process is very similar to tying streamer flies. Do a search on "fly tying" and have at it. For ideas on patterns, etc. look at local fly fishing shops and copy some of their patterns, or try another search for pre-made jigs to give you some ideas. Hope this helps, John McCabe — How would you like to catch more fish? FREE tip sheet.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Im looking for any ‘how to tie’ freshwater jigs sites. Any recomendations? Jay Wirth Renaissance Ink Member GPA

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Question:

For practice, try standing with your off-side shoulder to your target (ie: your feet will point 90

Question:

playing the fish I was shocked to discover a Channel Catfish (~3 lbs.) on the end of my line!!  I have never seen a catfish take a fly, but was even more astounded that it had taken a dry fly!!

Thanks for the post David.From another flatlander.I too am adicted to bluegills on a 3-weight.(you can’t have too many good 3-weight rods.)I enjoy taking catfish on my 3-weight rods, but have not been able to figure out how to do it on a more than once in a while basis and then seldom on the surface.My experience is that they are hell  on leaders, but who cares after a 20 minute fight? Big Dale PS My latest 3 weight Scott purchased from E-Bay was delivered by the postman yesterday. I had a good  visit with the postman who is another flyfisherman. Should be on my favorite bluegill pond about daybreak to check out the new rod.

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which I am only able to read. So maybe you can tell us… Which came first?

I am sure Indian Joe will be able to give first hand knowledge to George. God would’nt you like to be a fly on the wall at that event!!!!! Big Dale

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Lurking for 4 years!!??  Man, you must have the patience of a saint to stay out of some of these threads.  This past Tuesday I returned from a 7 day trip to Alaska, to find over 1,000 posts accumulated here on ROFF….I read most of them. (certain people on here are always worth reading)  After reading, it once again became clear to me why I am still here after nearly 5 years, this damned NG is not only enlightening, but entertaining as well.  If you want or need a comparison with a similar to that group too for more than 5 years.  This is a ‘moderated’ group, with the listowner who controls the content, ie: no flame wars, keep the to dress up, put on my Sunday best and behave while I’m there.  Over here, HA!  just amble on in wearing nothing but my boxers and a 3 day it’s just that this motley bunch has much more to offer in the way of entertainment value.  To quote our Mr G…"God, I love this place!" — Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF  RET.

|Greetings.  I have been lurking in this group for about 4 years, but |have been completely satisfied with just reading the different posts. |Now I am ready to join in the melee with a report of my own. | |Being a flatlander my main quarry is the largemouth bass and the |bluegill, and the other night (after work) I felt the need to bend a |rod.  I went to a local farm pond to catch a few bluegill.  I grabbed |my trusty 3 wt. and the appropriate boxes of flies to go after some |wary bluegill.  I tied on a sponge spider and immediately caught |several bluegill.  I decided to change flies and selected a Madame X |to see if I could entice more bluegill to jump on my line. | |Imagine my surprise when my rod almost came out of my hands.  Before I |knew what was happening my rod was bent over and my pile of slack line |was beginning to disappear!  I knew I had a larger fish and figured it |was a bass.  The problem was I didn’t know how big and whether, or |not, it would break my 1.5 pound tippet.  After 20 minutes, or so, of |playing the fish I was shocked to discover a Channel Catfish (~3 lbs.) |on the end of my line!!  I have never seen a catfish take a fly, but |was even more astounded that it had taken a dry fly!! | |I guess it just goes to show that fly fishing is always an adventure. |BTW, the bluegill action continued until dark once I got over the |shock of catching the catfish. | |David R. Felter |"The mind is like a parachute.  It doesn’t work if it’s not opened." |

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Love it! I have seen and caught catfish on a fly – nymph fished extremely slow on the bottom though.  It is a rare occurrence.

During the whitefly hatch in July and August on the Susquehanna river, catching catfish on drys and emergers is fairly common, although I have never caught one of the big cats I know are in the river when fishing on the surface.  After a while you can tell the difference between a catfish rise and a smallmouth rise and target either species.  The catfish fight more like an old tire – no match for the smallies. Mark Faulkner

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Lurking for 4 years!!??  Man, y

Frank, did ya catch any in AK? –Walt

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I have been using the Madame X tied in black on a size 10 hook in late summer and early fall for the past several years. It is *very* effective on trout from early September until the first hard frost. I think it represents a cricket, but it might just be an attactor. I havn’t tried it on warmwater fish, but I suspect it would be deadly on bass and sunfish. George Adams

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Lurking for 4 years!!??  Man, you must have the patience of a saint to stay out of some of these threads.  

<snipped It has tried my patience occassionally, but two little girls were taking too much of my time to get involved in a good (?) C&R discussion, or whether George was spamming, or fishing has become too high tech, or whether a seperate tying news group is a good idea (going back a couple of years), etc.  :-)     Anyway the girls are older and I have a _little_ more free time to become involved in the discussions.  So watch out!  :-) David R. Felter "The mind is like a parachute.  It doesn’t work if it’s not opened."

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It has tried my patience occassionally, but two little girls were taking too much of my time to get involved in a good (?) C&R discussion, or whether George was spamming, or fishing has become too high tech, or whether a seperate tying news group is a good idea (going back a couple of years), etc.  :-)

You do go back a ways.  The fact that you’re still here should be, well, disturbing to your family and friends. Anyway the girls are older and I have a _little_ more free time to become involved in the discussions.  So watch out!  :-)

I have two girls who were little once, but quite mysteriously have become young women who need to be shielded from certain attorneys in the old north state, lest their hearts be forever captured.  Anyhow, enjoy their presence now for they are too soon gone. Mark Faulkner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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I have two girls who were little once, but quite mysteriously have become young women who need to be shielded from certain attorneys in the old north state, lest their hearts be forever captured.  Anyhow, enjoy their presence now for they are too soon gone. Mark Faulkner

        you know, markey, i meant to talk with you about those little rascals; i mean, where could be the harm in a couple picture exchanges and a few nights reading the advance sheets together…         wayno, who wouldn’t *dare*. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Love it! I have seen and caught catfish on a fly – nymph fished extremely slow on the bottom though.  It is a rare occurrence. Now the important question – What’s the pattern for the MadamX? I know rubberlegs tend to drive Bluegill crazy. — Bill Endicott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings.  I have been lurking in this group for about 4 years, but have been completely satisfied with just reading the different posts. Now I am ready to join in the melee with a report of my own. Being a flatlander my main quarry is the largemouth bass and the bluegill, and the other night (after work) I felt the need to bend a rod.  I went to a local farm pond to catch a few bluegill.  I grabbed my trusty 3 wt. and the appropriate boxes of flies to go after some wary bluegill.  I tied on a sponge spider and immediately caught several bluegill.  I decided to change flies and selected a Madame X to see if I could entice more bluegill to jump on my line. Imagine my surprise when my rod almost came out of my hands.  Before I knew what was happening my rod was bent over and my pile of slack line was beginning to disappear!  I knew I had a larger fish and figured it was a bass.  The problem was I didn’t know how big and whether, or not, it would break my 1.5 pound tippet.  After 20 minutes, or so, of playing the fish I was shocked to discover a Channel Catfish (~3 lbs.) on the end of my line!!  I have never seen a catfish take a fly, but was even more astounded that it had taken a dry fly!! I guess it just goes to show that fly fishing is always an adventure. BTW, the bluegill action continued until dark once I got over the shock of catching the catfish. David R. Felter "The mind is like a parachute.  It doesn’t work if it’s not opened." ______  GREAT!  Thanks for sharing it.  The Madam X was invented by John Foust and I sat right next to him while WE tied it together. He would ask, "What do you think of this?"  And, I’d say, tie it all forward, bring it back to make the head and the wings will explode . . . and he did.  John thought of adding the rubber legs.  Then we later went to the B-52 for the big salmon fly hatch on the Bitterroot.  Yes, John is a marvelous fly tier but I did help him create it, which is of great pride to me.  But John Foust deserves 95% of doing it all by himself.  He sure turned into a pretty good fly fisherman.  I have stories of John that will tickle your funny bone.  His is a funny man and a very smart one also. George — Mr. G. ‘all’s fair with fur or feather’ http://216.55.26.157/vchat/ http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com (Bamboo Is Fun) http://www.xink.com 509-243-4100 or 5500

Question:

______  Is active and getting repaired. We are having wonderful discussions around the camp site.  Some are snoring away in their tents. — Mr. G.   ‘all’s fair with fur or feather’ http://216.55.26.157/vchat/   http://www.gink.com http://www.rodbuilding.com (Bamboo Is Fun) http://www.xink.com 509-243-4100 or 5500

Question:

Hello Ken, This is something I’ve been doing quite a bit in the last couple of years. I’m certainly no expert, but here are a few thoughts.. For tackle I recommend a fairly stiff 8 weight rod with a Lamson reel.  You can get away with Pfleuger or a Scientific Angler but they’ll require more care and aren’t as smooth.  Use 20 lb. dacron backing.  Nothing your going to hook is going to run that far.  Even a big red usually stays within 100 yds of where he was hooked so you don’t need Bonefish gear. This rig will handle bass, redfish, speckled trout and the occasional flounder.  You’ll have to deal with wind.  Just the way it goes.  Try the Scientific Anglers Mastery series Wind Cheater line.  Helps a bit.  I also use a slow sinking line a lot and it’s a bit easier to cast into the wind.  I’d go with the Wind Cheater to start with.  Takes some of the edge off of being a beginner. The single most effective lure for me is a chartreuse/white Clouser minnow. Works on Reds and Specks under most circumstances.  Later you can go with some crab patterns for Reds and some Seaducers and Leftys Deceivers for Specks. Don’t discount Crazy Charlies either.. great under the lights for Specks. There are other patterns.. Roadkills, different shrimp imitations, but if you head out with half-a-dozen Clousers and a couple or lighter streamers, you’ll handle most of what you encounter. Is this what you wanted to know? Andy Schreckenghost Houston TX – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to fly fishing and in need of information for fishing in the coastal bend.  For instance reel and rod recommendations.  I hear that the wind is a consideration when fishing in the bay. I would appreciate any information. Thank you, Ken Clay

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I am new to fly fishing and in need of information for fishing in the coastal bend.  For instance reel and rod recommendations.  I hear that the wind is a consideration when fishing in the bay. I would appreciate any information. Thank you, Ken Clay

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Question:

                Hi!         I am wondering if anyone has ever used the Gorilla and Sons                   Vise you see in all the fly fishing and fly tying                   magazines. I am asking if anyone has ever used this v                vise and if it has good hook holding power and how it d               does  VS. the Thompson "A" vise.  Wich one                     would you reccomend is a better beginner  vise                         THANKS!                                 Dolph                      

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The Gorilla vise is junk- mine wouldn’t even assemble. Evan

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Question:

  Is there anyone out there that shares the same passion as me for fishing in the Niagara region?  If you live in Niagara and an experienced/unexperienced angler who fishes Port Dalhousie, the Whirlpool, Queenston Sand Docks, Pebbley Beach or the upper Niagara Rapids, I would like to hear from you!   I am especially interested in the spring Rainbow runs and the fall Chinook runs but I fish all year round for these species.  In the summer I devote most of my time to Smallmouth fishing.   If you would like any advice or tips about this region or if you have any advice or comments for me, I’m anxious to hear from you!!  

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 Is there anyone out there that shares the same passion as me for fishing in the Niagara region?  If you live in Niagara and an experienced/unexperienced angler who fishes Port Dalhousie, the Whirlpool, Queenston Sand Docks, Pebbley Beach or the upper Niagara Rapids, I would like to hear from you!  I am especially interested in the spring Rainbow runs and the fall Chinook runs but I fish all year round for these species.  In the summer I devote most of my time to Smallmouth fishing.  If you would like any advice or tips about this region or if you have any advice or comments for me, I’m anxious to hear from you!!  

  I one of those anglers whose has traveled up and down the 300 some odd stairs that lead to the Whirlpools.  For anyone out there who hasn’t fished any part of the Niagra I highly reccommend it.  I never fished a river with so much species diversity, you don’t know what your going to catch.  I’ve caught lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, chinook salmon and smallmouth bass, all out of Canada’s largest fishing hole "the Whirlpools".  The majority of my succes in the fall comes from fishing chinook skeen or brown roe, also being a fly fisherman I always find drifting a large attractor pattern such as a Maribou Matuka or big nymph patterns is worth a shot.  If you want to catch some big fish give the Niagra a chance you won’t be sorry.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Is there anyone out there that shares the same passion as me for fishing in the Niagara region?  If you live in Niagara and an experienced/unexperienced angler who fishes Port Dalhousie, the Whirlpool, Queenston Sand Docks, Pebbley Beach or the upper Niagara Rapids, I would like to hear from you!  I am especially interested in the spring Rainbow runs and the fall Chinook runs but I fish all year round for these species.  In the summer I devote most of my time to Smallmouth fishing.  If you would like any advice or tips about this region or if you have any advice or comments for me, I’m anxious to hear from you!!     I one of those anglers whose has traveled up and down the 300 some odd stairs that lead to the Whirlpools.  For anyone out there who hasn’t fished any part of the Niagra I highly reccommend it.  I never fished a river with so much species diversity, you don’t know what your going to catch.  I’ve caught lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, chinook salmon and smallmouth bass, all out of Canada’s largest fishing hole "the Whirlpools".  The majority of my succes in the fall comes from fishing chinook skeen or brown roe, also being a fly fisherman I always find drifting a large attractor pattern such as a Maribou Matuka or big nymph patterns is worth a shot.  If you want to catch some big fish give the Niagra a chance you won’t be sorry.

   I have also fished the Whirlpool for a number of years.  It was one of those well kept "secret" spots.  I usually climb down the cliff from the park above the whirlpool.  You are right, you can catch just about anything there, even catfish or whatever you call them.  I call them hornpout.  We caught some nice rainbows last weekend and a few Kings, Landlocks, and a coho.  The Lake trout are pests.  You get tired playing 8-10 lb. lake trout all day long but I guess you have to take a little bad with the good. — Bgame

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Question:

   The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:    1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?  Should I seek an exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?    2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it together.    3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being twenty-one feet shorter?    Thanks for any information anyone can provide!    Larry Larry Dawson                                      Lincoln, NE   USA    "The concept of the "work week" is one of the more deadening    aspects of our civilization, robbing us of, among other    things, allthe great ideas that could be hatched by people    who’d do their best thinking at two in the morning if they    weren’t too tired of working allday …"          The View From Rat Lake,  John Gierach

Response:

Most fly line manufacturers (Sci Ang and Cortland)  will replace free of charge a defective line.  Just send the remaining old line back with your message of what happened.

Response:

  The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:   1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?  Should I seek an exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?

Well, being as you don’t even have a clue as to how you broke it, it’s a bit presumptuous for anyone to pass judgement in this regard. You could certainly give the exchange route a try, but don’t bet the fishfarm on it…   2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it together.

Frankly, I wouldn’t. I suppose one could use something like acetone to dissolve a few inches or so of the coating at both ends, come up with some way to join the cores together (anyone think of a good knot for that?) and then build up the splice with Goo or something similar to match the diameter of the line. But this seems like going to heroic measures for possibly dissappointing results.   3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being twenty-one feet shorter?

You cannot reverse a "Weight Forward" line and have anything even remotely similar to the original casting qualities. You were able to reverse the Cortland line because it was undoubtably a DT – "Double Taper" – line. If you check out the stuff that came with your current line there should be a description of the various tapers on the different lines, and you’ll see that there are significant differences in the front and back tapers of a typical WF line… In summary I suspect you just learned a valuable – if costly – lesson… /dave <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <           "Read this and nobody gets hurt"           < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

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   The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:    3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being twenty-one feet shorter?

hi, You definitely DON"T want to reverse this line ! A WF line has the first 30 feet or so for casting and the rest is a "shooting" or travelling line. If you reversed one in the past, it was probably a double taper line, and that is the big advantage, being able to reverse. I would certainly ask about compensation, they are supposed to be tougher than that.(on the other hand, rocks do cause problems!) Good Luck. Tight Lines Tackle Shop and Guide Service Lockeport, Nova Scotia, Canada

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t
know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I
bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly
line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:
   1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?  Should I seek an
exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?
   2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it
together.
   3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the
opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being
able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being
twenty-one feet shorter?
   Thanks for any information anyone can provide!
   Larry
Larry Dawson                                      Lincoln, NE   USA
   "The concept of the "work week" is one of the more deadening
   aspects of our civilization, robbing us of, among other
   things, allthe great ideas that could be hatched by people
   who’d do their best thinking at two in the morning if they
   weren’t too tired of working allday …"
         The View From Rat Lake,  John Gierach

About a year ago there was an article in Fly Angler Mag on how to splice fly lines together. The author used a short length of 20 to 35 pound test monofilament (depending on diameter of fly line), and using sandpaper sort of sharpened the ends of the mono. Then he used a small drop of 5 minute epoxy on the ends of the mono and slipped the ends of the mono up the core of the fly line on both ends of the cut. If you have the right length of mono you can butt the ends of the fly line next to each other, and the excess epoxy sealed the ends together. You can only get the mono about a quarter inch inside the fly line, so the entire splice is only about a half an inch long. This is the way I attach a length of mono to the end of my fly line and then tie a loop in the end of the mono for a loop to loop connection with my leader, so I can attest to the strength of the connection. I may be able to find the article, so if you are interested send me your snail mail address and I’ll send you a xerox copy of it. Darryl Hayashida

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There is another method for repairing this line, that Lefty Kreh talks about in the tackle Symposium, of his Little Library series.  Use some braided monofilament(50#) like a "chinese handcuff" and then whip the ends of the braided mono and apply some pliobond.  Should hold up just fine, if you can’t get a new line from Cortland. Crashjibe

Response:

Hi. Im Murray and I run a fly fishing school in the Toronto area.  I have quite a number of lines that are used every weekend by novices who really beat up the lines and equipment.   I have quite a number of lines that have been used like this for many years and I have never had a line break ever.  I think that you should take it back, its obviously defective.  If they wont take it back there are knots that you can use to splice it together.  I have never dont this so I dont know of any off the top of my head but you should be able to find them in a good fly fishing book.   Your question about turning the line around is valid, but this can only be done if it is a double tapered line.  if it is a weight forward line it cant be turned around.  (Well it could but it wouldnt cast very well.) I probably shouldn’t say this but I have not found a Fenwick line that I have ever liked.  I don’t think that they compare to a good courtland or sientific anglers line. hope that this helps.   Murray.  Murray’s Fly Fishing School. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   The first twenty-one and half feet of my fly line broke off!  I don’t  know what happened other than I must have stepped on it on a rock.  I  bought it just a couple of weeks ago.  It is Fenwick’s World Class fly   line, Trout class, WF-6-F.  My questions are:   1.  Should it be more abrasion resistant than this?   Should I seek an  exchange (Cabelas or Fenwick)?   2.  Is it salvageable?  I wouldn’t think one would want to splice it  together.   3.  The Cortland I had previously could be reversed on the reel and the  opposite end used as the casting end.  I didn’t find any mention of being  able to do this with this line.  Would I even want to with it being  twenty-one feet shorter?   Thanks for any information anyone can provide!   Larry    /     AOL:  LarryD39   "The concept of the "work week" is one of the more deadening   aspects of our civilization, robbing us of, among other   things, allthe great ideas that could be hatched by people   who’d do their best thinking at two in the morning if they   weren’t too tired of working allday …"         The View From Rat Lake,  John Gierach  

Response:

LARRY: I WOULD SUGGEST THE RETURN TO THE STORE METHOD.  YOU CAN TRY A BLIND SPLICE AS SUGGESTED, BUT IF YOUR NOT FAMLIAR WITH IT, I WOULDN’T UNDERTAKE IT RIGHT NOW FOR A LINE YOU WILL FISH REGULARLY.  ON THE RETURN TO THE STORE THOUGH, THE SHOP OWNER SHOULD’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.  FENWICK HAS A VERY GOOD GUARANTEE ON THE BACK OF THIER PACKAGING.  MOST OF THESE MANUFACTURERS WANT TO KEEP YOU USING THIER PRODUCT AND THEY DO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AS TO " IT JUST BROKE", IT’S CALLED KEEP THE PRODUCT IN THE CUSTOMERS HANDS.  HOWVEVER, THEY DO APPRECIATE A LITTLE EFFORT ON THE PART OF CONSUMER AS TO HOW YOU THINK IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED, POSSIBLY COMBINED WITH COMMENTS ON PROIR HAPPINESS.  I’D GO THE REPLACEMENT ROUTE WITH THE STORE FIRST AND IF THAT DIDN’T WORK, THEN MAIL IT BACK TO FENWICK – I’D BE VERY SURPISED IF THEY DIDN’T HELP.  I’D LIKE TO HEAR HOW YOU MAKE OUT. GOOD LUCK, BOB/FL.

Response:

Question:

I have only recently picked up the art of Flyfishing and I have not gone fishing before the drought. Because of all the rain this year I am wondering if there will be areas that will be closed or just unfishable due to the excess of water. I live in the bay area, and Hat creek is about six hours from my house. If anyone has any sugestions about where I can go, within that same range, please respond. E-mail me or respond in this newsgroup.

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I have only recently picked up the art of Flyfishing and I have not gone fishing before the drought. Because of all the rain this year I am wondering if there will be areas that will be closed or just unfishable due to the excess of water. I live in the bay area, and Hat creek is about six hours from my house. If anyone has any sugestions about where I can go, within that same range, please respond. E-mail me or respond in this newsgroup.

Hi Tim:  Try Lewiston Lake on the Trinity River during the spring.  It is about the same distance as Hat Creek.  Lewiston has lots of hatches, good access, and good flyfishing.  Its pretty well known, much like Hat Creek but there is always alot of room to fish.  Float tubes, prams, and canoes are great but there is good shore access too.  Get information and flies at the Fly Shop in Redding.  By the way, two years ago when we had a big winter, I can’t remember any problems with high water.  Streams that are regulated below reservoirs usually run pretty clear when other places are brown. Best of luck.

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I tried Lewiston last Spring-May and was rather diasappoiunted. Only a few small planters. Was last year a bad year, flow through Lewiston was really up and maybe this had something to do with it?

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I have only recently picked up the art of Flyfishing and I have not gone fishing before the drought. Because of all the rain this year I am wondering if there will be areas that will be closed or just unfishable due to the excess of water. I live in the bay area, and Hat creek is about six hours from my house. If anyone has any sugestions about where I can go, within that same range, please respond. E-mail me or respond in this newsgroup.

Right now, no. Later in mid July to late August, The Kings River and Kaweah River are pretty good. Both have lots of trout, but most are in the 10 inch range. There are also lots of 24 inchers but you really have to know where to go and how to fish them. Most people around here don’t. Both Rivers are about 2 hours south east of Fresno. The lower Kings opens up early in the year, and is only 20 minutes from Fresno, but I’m not real familure with that part of the river. Dave

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have only recently picked up the art of Flyfishing and I have not gone fishing before the drought. Because of all the rain this year I am wondering if there will be areas that will be closed or just unfishable due to the excess of water. I live in the bay area, and Hat creek is about six hours from my house. If anyone has any sugestions about where I can go, within that same range, please respond. E-mail me or respond in this newsgroup. Right now, no. Later in mid July to late August, The Kings River and Kaweah River are pretty good. Both have lots of trout, but most are in the 10 inch range. There are also lots of 24 inchers but you really have to know where to go and how to fish them. Most people around here don’t.

I’ve fished the South Fork of the Kaweah River quite a few times above Ladybug Camp but have never fished any of the other rivers in the area. Any suggestions? — John Fereira "Guru of Miscellany" Pleasanton, CA "i’m new to the internet and don’t know what i am doing."            – anonymous

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