Question:

Man, that does sound like a fun technique! Here, fishy, fishy… john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My kennel manager is on vacation, so lots of work for me, but I have been getting out for an hour or two after dinner. Fishing has been good and I’ve come across something I find interesting. At sunset, there are large numbers of spinners (I’m guessing they’re spinners but I haven’t been able to catch one) flying just over the surface occasionally skimming it. There are also some large Mayfly duns and a small Mayfly duns on the surface. There are a few splashy rises from fish chasing emergers but by far the majority of the "risers" are fish jumping clear out of the water to snag one of the spinners flying over the surface. I’ve seen this on an occasional basis, but some of the fish are doing this from a set feeding station and are jumping for the flies on a regular basis. This includes some decent fish. They totally ignore any of the duns that drift by. The flies are only about a size 16/18, so this jumping doesn’t seem "energy efficient" but me, but I’m no fish. I’ve been able to catch a few of them swinging soft hackles. I’ve also caught a some on a dry or emerger tied on an upper a bloodknot dropper with a weighted nymph below. The weighted nymph serves as an anchor and by holding the rod high, the fly on the dropper can be made to skim the surface, stay above it or bounce on the surface. It’s the closest I can come to imitating the hovering flies. It’s been moderately effective with lots of missed fish jumping at the fly but it’s a fun technique. Willi

Response:

……The flies are only about a size 16/18, so this jumping doesn’t seem "energy efficient" but me, but I’m no fish……

I suspect the energy expenditure is not as great as you might think. Fish are streamlined.  Putting on a short burst of speed which will carry them out of the water probably doesn’t cost them a great deal of effort.  The fact that they do so frequently for what seems a small reward bears suggests it is energy efficient. Wolfgang

Response:

Willi    Try dapping.  Get some unwaxed dental floss (or silk floss, I prefer sky blue, the fish seem to ignore it) and cut about six 8 foot pieces.  Lay ‘em out side-by-side and knot the ends together.  Put a 3 foot tippet on one end and tie the other end to your fly line.  Get the longest pole you have and wait for a little bit of a wind.  The floss works as sail and you can skitter the fly over the surface of just above the surface like a hovering insect.  I’ve only caught two fish with the fly in the air but its a trip (okay, I snagged a couple more).  You just let the fish set the hook on itself.  Your natural reaction is to pull it away, don’t move.  Bigger the fly, the more lines of floss and vice versa.  You can use this technique while hiding in bushes on the bank. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Willi   Try dapping.  Get some unwaxed dental floss (or silk floss, I prefer sky blue, the fish seem to ignore it) and cut about six 8 foot pieces.  Lay ‘em out side-by-side and knot the ends together.  Put a 3 foot tippet on one end and tie the other end to your fly line.  Get the longest pole you have and wait for a little bit of a wind.  The floss works as sail and you can skitter the fly over the surface of just above the surface like a hovering insect.  I’ve only caught two fish with the fly in the air but its a trip (okay, I snagged a couple more).  You just let the fish set the hook on itself.  Your natural reaction is to pull it away, don’t move.  Bigger the fly, the more lines of floss and vice versa.  You can use this technique while hiding in bushes on the bank.

        this is the weirdest damn place i have ever been.         yfitons wayno

Response:

My kennel manager is on vacation, so lots of work for me, but I have been getting out for an hour or two after dinner. Fishing has been good and I’ve come across something I find interesting. At sunset, there are large numbers of spinners (I’m guessing they’re spinners but I haven’t been able to catch one) flying just over the surface occasionally skimming it. There are also some large Mayfly duns and a small Mayfly duns on the surface. There are a few splashy rises from fish chasing emergers but by far the majority of the "risers" are fish jumping clear out of the water to snag one of the spinners flying over the surface. I’ve seen this on an occasional basis, but some of the fish are doing this from a set feeding station and are jumping for the flies on a regular basis. This includes some decent fish. They totally ignore any of the duns that drift by. The flies are only about a size 16/18, so this jumping doesn’t seem "energy efficient" but me, but I’m no fish. I’ve been able to catch a few of them swinging soft hackles. I’ve also caught a some on a dry or emerger tied on an upper a bloodknot dropper with a weighted nymph below. The weighted nymph serves as an anchor and by holding the rod high, the fly on the dropper can be made to skim the surface, stay above it or bounce on the surface. It’s the closest I can come to imitating the hovering flies. It’s been moderately effective with lots of missed fish jumping at the fly but it’s a fun technique.   Willi

Response:

Question:

maturely put….

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A well constructed TROLL is entertaining for those who recognise it as such. It should draw in fools and make them look even more foolish. Perhaps it may turn into an education for the fools, if the realise their foolishness. However, many posts classed as TROLLS aren’t worthy of the name. Consider a fishing analogy – a good TROLL is like a well tied fly, most TROLLs are simply bent nails with a dead worm. Despite most people claiming that they recognise them, they still seem to attract a huge following. A bit like a stupid fish still biting the dead worm even though it recognises it is attached to the hook. Mr Romney’s "If you bought a Hasselblad in 1970…" had over 20 replies as I scrolled past it, but I’m sure most people would claim to spot the basic flaw in his understanding of economics. Now, as for the "this brand is better than that brand", if I stick with the fishing analogy, that is like dropping a grenade in the pond to see what floats to the surface! Yet people are still drawn to the grenade as it sinks to the bottom of the pond just before it explodes. Why not all show your true intelligence and stop chasing what you all recognise as rubbish. I welcome sensible discussion and perhaps some well constructed and unbiased FAQ’s for newcomers covering the basics such as basic lens and body selection (without being brand specific), airport X-rays, etc.

Response:

A well constructed TROLL is entertaining for those who recognise it as such. It should draw in fools and make them look even more foolish. Perhaps it may turn into an education for the fools, if the realise their foolishness. However, many posts classed as TROLLS aren’t worthy of the name. Consider a fishing analogy – a good TROLL is like a well tied fly, most TROLLs are simply bent nails with a dead worm. Despite most people claiming that they recognise them, they still seem to attract a huge following. A bit like a stupid fish still biting the dead worm even though it recognises it is attached to the hook. Mr Romney’s "If you bought a Hasselblad in 1970…" had over 20 replies as I scrolled past it, but I’m sure most people would claim to spot the basic flaw in his understanding of economics. Now, as for the "this brand is better than that brand", if I stick with the fishing analogy, that is like dropping a grenade in the pond to see what floats to the surface! Yet people are still drawn to the grenade as it sinks to the bottom of the pond just before it explodes. Why not all show your true intelligence and stop chasing what you all recognise as rubbish. I welcome sensible discussion and perhaps some well constructed and unbiased FAQ’s for newcomers covering the basics such as basic lens and body selection (without being brand specific), airport X-rays, etc.

Response:

Question:

  Early one morning on Nokomis Lake (about 60 miles NW of Southend SK/Reindeer Lake) we were startled by a "snorting and huffing" sound in the water, less than 30m away from our canoe… we were paddling 200m from shore, and saw 2 (?adult) otters "standing" in the water for a better view of the "intruder" (us?)…didn’t realize that they were able to raise themselves out of the water quite so high. (As if "standing upright")…the snorting and huffing continued until we were beyond hearing.   I wonder what the "otter-ese" version of this encounter might have been? I don’t think they were as pleased to see us, as we were to mark their "indignation". —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

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We had a family of them under our house several years back. Noisy, messy, smelly. mike

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I saw 3 otters while fly fishing on the McCloud River (CA) in the Nature Conservancy Preserve 2 years ago.  There I was in water up to my chest peacefully working a hole when the calm was shattered by a huge splash, then another and another. Scared the bejesus out of me.  I looked around and saw nothing.  A few seconds later it happened again.  The otters were climbing out of the water onto rocks and then jumping in one after the other.  It seemed like they were just playing.  They swam around and around writhing around each other and periodically popping up out of the water and then splashing back in.  They seemed completely unconcerned about the presence of my friend and I.  This lasted for a few minutes and then they swam off upstream doing the same antics as far as we could see them.  Of course they ruined the fishing but it was a magical moment that made the whole trip.

Response:

I was boogie boarding in Santa Cruz one morning and I felt something nibble at my fin. I turned to look and saw a seal pop his head up and look at me.  He did that a couple more times and I thought he was going to bite me or something and I kept swimming away. Finally after about 10 min I realized he was just playing and I turned to chase him. He ducked under water and came up nibbling my fin again. This went on for over an hour!!! I was swimming figure eights thru surfers but he wasn’t interested in them, just kept playing with me. When I went in to shore, I took off my fin to show my hubbie who had been surfing down the beach a ways…not a mark on them!!! Dee

Response:

– They’re pretty fearless.  In water they have no peers, unlike the sea otters who have to watch out for things like killer whales.  On land the only things that could get them would be coyotes, wolves, or cougars.  And they’ve a reputation for being a bit fierce as fighters, which might tend to make them less desirable as prey by the afore mentioned creatures.  They are members of the weasel family, after all.  They’re efficient at food gathering, so they have time to goof off a lot.  And they’re just cute as all get out.

    I snuck up on a big coon the other evening at sunset. He was sitting on the root of a huge cypress tree right above the waterline catching crawfish for supper. He’d peer intently into the shallow water until he spied one then quick as lightening plunge his paw in and grab it. He was real deft at not getting pinched and grabbed’em just right each time.     During that trip, I also saw Snowy Egret, Great Blue, Great White, and Little Green Heron, Ibis, Oppossum, Diamond Back Watersnake, Moccassin, Nutria, and a Gator. Silent paddling technique allows for successful wildlife observation. Floatin, John

Response:

They’re pretty fearless.  In water they have no peers, unlike the sea otters who have to watch out for things like killer whales.  On land the only things that could get them would be coyotes, wolves, or cougars.  And they’ve a reputation for being a bit fierce as fighters, which might tend to make them less desirable as prey by the afore mentioned creatures.  They are members of the weasel family, after all.  They’re efficient at food gathering, so they have time to goof off a lot.  And they’re just cute as all get out. —– rec.backcountry vixen I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

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A neat otter report.  I wish more readers of the NG would post articles like that.  :-)     Thanks Cyli  - Robert

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Thats interesting-a few weeks ago, I was walking my dog along an abandoned road in northeast MN, when I heard an animal running through the woods. I finally saw a long, low animal bounding towards us. I couldnt get a clean look at it because of the underbrush-at first I thought beaver, but beaver dont run that fast. Then I thought fisher, but it didnt look quite right either. Anyway, this thing, whatever it was, was running straight at us and was not slowing down. I figured it could see us, we were less than 100 feet away, and it just kept coming. When it was about to break through the brush at roads edge, I debated hunkering down and waiting for it to come out on the road so I get a clear view of it. At the last second I decided that wasnt a good idea, I wasnt sure what it was, it was behaving strangely (asuming it could see me anyway), rabies crossed my mind, and I didnt want whatever it was to charge out of the woods only to land on me or my 100 lb dog. So I said "Hey" just before it would have come upon us, and it turned and raced off without me ever getting an unobstructed view of it. Later, I walked a trail that headed towards where the animal had come from, and I found a flowage about 200 feet from the road, with abundant otter sign on the banks. I’m not certain the animal was an otter but it seems pretty likely. Perhaps otters dont have great eyesight out of water. Wayne   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Today I was near enough the far edge of front country that only one powerboat passed me (the water’s high here, so motors could get up that part of the river.) and had one heck of a good day trip.  With the water high, I was able to get a mile or two up a creek that’s normally about an inch or two deep and then come back down quickly. Very quickly in a couple of spots. But, back out on the river, I checked out a couple of islands I’d never quite managed to canoe or kayak up to before (usually stopping half a mile short at an island that  happened to be underwater today) and then back down, trying to backpaddle and taking a lunch break to make the day last.  I did manage to be out 8 hours.  About half an hour after lunch and drifting downriver, I saw a small brown animal head making progress across my path.  Thinking it was a beaver, I slowed a bit, as it’s only kind not to scare them more than necessary. But it dove and didn’t tail slap, came up a bit upstream, dove again, and still no slap.  Then started swimming up to the land side of me. I gave it a bit more room, as this is what young beavers tend to do when scared.  They head straight for home, even if it means they have to get closer to the scarey thing.  However, when it got within 10 feet, it dove again and it was obvious it was an otter. I burbled aloud with joy as it rose and fixed me with a beady eye, then turned its head and gave me the other eye.  By then I was cooing at it.  So it swam closer, giving the sniff/look test to me and the kayak.  At just over arm’s length, he aparently made up his mind and started straight for the cockpit, so he could climb up.   Uh.  10 to 15 pounds of soaking wet wild animal in my lap?  With the kind of claws and teeth that can open clams very easily and quickly?  Of carnivorous genes, which I’ve noticed gives animals a tendency to express affection with ‘love bites’? No.  Which is  exactly what I said as I dropped the kayak paddle in his path.  He took offense (not surprising), dove and swam up upstream.   I regretted his going, but not his absence from my lap.  He got about a hundred yards away and then turned back to look at me.  I cooed and burbled some more.  He vanished.   I went downstream.  Looked back for some reason about 10 minutes later and there he was, keeping watch on me from about 50 to 100 yards away again.  He followed me for a good mile and then the wind had picked up enough that if he was still following, I couldn’t see his head any more. I think he was young.  Much smaller than the other otters I’ve noticed (not much of a number, because they do tend to backwaters and quieter places and vanish wonderfully easily).  Obviously not shy, as all but one of the ones I’ve seen have not  been shy.  Or at least only one was so shy that I saw it and then saw it take off, not to be seen again.).  Out of the way friendly, which I’d not seen, though I’ve heard of.   I think he’d never seen a kayak before and was curious about this half log half person thing.  When the smell was right, he was willing to come ride with me.   If he’d headed for even the front deck, I think I’d have let him on.  But the cockpit was obviously the easiest place to climb/leap.  Front deck wouldn’t have been safer. Just felt like it.  The Otter kayak (yes, coincidence rules) I was paddling is only 9′6".  He’d have been nose to nose with me there. Cute.  I felt so Disney (except for not letting him on and him not speaking English.).  A wonderful day that often felt very backcountry and the world cooperated by having very few people out, even with it being opening weekend for fishing.  I only saw about 8 people and all but 3 of them were at one campsite. —– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average. Patience helps. http://www.visi.com/~cyli

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St. Croix River. MN/WI border.  Up about 30 miles from Taylor’s Falls (the highest up dam on the river).  My favorite river in my second favorite place to paddle on it.  Rapidly becoming my favorite place as the part below Taylor’s is infested with powerboats and newbbie day trippers who do things like bring along radios and, on one very memorable occasion, a generator. Cyli ;     Great story. otters are a lot of fun to watch, always up to something. BTW where were you. Even what part of the nation would be helpful. Thanks. Floatin, John

—– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

Cyli ;      Great story. otters are a lot of fun to watch, always up to something. BTW where were you. Even what part of the nation would be helpful. Thanks. Floatin, John — – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Today I was near enough the far edge of front country that only one powerboat passed me (the water’s high here, so motors could get up that part of the river.) and had one heck of a good day trip.  With the water high, I was able to get a mile or two up a creek that’s normally about an inch or two deep and then come back down quickly. Very quickly in a couple of spots. But, back out on the river, I checked out a couple of islands I’d never quite managed to canoe or kayak up to before (usually stopping half a mile short at an island that  happened to be underwater today) and then back down, trying to backpaddle and taking a lunch break to make the day last.  I did manage to be out 8 hours.  About half an hour after lunch and drifting downriver, I saw a small brown animal head making progress across my path.  Thinking it was a beaver, I slowed a bit, as it’s only kind not to scare them more than necessary. But it dove and didn’t tail slap, came up a bit upstream, dove again, and still no slap.  Then started swimming up to the land side of me. I gave it a bit more room, as this is what young beavers tend to do when scared.  They head straight for home, even if it means they have to get closer to the scarey thing.  However, when it got within 10 feet, it dove again and it was obvious it was an otter.   I burbled aloud with joy as it rose and fixed me with a beady eye, then turned its head and gave me the other eye.  By then I was cooing at it.  So it swam closer, giving the sniff/look test to me and the kayak.  At just over arm’s length, he aparently made up his mind and started straight for the cockpit, so he could climb up.   Uh.  10 to 15 pounds of soaking wet wild animal in my lap?  With the kind of claws and teeth that can open clams very easily and quickly?  Of carnivorous genes, which I’ve noticed gives animals a tendency to express affection with ‘love bites’? No.  Which is  exactly what I said as I dropped the kayak paddle in his path.  He took offense (not surprising), dove and swam up upstream.   I regretted his going, but not his absence from my lap.  He got about a hundred yards away and then turned back to look at me.  I cooed and burbled some more.  He vanished.   I went downstream.  Looked back for some reason about 10 minutes later and there he was, keeping watch on me from about 50 to 100 yards away again.  He followed me for a good mile and then the wind had picked up enough that if he was still following, I couldn’t see his head any more.   I think he was young.  Much smaller than the other otters I’ve noticed (not much of a number, because they do tend to backwaters and quieter places and vanish wonderfully easily).  Obviously not shy, as all but one of the ones I’ve seen have not  been shy.  Or at least only one was so shy that I saw it and then saw it take off, not to be seen again.).  Out of the way friendly, which I’d not seen, though I’ve heard of.   I think he’d never seen a kayak before and was curious about this half log half person thing.  When the smell was right, he was willing to come ride with me.   If he’d headed for even the front deck, I think I’d have let him on.  But the cockpit was obviously the easiest place to climb/leap.  Front deck wouldn’t have been safer. Just felt like it.  The Otter kayak (yes, coincidence rules) I was paddling is only 9′6".  He’d have been nose to nose with me there.   Cute.  I felt so Disney (except for not letting him on and him not speaking English.).  A wonderful day that often felt very backcountry and the world cooperated by having very few people out, even with it being opening weekend for fishing.  I only saw about 8 people and all but 3 of them were at one campsite. —– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Response:

  Today I was near enough the far edge of front country that only one powerboat passed me (the water’s high here, so motors could get up that part of the river.) and had one heck of a good day trip.  With the water high, I was able to get a mile or two up a creek that’s normally about an inch or two deep and then come back down quickly. Very quickly in a couple of spots. But, back out on the river, I checked out a couple of islands I’d never quite managed to canoe or kayak up to before (usually stopping half a mile short at an island that  happened to be underwater today) and then back down, trying to backpaddle and taking a lunch break to make the day last.  I did manage to be out 8 hours.  About half an hour after lunch and drifting downriver, I saw a small brown animal head making progress across my path.  Thinking it was a beaver, I slowed a bit, as it’s only kind not to scare them more than necessary. But it dove and didn’t tail slap, came up a bit upstream, dove again, and still no slap.  Then started swimming up to the land side of me. I gave it a bit more room, as this is what young beavers tend to do when scared.  They head straight for home, even if it means they have to get closer to the scarey thing.  However, when it got within 10 feet, it dove again and it was obvious it was an otter.   I burbled aloud with joy as it rose and fixed me with a beady eye, then turned its head and gave me the other eye.  By then I was cooing at it.  So it swam closer, giving the sniff/look test to me and the kayak.  At just over arm’s length, he aparently made up his mind and started straight for the cockpit, so he could climb up.   Uh.  10 to 15 pounds of soaking wet wild animal in my lap?  With the kind of claws and teeth that can open clams very easily and quickly?  Of carnivorous genes, which I’ve noticed gives animals a tendency to express affection with ‘love bites’? No.  Which is  exactly what I said as I dropped the kayak paddle in his path.  He took offense (not surprising), dove and swam up upstream.   I regretted his going, but not his absence from my lap.  He got about a hundred yards away and then turned back to look at me.  I cooed and burbled some more.  He vanished.   I went downstream.  Looked back for some reason about 10 minutes later and there he was, keeping watch on me from about 50 to 100 yards away again.  He followed me for a good mile and then the wind had picked up enough that if he was still following, I couldn’t see his head any more.   I think he was young.  Much smaller than the other otters I’ve noticed (not much of a number, because they do tend to backwaters and quieter places and vanish wonderfully easily).  Obviously not shy, as all but one of the ones I’ve seen have not  been shy.  Or at least only one was so shy that I saw it and then saw it take off, not to be seen again.).  Out of the way friendly, which I’d not seen, though I’ve heard of.   I think he’d never seen a kayak before and was curious about this half log half person thing.  When the smell was right, he was willing to come ride with me.   If he’d headed for even the front deck, I think I’d have let him on.  But the cockpit was obviously the easiest place to climb/leap.  Front deck wouldn’t have been safer. Just felt like it.  The Otter kayak (yes, coincidence rules) I was paddling is only 9′6".  He’d have been nose to nose with me there.   Cute.  I felt so Disney (except for not letting him on and him not speaking English.).  A wonderful day that often felt very backcountry and the world cooperated by having very few people out, even with it being opening weekend for fishing.  I only saw about 8 people and all but 3 of them were at one campsite. —– rbc vixen. I only answer my email every few months, on average.   Patience helps.   http://www.visi.com/~cyli

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Question:

Can someone give me advise on how to go about learning the art of fly fishing?  How about any good books on the basics?  Thanks

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone give me advise on how to go about learning the art of fly fishing?  How about any good books on the basics?  Thanks

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Can someone give me advise on how to go about learning the art of fly fishing?  How about any good books on the basics?  Thanks

This is a big question.  First, is there a flyfishing shop near where you live?  If so, stop in and start talking.  Look at the books, check into casting lessons, and generally ask for information.  That’s the best I can do with this one! Mark Faulkner

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Can someone give me advise on how to go about learning the art of fly fishing?  How about any good books on the basics?  Thanks

Hi My favorite book is the ‘L.L.Bean Fly Fishing Handbook’ by Dave Whitlock. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

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The Orvis Flyfishing Guide by Tom Rosenbaugh is a good starter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone give me advise on how to go about learning the art of fly fishing?  How about any good books on the basics?  Thanks

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Question:

Where did the word "redd" initiate…?

redd (r

Question:

For Immediate Release Announcing the Boca Grande Fly fishing School’s November Session Where:  Uncle Henry’s Marina Resort in Boca Grande, Fl When:  November 14 thru 16, 1997 Levels of Experience: all levels, novice thru expert Class Size: max. 12 Instructors:  3 Theme:  "Learn to Fly Fish, not just Fly Cast" Special Features:       1. Actual fishing with your instructors                         2. All instructors present at all times                         3. Minimum classroom time                         4. Instructional text book                         5. Finest Sage rods                         6. Saturday evening Bar-B-Que Includes:       1. All tackle                 2. Fishing license                 3. Lunch and refreshments                 4. Guided fishing with your instructor What to bring: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain jacket, and a Sense of Humor Cost: $495.00 per angler (Family Rates available) Contact: Capt.. Pete Greenan 1-941-923-6095 or http://www.floridaflyfishing.com/FFSchools.html — http://www.floridaflyfishing.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For Immediate Release Announcing the Boca Grande Fly fishing School’s November Session Where:  Uncle Henry’s Marina Resort in Boca Grande, Fl When:  November 14 thru 16, 1997 Levels of Experience: all levels, novice thru expert Class Size: max. 12 Instructors:  3 Theme:  "Learn to Fly Fish, not just Fly Cast" Special Features:       1. Actual fishing with your instructors 2. All instructors present at all times                         3. Minimum classroom time                         4. Instructional text book                         5. Finest Sage rods                         6. Saturday evening Bar-B-Que Includes:       1. All tackle                 2. Fishing license                 3. Lunch and refreshments                 4. Guided fishing with your instructor What to bring: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain jacket, and a Sense of Humor Cost: $495.00 per angler (Family Rates available) Contact: Capt.. Pete Greenan 1-941-923-6095 or http://www.floridaflyfishing.com/FFSchools.html — http://www.floridaflyfishing.com

OK Tim, this is an ad so I consider it fair game!   — William J. Hobson, CNE,CNA Network and Computing Support Services Texas Engineering Experiment Station Phone: (409) 845-5808

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PLEASE EVERY BODY dont wast your money on this, if you want real advise book a charter boat captian, they’ll teach you how to do all that with PRIVATE instruction and are usually CHEAPER. Here is one I know http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/toccoa/Default.htm#Captain -Paradoxal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For Immediate Release Announcing the Boca Grande Fly fishing School’s November Session Where:  Uncle Henry’s Marina Resort in Boca Grande, Fl When:  November 14 thru 16, 1997 Levels of Experience: all levels, novice thru expert Class Size: max. 12 Instructors:  3 Theme:  "Learn to Fly Fish, not just Fly Cast" Special Features:       1. Actual fishing with your instructors 2. All instructors present at all times                         3. Minimum classroom time                         4. Instructional text book                         5. Finest Sage rods                         6. Saturday evening Bar-B-Que Includes:       1. All tackle                 2. Fishing license                 3. Lunch and refreshments                 4. Guided fishing with your instructor What to bring: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain jacket, and a Sense of Humor Cost: $495.00 per angler (Family Rates available) Contact: Capt.. Pete Greenan 1-941-923-6095 or http://www.floridaflyfishing.com/FFSchools.html — http://www.floridaflyfishing.com

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Question:

I like the foothills trail, and its connectors. a good 3 day is from upper whitewater falls to laurel valley. great views of lake joccassee, waterfalls, river crossings are bridged. Another three day is from Table rock to Ceasers head, side trail to top of Raven Cliff falls.

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East-West hike through North Carolina’s portion of the Great Smoky Mountains Natioal Park.  Avoid the crowded AT. Enjoy your trip. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

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The best hike I’ve done in the east started on US Hwy 64 in NC, near Sapphire.  It consisted of going down the Horsepasture River, connecting with the Foothills Trail near the Lake Jocassee shore, over to the Toxaway River and back up the Toxaway to US Hwy 64.  It took 3.5 days, had some trail and some bushwhacking, a nice rappel down Windy Falls on the Horsepasture R. and was in some of the least travelled, most beautiful country I had been to in that area.

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New York’s Adirondak High Peaks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go?

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Spruce Knob area of West Virginia very nice, the head of seneca is great. Day hikes to the big falls of seneca, to the top of spruce knob, highest point in WVA.  Also close to Seneca Rocks an easy place to spend a day. To see pics of area, follow link to my home page. http://www.ncweb.com:80/users/crbock/ CRBO

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If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

Consider the Northville-Placid Trail. Length; 133 miles. 5 days going north to Wakely Dam or 5 days going south, and come back next year to finish. E-mail for more info. Rick Beardsley Olmstedville, which is arguably the center of the Adirondacks and thusly the universe

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If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go?

I’d go to Maine, but that’s not within your parameters. Gerry

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I’d go to Dolly Sods wilderness in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. If you like to hike long distances it might be too small for 5 days, but is a great 3-day place. And if you want to do a leisurely 5-day, you can find plenty of things to occupy your time. It may not be quite as spectacular an area as some places farther north or farther south. But it has got a peculiar landscape that is dramatic, spectacular in its own right, intriguing and quite wild. I’ve been there dozens of times and, each time, I find something new and amazing.

As a former West Virginian (and no, I’m not unusually intimate with any of my family members, thank you) I have to agree that Dolly Sods is gorgeous, but it’s no place to go for a 3-5 nighter–way too small. There are other places nearby that are fantastic, so if you don’t mind leaving the wilds and re-entering, it’s an excellent area. A great place is the ridge that you can see above and behind Seneca Rocks. There’s a trail along the entire length. You will have to decend for water, though. I always considered Cranberry Glades wilderness kind of boring, as WV hiking goes. It is quite vast though. — –your favorite soils professional

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If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike:

Cranberry back country, Monongahela National Forest, West (by god!) Virginia. jeff Republicanism:  The haunting fear that someone poor may be happy.

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I’d go to Dolly Sods wilderness in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. If you like to hike long distances it might be too small for 5 days, but is a great 3-day place. And if you want to do a leisurely 5-day, you can find plenty of things to occupy your time. It may not be quite as spectacular an area as some places farther north or farther south. But it has got a peculiar landscape that is dramatic, spectacular in its own right, intriguing and quite wild. I’ve been there dozens of times and, each time, I find something new and amazing. Rob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

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Jason, You might want to consider Vermont’s Long Trail.  It runs along the spine of the Green Mountains.  The nice thing about it is that you can see Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks and the White Mountains from Vermont summits. Let me know if you would like more info. James Ehlers Underhill, Vermont Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

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If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go?

Adirondacks or Catskills in New York White Mountains in New Hampshire

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If you wanted  to go on the most beautiful 3-5 day backountry hike: As far north as New Hampshire As far sounth as the Carolina’s and as far West as West Virginia where would you go? Thanks for any advice…please email direct — Jason Daniels

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Question:

Flyfishing has without question introduced me to some of my best friends.  People whom, without the glue of our gentle sport, would most likely never have gotten the opportunity to know one another.  I think this, more than most else, is what I am most grateful for as I think back on the countless seasons spent on lake, stream and river; the thousands of hours on the road chasing our fishes; the many many campfires that always seem to end up too large.         This quality of flyfishing, it’s universal appeal to those so inclined – to bring us to a point where sharing opinions on any topic becomes as easy and comfortable as discussing what fly to use, this I feel is my

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        I’d have to agree with you on what flyfishing can do for a soul, and I’ll throw in another: those other fishermen I have met and helped, or met and been helped by, never to be seen again. Sharing moments never to be shared again, but never to be forgotten. There are a lot of GOOD people out there and its nice to meet them in some of the finest places on earth.

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Question:

I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek

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I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek

 Hello Marek, I spent a considerable amount of time in Laguna Madre.  I sea-kayaked from Corpu Christi down to Mexico.  I found the area around Port Mansfield to be fairly productive.  It is the off-season there so the guides will be looking for people to take out.  There is nothing in the town except one restaurant.  It is also a hotel.  On the way into town though, you will pass a hotel that is large.  I am not sure of the name.  The gentleman that runs this hotel is also a guide.  Very nice accomadations and very nice people.  I am sorry that I am so vague but if you happen upon this place, you will realize how small it is.  About 200 winter residents and about 6000 in the summer. I fished wherever I saw tailing reds. This was often.  Throughout the whole trip. Enjoy, Paul Johnson,

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Eric Glass, Gibb Little and Skipper Ray all will take you fishing in the South Padre, Port Isabel area.  I’ve fished with Eric.  Keep in mind that the the weather is still a a little touchy in Feb.  We probably will still be getting the occasional norther. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek

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Walt Kittleburger guides out of Port Mansfield.  Nobody is hard to find in Mansfield. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am planning couple of days ffishing in Texas (anywhere between Matagorda and Brownsville) in middle February.  Any suggestions on guides specializing in flyfishing and wading as well as locations greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marek  Hello Marek, I spent a considerable amount of time in Laguna Madre.  I sea-kayaked from Corpu Christi down to Mexico.  I found the area around Port Mansfield to be fairly productive.  It is the off-season there so the guides will be looking for people to take out.  There is nothing in the town except one restaurant.  It is also a hotel.  On the way into town though, you will pass a hotel that is large.  I am not sure of the name.  The gentleman that runs this hotel is also a guide.  Very nice accomadations and very nice people.  I am sorry that I am so vague but if you happen upon this place, you will realize how small it is.  About 200 winter residents and about 6000 in the summer. I fished wherever I saw tailing reds. This was often.  Throughout the whole trip. Enjoy, Paul Johnson,

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Question:

Tim Walker wrote;

ok…stay open minded for a second here… during the spawn, fish for and kill the alternate species (i.e. when the browns are spawning…keep and kill rainbows).  Use an egg pattern downstream the redds.  Close the beds to wading. Theory: 1.  More of the natural spawn will survive (nailing immediate predator). 2.  Alternate species is culled resulting in better, although maybe fewer,    of these fish.3.  More fry is available to the ‘better fish’, thus

they get even better. 4.  Smoked stocker rainbow ain’t bad at Thanksgiving.

Nice theory but;   1.  What about the creek chubs, fallfish, cutlips minnow, longnose dace, shortnose dace, white suckes, common shiners, sculpins, stonerolllers, silverjaw minnow,bigeye chub, streamline chub, gravel chub, hornyhead chub, river chub, pearl dace,redside dace,….etc..etc.. and thats just a small example of a few "other" stream fish  from Central New York.  These will all eat trout eggs, so ya better plan on catching alot of fish.   2.  Eggs will not survive unless they are under gravel and have adequate water circulation. They will not suvive by just floating (bouncing) around the stream, and settling on the bottom doesn’t count. It takes about 145 days at 1.9 C for the eggs to hatch, thats a long time to be unprotected by a redd even if they could survive outside.  3. Why do you think trout produce so many eggs??  Brown trout eggs are typically 3-5mm in diameter and a female will produce about 800-1200 eggs PER POUND of body weight.  They can afford to lose a few.   4.  Natural mortality will kill off about 99.9% of the eggs, larva, juveniles before they reach maturity anyway. That just the way it goes. Remember you only need, on average, 2 trout to survive to maturity for each spawning pair to keep the spawning population constant.  And since some individuals will spawn in more than one year the number you need to survive in reality is less than that. 5. Your alternate competitor with rainbows theroy seems to make sense but;  where do you catch most of your rainbows ?? in the riffs right!  And where do you catch most of your brown trout; in the slower water, right! Thats because these species will naturally segregate to avoid (as much as possible) direct competition.  If there was indeed direct competition for the same habitat, there would be only one winner.  "No two species can inhabit the exact same niche at the same time and in the same place". Regards; Mark Arrigo SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse NY

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week I caught my first female brown laden with eggs. She was a vigorous fighter. After bringing her to the net quickly, I released her, and then discovered eggs in my net. Besides being more gentle in bringing them in, and being careful not to squeeze the fish, is there anything else I should do? I do use a catch and release net, which makes it easier to treat them gently. Many thanks. Scott Branyan Rogers, AR — Scott Branyan Rogers, AR

Do not handle them at all.How would you like to be pulled out of the bedroom during such an enjoyful act?

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fish for and kill the alternate species (i.e. when the browns are spawning…keep and kill rainbows).  Use an egg pattern downstream the redds.  Close the beds to wading. 1.  More of the natural spawn will survive (nailing immediate predator). 2.  Alternate species is culled resulting in better, although maybe fewer,    of these fish. 3.  More fry is available to the ‘better fish’, thus they get even better. 4.  Smoked stocker rainbow ain’t bad at Thanksgiving.

Tim, I would agree about closing the beds to wading,  in fact I think they should be closed to fishing. 1.  Trout eggs are buried in gravel, only the ones that float free are eaten by other fish.  They would not survive even if the predator fish were not there. 2.  Man is not a good tool to use for culling, nature is.  Man destroys all things equally, nature removes the weak. 3.  Nature only allows 1 or 2 percent of the eggs to reach maturity in the wild, when man starts fooling around with this there is trouble.   4.  Smoked stockers is a great idea, in fact they should smoke them at the hatchery and leave our trout streams alone so we can have catch and release fishing for wild trout. Just my opinion Ernie Harrison

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: 4.  Smoked stocker rainbow ain’t bad at Thanksgiving. I’ll take about 4 pounds, please.  Bill my account. — Rick T. Rick Fletcher   –   http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/ Assistant professor of chemistry  |  That’s Idaho, not Iowa.    |  These University of Idaho               |  Upper Left Hand Corner.    |  opinions Moscow, ID 83844-2343             |  No, I don’t grow potatoes. |  are mine.

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Dear Fishing nuts, Ive always found that the best way to handle a spawning fish is to begin with a light dinner… you know.. maybe take her out to wsomewhere nice… perhaps a nice big plate full of salmno fly nymphs… then, of course, take that fish out dancing and carousing… get her really into the mood.. then, well, back home for some serious spawning.. if you know waht I mean. edwin

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 Proper way to handle spawning fish?  On alternate years…CLOSE THE SEASON AT AN EARLIER DATE!!!! just my $.02 worth steve drossel Don’t know if this would be the best solution….but I don’t think it would hurt.

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Last week I caught my first female brown laden with eggs. She was a vigorous fighter. After bringing her to the net quickly, I released her, and then discovered eggs in my net. Besides being more gentle in bringing them in, and being careful not to squeeze the fish, is there anything else I should do? I do use a catch and release net, which makes it easier to treat them gently. Many thanks. Scott Branyan Rogers, AR — Scott Branyan Rogers, AR

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Here’s a twist… ok…stay open minded for a second here… during the spawn, fish for and kill the alternate species (i.e. when the browns are spawning…keep and kill rainbows).  Use an egg pattern downstream the redds.  Close the beds to wading. Theory: 1.  More of the natural spawn will survive (nailing immediate predator). 2.  Alternate species is culled resulting in better, although maybe fewer,     of these fish. 3.  More fry is available to the ‘better fish’, thus they get even better. 4.  Smoked stocker rainbow ain’t bad at Thanksgiving. Courteous replies encouraged !!! Tim Walker

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…. Besides being more gentle in bringing them in, and being careful not to squeeze the fish, is there anything else I should do? I do use a catch and release net, which makes it easier to treat them gently. Many thanks.

If you think of each of those eggs as a future large trout you’ll want them buried in the peagravel, and only the mother can do that. These large brown trout can spawn naturally without undue stress if you leave them alone at this time.  Rainbows are busy fattening up for the winter and will give a much better fight than a spawning brown, if you have any rainbow trout waters you can fish. Mark Vinsel May these eggs produce trout that break the tippets of our grandchildren. http://www.lanminds.com/local/vinnie/gallery.html

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Tim Walker wrote during the spawn, fish for and kill the alternate species (i.e. when the browns are spawning…keep and kill rainbows).  Use an egg pattern downstream the redds.  Close the beds to wading.

(etc…) Tim, I was under the impression that eggs floating downstream are not going to survive anyway; therefore, removing the rainbows that are eating the eggs is not going to make a difference.  Am I correct? I like closing the beds to wading.  People should fish more from shore in general, especially during the spawning season. Rob

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Last week I caught my first female brown laden with eggs. She was a vigorous fighter. After bringing her to the net quickly, I released her, and then discovered eggs in my net. Besides being more gentle in bringing them in, and being careful not to squeeze the fish, is there anything else I should do? I do use a catch and release net, which makes it easier to treat them gently. Many thanks. Scott Branyan Rogers, AR — Scott Branyan Rogers, AR

The best way to handle a spawning trout is to not catch it, but if you do, leave the fish in the water (not using your net) and unhook the trout or cut the leader. I usually try to avoid handling of the fish anyway which works very well except in very strong current. Maybe we should think about not fishing for spawning trout to preserve the populations (That means also not wading in parts of a river where trout spawn!). Only my personal opinion                             Thomas

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