Question:

"the jettys can be a blast. I did catch a striper and 2 blues on deceivers this fall (so far) on a nearby jetty ." of course, this was a jetty nearby my home … I live in Monmouth County which is the the northern end of the Jersey coast. Avalon is down at the southern end. Rob — so much fishing, so little time — –please remuv the ‘NOWAY2it’ from my email addy to email me–

Response:

Rob, Thanks for the info.  I think I’ll bring my 10×10 and my decievers and sea-bait flies and see if the stripers or blues are around down south.   Should I bring my waders?  My guess is yes. Thanks Chas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "the jettys can be a blast. I did catch a striper and 2 blues on deceivers this fall (so far) on a nearby jetty ." of course, this was a jetty nearby my home … I live in Monmouth County which is the the northern end of the Jersey coast. Avalon is down at the southern end. Rob — so much fishing, so little time — –please remuv the ‘NOWAY2it’ from my email addy to email me–

Response:

Chas, If you can fit them, I would bring waders.  The jetties in NJ are 2 types: rough rock jetties and "finished" jetties, ie. filled in with a lot of concrete. I’m not sure about the Avalon jetty having never been there, but as you might suspect another aspect of fishing the salt is wading out on bars to get at better parts of the channel, better casts due to wind, better drifts due to tides etc. Another point on jetties: if you saw my post about jetty jumping earlier, I would *definitely* recommend having korkers or studded boots for jetties.  Even if it’s a "finished" jetty, if you actually have to land a fish, it will require you climbing down the rocks.  Water temps will be in the 50’s by then, which is perfect. Up until this week, they were in the low 60’s. On bait fish, we have peanut bunker, spearing, bay anchovies all hanging around now, so a variety of deceivers and clousers  should be the ticket. Hope you do well, Rob — so much fishing, so little time — –please remuv the ‘NOWAY2it’ from my email addy to email me–

Response:

I will be in Avalon NJ for a wedding November 9th.  We arrive the 7th and leave on the 11th.  We’ll be staying at a friend’s house on the beach.  I’m wondering if I should be bringing any tackle for fishing either from the beach, or in some inland waterway that’s nearby.  I’d probably not get more than a day’s fishing in, more likely a couple hours. What might I find, and should I be trying. Thanks Chas

Response:

Chas, I’m not too up on Avalon specifically, but in general this is prime time for surf fishing in NJ. According to Jim Freda in Fishing the NJ coast,  if you drive to the north point of Avalon you’ll come to Townsends Inlet. You can fish the eighth street jetty and 2 smaller groins (jettys).  Apparently there is a sand bar that forms from this point out into the inlet and you can work the various structures, either the jettys or from the bar into the adjacent channel. When fish are around (which they should be), working the jettys can be a blast. I did catch a striper and 2 blues on deceivers this fall (so far) on a nearby jetty . Prime target for this time of year are stripers, and there may be some slammer blues around as well.  Many live line eels for the stripers, but if you go onto stripersurf.com or njstriper.com (or even reel-time.com) you may be able to get some specifics on flyfishing the area.  Both sites have a flyfishing message board. Of course, if you ask at local tackle shops, you may find that Tautog (blackfish) are around. These are fished strictly with bait, specifically green crabs, and are little bulldogs when caught.  It’s tough fishing for them as they’re always around structure, have very hard teeth with which they can suck a crab off a hook in a split second, but are very good eating…14" minimum size Enjoy, Rob — so much fishing, so little time — –please remuv the ‘NOWAY2it’ from my email addy to email me–

Response:

Question:

He just doesn’t like big trout when *I* catch them.

And don’t forget the pictures….  Those damn pictures!!!! — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

He just doesn’t like big trout when *I* catch them. And don’t forget the pictures….  Those damn pictures!!!!

Yeah, the poorly composed ones. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

And don’t forget the pictures….  Those damn pictures!!!!

Yeah, the poorly composed ones.<   And taken with an (ugh) digital camera.  <g   Harry  

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now I’m not so sure that we shouldn’t dam the fuck out of Colorado. It’s not anything like watersheds with anadromous species. Horseshit. Explain please. Simple. Free flowing rivers are beautiful, natural things that aren’t improved by a concrete dam.

While I was referring to blockage of migration of anadromous species as farily sound ecological detriment to damming watercourse, you went another way. You cited the beauty of the free flowing rivers, to which there can be absolutely no doubt. This remains an irony however, given your original thread’s posit, that the river levels are down, very warm and fish kill is imminent. By your own description the beauty of nature left untamed must, therefore, include fish kill, drought and fire as a part of the composition. So let’s stop bitching. Let all of the fucking californimported fish die and we’ll just call it "part of the beauty of nature"?. And that, Willi, is fine by me. Wanna know something else that is beautiful, though, Willi ? (of course these things are probably best left up to eye of the beholder) wooden sailboats luffing in the calm of a fire orange sunset on the image that is a Dillon Lake, Colorado postcard. Your pal, — TBone

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i am astonished that someone not directly involved in that conflict actually understands the enormous cost it has been to this country.

Not directly involved ? We are all directly involved, most people are just too stupid to recognize it. OBROFF: The helicopter made for some morose entertainment yesterday as it returned time and again for it’s bucket of water from Pinewood Reservoir. Spork, The Wonder Weiner Dog, and I went fishless. There are lakes in Colorado where the bag limits have been removed. They’re gonna dry up. Might as well harvest the meat that’s there. Your pal, — TBone

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And don’t forget the pictures….  Those damn pictures!!!! Yeah, the poorly composed ones.<   And taken with an (ugh) digital camera.  <g  

The shame of it all… — I fly fish so therefore I am.

Response:

1. We get great tailwaters for fishing big trout.  It appears that Wolfgang liks BIG trout, so this would be a good benefit for travelling fly fisherman to Colorado.

He just doesn’t like big trout when *I* catch them. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Locally, the fishing is more like mid Summer than like runoff that would be typical for this time of year. My home river is warm enough to wade wet comfortably. During the heat of a warm day, the water is only cool. I’ve been fishing this stretch of river for fifteen years and conditions are the worst I’ve seen for this time of year. Although my home river is at low elevation, reports from across the State have echoed what I’m seeing here locally. I’m concerned about wide spread, heavy fish kills. Question for you guys in Montana. When you had your "drought" and fish kills were predicted, did they occur? If they did, what was the extent? Willi

Response:

I’m concerned about wide spread, heavy fish kills. Question for you guys in Montana. When you had your "drought" and fish kills were predicted, did they occur? If they did, what was the extent?

They predicted fish kills but were able to regulate the water well enough on most rivers that fish kills were minor from what I heard.  Thankfully I never saw any fish kills on any of the rivers I fish.  One of the biggest problems faced was enforcing the water rights because some people who were not entitled to any water were drawing water.  Some conservation groups were able to convince a few people with water rights not to take their full share of water in order to prevent major fish kills on the Gallatin and something similar was done on the Big Hole to avert disaster there.  Apparently it worked because they were especially proud of the job done on the Big Hole.  When Marshall Krasser came out and we fished the Big Hole, the river seemed to be in pretty good shape to me.  That was the first time I had fished that river, but there seemed to be plenty of fish in there.  I think the upper reaches of that river were the hardest hit though. Tailwaters were another story.  During the summer things were actually decent, but they dropped the flows way down in the winter and had winter fish kills on some rivers.  The second hand info I heard was that very young fish were the hardest hit when flows were dropped down to levels like 24 cfs (on the river where we resorted to streamers).  Haven’t fished that river lately and am curious to see how it faired. — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Locally, the fishing is more like mid Summer than like runoff that would be typical for this time of year. My home river is warm enough to wade wet comfortably. During the heat of a warm day, the water is only cool. I’ve been fishing this stretch of river for fifteen years and conditions are the worst I’ve seen for this time of year. Although my home river is at low elevation, reports from across the State have echoed what I’m seeing here locally. I’m concerned about wide spread, heavy fish kills. Question for you guys in Montana. When you had your "drought" and fish kills were predicted, did they occur? If they did, what was the extent? Willi

Yes, there were a couple of years when we did have fish kill that I recall. I don’t know if they were "predicted" but during 1988 and again in 1994 as well as last year and the year before (2001 and 2000), drought warnings were out and it was "advised" that fishermen restrict their fishing to waters that  were not so hard hit with regard to flow and temperature. As far as last year goes, I don’t know yet if FWP really has a handle on whether or not we had any extensive fish kill. I’m certain there had to be some mortality but to what extent, I don’t think is known. I would venture to say that most fish that died, did so on account of the stress induced from fishing. It has been my policy to cancel trips when it gets so bad. I began this policy after my experiences in 1988. The last float I took fishermen on during that season, I distinctly remember a nice fish coming up to the fly, taking it, half-heartedly thrashing for a second or two, and then rolling over on its side and just skate across the surface as the guy reeled him in. As I recall, the water temp was between 72 and 75 degrees. It was that particular fish that made me realize that fishing when the conditions were such was just going to hurt the fishery. Of course, there were (and still are) plenty of guides and outfitters who still take their customers out, even at the expense of the resource. I can think of one who, when I cancelled a Smith river 5-day float (and many others were doing the same), due to extremely low water, he went ahead and took his people on the scheduled trip. The flow was below 100 cfs which, for the the Smith, is a trickle. I’m sure those people had just a lovely time on their 62-mile DRAG. Warren, got your email but haven’t had time to respond yet. I’m presently in Georgia visiting family and won’t be home till July 1. I’ll try to compose a response before then. Off to fish the Hiwassee in Tennessee next week. Any one got any advice for this river? Tight lines, Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana www.diamondnoutfitters.com

Response:

I’m concerned about wide spread, heavy fish kills.

Perhaps this periodic event explains the absence of indignious trout of any kind in the N. Platte drainage (prior to stocking activities) <?. TBone

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m concerned about wide spread, heavy fish kills. Question for you guys in Montana. When you had your "drought" and fish kills were predicted, did they occur? If they did, what was the extent? They predicted fish kills but were able to regulate the water well enough on most rivers that fish kills were minor from what I heard.  Thankfully I never saw any fish kills on any of the rivers I fish.  One of the biggest problems faced was enforcing the water rights because some people who were not entitled to any water were drawing water.  Some conservation groups were able to convince a few people with water rights not to take their full share of water in order to prevent major fish kills on the Gallatin and something similar was done on the Big Hole to avert disaster there.  Apparently it worked because they were especially proud of the job done on the Big Hole.

Unfortunately, that isn’t even an option in Colorado. We have very antiquated water laws that several groups are presently attempting to change.    If a rancher or farmer chooses not to use his allotment of water, in order to leave water in the river or for any other reason, he stands to lose the right to this water in future. The statute is counter conservation of water. The same thing could happen if farmer chose to use a more efficient irrigation system. As the law now stands, water rights must be used only for a "beneficial use." Leaving water in the stream or river for recreational purposes, for the benefit of the fishes, etc. is not considered to be a "beneficial use." This means that conservation groups or individuals can’t buy water rights or a farmer can’t denote or sell water in order to supplement stream flows. Neither of these things apply to Montana. Some groups in Montana have purchased water rights in some small streams in order to increase water levels in the streams so they can support the spawning runs that run up them from larger rivers and provide habitat for the fry. There has been several successful programs utilizing this approach. Willi

Response:

I’m concerned about wide spread, heavy fish kills. Perhaps this periodic event explains the absence of indignious trout of any kind in the N. Platte drainage (prior to stocking activities) <?.

That’s an interesting idea. A prolonged drought might have had that effect. The North Platte drainage is one of the few major drainages in the Rockies that didn’t support a population of indigenous trout that is now able to support a sustaining trout population. The present level of drought has the potential of being severely damaging to fish populations only because of irrigation usage. Willi

Response:

Unfortunately, that isn’t even an option in Colorado.

<snipped Are there any organizations trying to fix Colorado’s stream access and water rights laws?  If so, I suggest you start helping them out in any way you possibly can and also encouraging people you know from out of state who fish Colorado to get involved as well.  Sportsmen and anglers are a large group that can be very "political" when united under a common cause. — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

The present level of drought has the potential of being severely damaging to fish populations only because of irrigation usage.

True, but the overall steady state regarding available water is definately enhanced by the water storage and diversion projects. I used to have anti-Two Forks propoganda on my truck, now I’m not so sure that we shouldn’t dam the fuck out of Colorado. It’s not anything like watersheds with anadromous species. The other side of me cheers for the drought and the fires. Too many damned people, maybe they’ll leave. Colorado is a beautiful and fragile state that is already collapsing under this burden. The drought, the fires, should only serve to remind us clearly of this fact. Yet, one (of many things) that has me absolutely pissed off at our Federal/State Governments is the fact that, in this country, we have not properly addressed basic infrastructure regarding water. The money spent on the war on drugs could have funded a major public works effort in this regard. We should have a water pipeline grid and huge underground storage system. People with substance abuse problems can build it (and their lives and self-esteem) instead of languishing behind bars on our nickel while the farmer goes broke, the cost of food soars, my lawn dies, etc. This is just one aspect of the real cost of the war on drugs. There are many, many more. Including, entirely, September 11th, 2001. IMO. — TBone

Response:

while the farmer goes broke, the cost of food

soars, my lawn dies, etc.<   Two outta three ain’t bad.   Harry TBone?  Meatloaf?  Hmmm!

Response:

while the farmer goes broke, the cost of food soars, my lawn dies, etc.< Two outta three ain’t bad.

No sir. Two outta three am bad. — TBone

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http://wildlife.state.co.us/dowfish/index.asp  Prewitt Reservoir — Swimming, wading, boating, and fishing are banned at Prewitt State Wildlife Area until further notice due to a fish kill which is currently affecting the reservoir. This precautionary closure will stay in effect pending the diagnosis of the fish kill and recommendation by the Northeast Colorado Health Department. Fisheries experts believe the kill is being caused by a natural toxicity related to algae in the reservoir’s water. Closures do not apply to camping, wildlife watching, or hiking.

Response:

True, but the overall steady state regarding available water is definately enhanced by the water storage and diversion projects. I used to have anti-Two Forks propoganda on my truck,

I thought the fishermen fighting Two Forks was kind of weird. They wanted to protect their cherished Cheeseman Canyon from getting flooded although the reason why it is such a productive fishery is that it is a tailwater. now I’m not so sure that we shouldn’t dam the fuck out of Colorado. It’s not anything like watersheds with anadromous species.

Horseshit. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yet, one (of many things) that has me absolutely pissed off at our Federal/State Governments is the fact that, in this country, we have not properly addressed basic infrastructure regarding water. The money spent on the war on drugs could have funded a major public works effort in this regard. We should have a water pipeline grid and huge underground storage system. People with substance abuse problems can build it (and their lives and self-esteem) instead of languishing behind bars on our nickel while the farmer goes broke, the cost of food soars, my lawn dies, etc. This is just one aspect of the real cost of the war on drugs. There are many, many more. Including, entirely, September 11th, 2001. IMO. — TBone

Response:

This is just one aspect of the real cost of the war on drugs. There are many, many more. Including, entirely, September 11th, 2001. IMO.

        i am astonished that someone not directly involved in that conflict actually understands the enormous cost it has been to this country. your friend in the old north state wayno

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now I’m not so sure that we shouldn’t dam the fuck out of Colorado. It’s not anything like watersheds with anadromous species. Horseshit.

Explain please. TBone

Response:

now I’m not so sure that we shouldn’t dam the fuck out of Colorado. It’s not anything like watersheds with anadromous species. Horseshit. Explain please.

Perhaps dams are a good thing for fishing. 1. We get great tailwaters for fishing big trout.  It appears that Wolfgang liks BIG trout, so this would be a good benefit for travelling fly fisherman to Colorado. 2.  To create dams, it requires quite a bit of mining of limestone or similar to create the cement necessary.  Not only is limestone mined, but aggregate is also mined to mix with the lime to create the cement.   The by product of all these mines are nice urban, or semi-urban bass ponds and other warm water ponds that can be used for the hook and cooler crowd. — Welcome to Montana, now go home! (Bumpersticker)

Response:

Perhaps this periodic event explains the absence of indignious trout of any kind in the N. Platte drainage (prior to stocking activities) <?.

Doubtful.  A drought event of sufficient severity to completely eliminate trout from the North Platte system most likely would have had the same effect on other systems near by, yet there are indigenous trout in the general area.   It is far more likely that trout (cutts) never made it in to the North Platte system.

Response:

…….Too many damned people, maybe they’ll leave. Colorado is a beautiful and fragile state that is already collapsing under this burden……

I sense an opportunity to be a trend setter….a real leader….someone to look up to….just what you’ve always wanted. Wolfgang guilt debased the meal.

Response:

now I’m not so sure that we shouldn’t dam the fuck out of Colorado. It’s not anything like watersheds with anadromous species. Horseshit. Explain please.

Simple. Free flowing rivers are beautiful, natural things that aren’t improved by a concrete dam. You’re a Colorado resident. Some things you might be interested in: Only 10% of agricultural land is irrigated Agriculture uses 94+% of the water used in Colorado This means that 94+% of the water used by the entire State for ALL uses for ALL people, is used on only 10% of the farm and ranch land. Agriculture and agricultural related businesses employ 2% of the people. Agricultural operations generate just over 1% of the States GAP (These statistics are from AG pages not anti AG propaganda) I’m not anti agricultural. Like you, I’m sure, I’d much rather have the farmers and ranches than the urban sprawl that’s taking over Colorado’s Front Range. However, I think there are alternatives to building more dams. Colorado water law is VERY complex and I don’t pretend to understand much of it. However, it is very antiquated and there are some changes, IMO, that need to be made. The "use it or loss it" law that forces farmers and ranchers to use "their quota" whether they need it that year or not, is one example. This gives the farmer/rancher NO incentive to conserve water. In fact, they are penalized if they do because they will lose the right to future use of the amount of water they conserved and lose its monetary value. When home developments or cities need more water rights for their residents, I’d like to see at least some of this water come from fees they would pay to farmers/ranchers to buy some of their water rights and to pay for more efficient irrigation and delivery systems for the farmer/ranchers. The majority of irrigation done in Colorado is flood irrigation which is VERY wasteful and most of the distribution is in open canals. The developers would get their water, the farmers/ranchers would still have the water they need because of improved irrigation/distribution techniques and the farmer/ranchers would get money by selling some of their water rights because they wouldn’t need as much. Willi

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Question:

JB said..   Speaking of which, I’d be interested in any observations you might   care to share on inverted spin recovery.  JB Long time since I’ve been spinning in anything other than a car Paul. Thank god for that (given what you "drive" nowdays…) Take out an "l" for email reply

Response:

It took a lot of practice, and I seem to remember some pretty awful results, but I eventually got it down. In the end I decided not to use it in the display, as the only people who would appreciate it were other pilots (and most would simply be glad they weren’t in the aircraft with me). I could only do it in one direction too. Going the other way, the inverted fuel tank would run out of gas before I could make it past roughly 270

Question:

______  RW?  I want to talk to you at: — http://www.gink.com/chat If you are up.  I’m going there now. George

Response:

Ernie, I’ve seen these but have never had the guts to use them.  Do they stay in the flyline when you hook a big fish?  They look like they would slip out.

Vern; This topic comes up every few weeks here.  If you do a Deja News search you can find quite a bit of discussion of it over the past year or so.  It seems that Ernie and I are the biggest fans of leader links.  I’ve used them for over fifteen years, as have a number of my friends.  I know of no case in which they have failed, except when they are so old that repeated dragging over rocks etc., has abraded them badly.  Of course, any knot used to attach a leader to the fly line would have fared just as badly. Like anything else, a leader link has a finite useable life.  But bearing that in mind they are very reliable, cheap, and easy to use, and should be more than adequate for anything less demanding than large salt water species.  I’ve personally caught quite a few steelhead and salmon while rigged with leader links and never had a problem. Someone else recently suggested knotting the ends of the leader and line together before reinserting them into the leader link.  This is unnecessary for most applications but can’t hurt if you can actually tie a knot small enough.

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Vern,    They are surprisingly strong.  The only thing to watch out for is to tie a figure 8 knot or double overhand when attaching leader butt’s with diameters of .017 or less to make a larger knot.  You should check the line where it enters the Leader Link vocationally to see that it hasn’t cracked. They seem to last forever, I have worn out lines and moved the Leader Link to a new line.  Changing leaders is so easy that I replace the whole leader rather than tie on a new tippet while I am fishing.  I save the leaders and rebuild them when I am not fishing. Ernie Harrison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ernie, I’ve seen these but have never had the guts to use them. Do they stay in the flyline when you hook a big fish? They look like they would slip out. Vern Don,    Try using the Leader Link from Eagle Claw. Eagle Claw Country Store Phone 1-800-628-0108 4245 East 46th Avenue Denver Colorado 80216 Leader Link For tapered lines (LL1) For level lines     (LL2) There are 3 links per package and cost $2.83 per pack.

Response:

Are you guys differentiating between the kind that slip over and the kind that poke through (with barbs) the end of your flyline?……john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vern,   They are surprisingly strong.  The only thing to watch out for is to tie a figure 8 knot or double overhand when attaching leader butt’s with diameters of .017 or less to make a larger knot.  You should check the line where it enters the Leader Link vocationally to see that it hasn’t cracked. They seem to last forever, I have worn out lines and moved the Leader Link to a new line.  Changing leaders is so easy that I replace the whole leader rather than tie on a new tippet while I am fishing.  I save the leaders and rebuild them when I am not fishing. Ernie Harrison Ernie, I’ve seen these but have never had the guts to use them. Do they stay in the flyline when you hook a big fish? They look like they would slip out. Vern Don,    Try using the Leader Link from Eagle Claw. Eagle Claw Country Store Phone 1-800-628-0108 4245 East 46th Avenue Denver Colorado 80216 Leader Link For tapered lines (LL1) For level lines     (LL2) There are 3 links per package and cost $2.83 per pack.

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John,    A Leader Link looks like a large grain of rice with a hole drilled through the center lengthwise and with the sides cut out in the middle. Your line slides into the hole in one end and out the hole in the side,  You tie an overhand knot in it, trim off the excess and pull it back through the hole in the side.  Then you do the same with your leader in the hole in the other end. Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are you guys differentiating between the kind that slip over and the kind that poke through (with barbs) the end of your flyline?……john

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ahhhh….those rascals……thanks….john

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -John,   A Leader Link looks like a large grain of rice with a hole drilled through the center lengthwise and with the sides cut out in the middle. Your line slides into the hole in one end and out the hole in the side, You tie an overhand knot in it, trim off the excess and pull it back through the hole in the side.  Then you do the same with your leader in the hole in the other end. Ernie Are you guys differentiating between the kind that slip over and the kind that poke through (with barbs) the end of your flyline?……john

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I’ve been experimenting with different connections between my fly line and leader.  My local flyshop has a habit of tying a perfection loop into a line and then using a loop-to-loop connection but if I’m going to get a wind knot that’s where it will happen 90% of the time.  I’ve taken recently to tying a short section (18") of butt directly to the end of the line using a nail knot, then tying in a tapered leader, then tying in a tippet.  I end up clipping off a 1/2" of line anytime I have to change out that butt section which is more often than I’d like. Any other suggestions? TIA, Don — Don Anderson

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going to get a wind knot that’s where it will happen 90% of the time.  I’ve taken recently to tying a short section (18") of butt directly to the end of the line using a nail knot, then tying in a tapered leader, then tying in a tippet.  I end up clipping off a 1/2" of line anytime I have to change out that butt

Don, I wonder how many posts you are going to get like this one. You know, where your question is addressed but no advice given? Myself, I use the perfection not on both the butt section and the leader.  I like the way it forms the loop to loop as far as turn over goes.  Less likelihood of the ‘hinging effect.’ I do recall this question coming up a long time ago and I saved the question and all of the answers….course I lost a whole big file of stuff while learning some of the various functions of my computer.  And I don’t remember what the answer was….I think it had something to do with casting…in order to avoid the knots. I must have retained something on a subconscious level because it moved the knots down into the tippet section. All I know is that it’s a real pickle trying to flyfish with a short term

Response:

Hi Don, I like to first needle nail knot a new tapered knotless monofilament leader directly to the end of my flyline. I am actually ’snelling’ on the leader. Then after I have used up all the taper by adding tippet material, I cut the leader at about 12 to 18 inches from the flyline and then attach another tapered leader. This gives me the same diameter and the same constancy of monofilament. You can shorten the new leader by cutting 12 to 18 inches from the butt before tying it on. This is not ‘thee way to do it’, but just another way to do it. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop http://www.kiene.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been experimenting with different connections between my fly line and leader.  My local flyshop has a habit of tying a perfection loop into a line and then using a loop-to-loop connection but if I’m going to get a wind knot that’s where it will happen 90% of the time.  I’ve taken recently to tying a short section (18") of butt directly to the end of the line using a nail knot, then tying in a tapered leader, then tying in a tippet.  I end up clipping off a 1/2" of line anytime I have to change out that butt section which is more often than I’d like. Any other suggestions? TIA, Don — Don Anderson

Response:

Don,    Try using the Leader Link from Eagle Claw. Eagle Claw Country Store Phone 1-800-628-0108 4245 East 46th Avenue Denver Colorado 80216 Leader Link For tapered lines (LL1) For level lines     (LL2) There are 3 links per package and cost $2.83 per pack. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’ve been experimenting with different connections between my fly line and leader.  My local flyshop has a habit of tying a perfection loop into a line and then using a loop-to-loop connection but if I’m going to get a wind knot that’s where it will happen 90% of the time.  I’ve taken recently to tying a short section (18") of butt directly to the end of the line using a nail knot, then tying in a tapered leader, then tying in a tippet.  I end up clipping off a 1/2" of line anytime I have to change out that butt section which is more often than I’d like. Any other suggestions? TIA, Don — Don Anderson

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I use a nail knot to tie a butt to the leader and then I put a surgeons loop at the end of that.I use a loop to loop connection to attach the leader.I don’t like to use a loop connection to my tippet because I believe it will affect the ability of the leader to lay out straight.Art Lee recommends never using a loop anywhhere on your leader but using a uni-knot to connect which is easier to tie than a nail knot and serves the same function.I have switched to this knot and I haven’t had any problems.

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Don,    Try using the Leader Link from Eagle Claw. Eagle Claw Country Store Phone 1-800-628-0108 4245 East 46th Avenue Denver Colorado 80216 Leader Link For tapered lines (LL1) For level lines     (LL2) There are 3 links per package and cost $2.83 per pack.

Hear, Hear!  I’ve been using Leader Links for 20 years now, and wouldn’t waste my time trying anything else.  They work great, but I hardly know anybody else that uses them.  They don’t look as though they would be all that strong, but they are a hell of a lot stronger than the tippet of your leader (unless maybe you are fishing for blue marlin or something), which is all that you need. Kevin

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Hear, Hear!  I’ve been using Leader Links for 20 years now, and wouldn’t waste my time trying anything else.  They work great, but I hardly know anybody else that uses them.  They don’t look as though they would be all that strong, but they are a hell of a lot stronger than the tippet of your leader (unless maybe you are fishing for blue marlin or something), which is all that you need.

When I recommended leader links to a friend of mine in Idaho he turned up his nose at them. Said he was a "purist". I pointed out that he was using a graphite rod, a nylon leader, and a synthetic flyline. It turned out that the guy didn’t even know how to tie a nail knot or a needle knot. He had it done at the tackle shop. Sheesh! — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

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Ernie, I’ve seen these but have never had the guts to use them.

Question:

Hi all, I may be taking a trip to Jamaica in the late winter and was wondering if there was any good flyshing there.  Anyone have any thoughts? laird v

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no body in jamaica knows it, but the island is surrounded by narrow flats seperatedf rom the ocean by reef not that far from the "beach". There are tons of rivers emptying into the ocean as well. I think its an undiscovered opportunity to check out and i know there are tarpon around. of course, it depends on where you’re going

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Question:

Next month there will be a fly fishing/tying seminar, January 9 & 10 at Boise State University.  Big names like Jack Dennis, Mike Lawson, and Gary LaFontaine are the headliners.  Two day seminar; each day different, and you can go for one or both days.  Cost is $25 for one day, $45 for both.  A free video with admission.  Raffles, other good stuff. Good way to spend that extra Christmas cash you will find in your stocking. Better yet, hint to your spouse or email Santa Claus that a seminar pass would be a great Christmas gift. The local fishing clubs, like the Ted Trueblood Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Boise Valley Fly Fishermen, Fly Fishers of Idaho etc. are working with the Idaho Angler to put this on.  Proceeds will go to a special account set up for the purpose of making some appropriate investments at Mormon Reservoir, the new trophy trout reservoir south of Fairfield, Idaho. For more information, or to sign up call the Idaho Angler at:  800-787-9957,

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The seminar is actually on January 10 and 11, Saturday & Sunday.

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Question:

Several people have entered into a purposeful discussion of the best way to use two flies……   related comment, but not on topic exactly…. I drove a very good friend of mine to the hospital with the second hook  ( the one not in the fish) deeeeeeeppppply embedded in his finger.    This hook was driven into his finger when the 10 pound steelhead he reach for… suddenly thrashed about.   Months later, infection etc… he still has scars…. I fish with only one fly now…. Alan E. Hoover

Yep, had that happen also Alan.  I was posing with a nice rainbow for a photo when the dropper with PT nymph flicked onto my index finger of my dominate hand.  When the shutter clacked the fish went flying and I got the hook deep. It took me a couple of hours to cut that thing out with the fileting knife during lunch break.  It sure was hard casting with that thing in there the remainder of the morning. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley         2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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Several people have entered into a purposeful discussion of the best way to use two flies……   related comment, but not on topic exactly…. I drove a very good friend of mine to the hospital with the second hook  ( the one not in the fish) deeeeeeeppppply embedded in his finger.    This hook was driven into his finger when the 10 pound steelhead he reach for… suddenly thrashed about.   Months later, infection etc… he still has scars…. I fish with only one fly now…. Alan E. Hoover Anglers’ Rest Powhatan, Va        *the trout teach many, lessons*

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It took me a couple of hours to cut that thing out with the fileting k Damn, Burton.  Fishing must have been slow if you took a couple of hours for lunch break!  :^) I saw a flyfishing show over the weekend that featured atlantic salmon fishing in Iceland.  They have an interesting regulation there.  The stream must be "rested" from 11:00am until 4:00pm (that means no fishing of any kind) every day.  Of course, at that latitude daylight goes until 10:00pm so there is plenty of time.

That’s an intresting concept.  It might be worth trying on some of our streams in the summer.  Different hours though. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley           2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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It took me a couple of hours to cut that thing out with the fileting knife during lunch break.  It sure was hard casting with that thing in there the remainder of the morning. Damn, Burton.  Fishing must have been slow if you took a couple of hours for lunch break!  :^) Tight Lines, preferably attached to ‘fish’, Charley

Nah, actually it was a good morning – pretty long.  It was just a long slow process cautiously getting down to the barb.  I’m no surgeon and had to wing it.  My fishing partner was taking a nap.  When I got ready to attempt pulling it out, I left the camper so I wouldn’t wake him if I yelled.  I grabbed it with tweezers and it popped right out.  That was the only one I forgot to pinch the barb on – talk about fate and retribution. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley           2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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Several people have entered into a purposeful discussion of the best way to use two flies……   related comment, but not on topic exactly….

Fishing a team of 2 or 3 flies is common in Ireland and Scotland especially where Seatrout and Salmon are expected on the same water. I invariably fish a double or triple hooked Salmon pattern on the tail with two droppers for Seatrout. If it is blowing a full gale and I start to tangle I might cut one dropper off. I have one friend who regularly fishes a team of 4 flies but he is so expert that he has the nickname of "Tightlines" I drove a very good friend of mine to the hospital with the second hook  ( the one not in the fish) deeeeeeeppppply embedded in his finger.    This hook was driven into his finger It took me a couple of hours to cut that thing out with the fileting knife during lunch break.

This hooking yourself business has cropped up before but I’ll say it again anyway. You do not have to go to the surgery or take a knife to yourself. Put your thumb very firmly on the eye end of the hook. Tie a bit of stout lanyard around the bend of the hook and give a firm pull away from the direction of the hook’s entry. You have to be bold. It works. There’s a bit of blood and it hurts, but you will be fishing again in 5 minutes. Mind you I’ve never tried it with a hook in the eye or eyelid. Has anyone ? — Ian McCowen – Polwarth Manse, Greenlaw, Berwickshire TD10 6YR SCOTLAND (fine old books on Shooting, Fishing, Natural History bought & sold)

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It took me a couple of hours to cut that thing out with the fileting knife during lunch break.  It sure was hard casting with that thing in there the remainder of the morning.

Damn, Burton.  Fishing must have been slow if you took a couple of hours for lunch break!  :^) Tight Lines, preferably attached to ‘fish’, Charley

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Here in Taupo we regularly use two nymphs on the bigger rivers. The first nymph is very heavy, we are not allowed to add lead to the line, and the second nymph, lighter. The second nymph is invariably tied off to the bend of the first hook, about 12 to 18 inches behind. If casting where it is possible, the best technique is to allow the nymphs to hit the water on the back cast, this ‘water haul’ helps to straighten out the line and fully load the rod. As several others have noted, try and cast an open loop, and also try and change the ‘plane’ at which the rod moves from the forward to back cast. Even so it is all pretty ugly to purist casters, but it gets the job done. We also tend to use shooting heads or weight forward tapers that have a short forward section. Despite all the above this type of casting is called here, chuck and duck, definitely a hard hat area. — Tony Bishop Fish with Bish Taupo New Zealand – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I : cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle : up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the : leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap : around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one : too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the : base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and : I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot : I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any : advice, Arek.

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Burton,         your ability to control the situation ends when a fish takes         one of the flies.  That’s when the worst tangles happen. Yeah, especially when a big fish is making a run and that second fly gets it’s barb caught on a rock.  Argh…!

        Etched forever in my memory is such an experience with a large         rainbow on the Madison River.  I was fishing a salmon fly with         an X-Caddis on a dropper.  The fish took the caddis (as usual),         and just when things were approaching the point where I was         thinking about a net, the fish made a pass by the boat and the         salmon fly got caught on the anchor line.  The salmon fly came         to an abrupt halt.  The fish, caddis fly and dropper didn’t.         I just stared at the errant salmon fly for some time, trying         to fully absorb the reality of the situation.  The image is         still vivid.         In fishing, as with everything else, there is no such thing as         a free lunch.  Fishing two flies may well double, or at least         increase the probability of hooking a fish, but there is a         price to be paid.  That being said, I still do it on a regular         basis.                                         Tom Hewlett-Packard Laboratories                     Phone: (970) 229-3531 External Research Program                          FAX: (970) 229-6198 3404 East Harmony Road Fort Collins, CO 80525-9599

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I : cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle : up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the : leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap : around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one : too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the : base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and : I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot : I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any : advice, Arek. : Arek: :    The only thing I could add to the previous post is that you may : need to pay more attention to your casting. Open that casting loop a : bit so that you’re not throwing a very tight loop and you sure need to : make sure that the back cast is fully extended before starting the : forward cast so that east doesn’t meet west. I generally will use the : same diameter tippet for the point fly as I’m using for the top one. : Jim There is some debate whether to put the heavy fly at the end or the lighter fly.  My experience is that if you cast a tighter loop, put the small fly on the end.  If you can cast a wider loop, put the heavy fly at the end. Pete

Use a lob cast or a circle cast. Very few tangles using two flies with these casts. –tony

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I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time. –I tie a Bimini twist, snip the loop at lengths desire for top and

dropper.  I works really well. dj

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2 nymphs…deadly, but beware. Your chances of foul hooking the fish as he rejects the first fly is hugely increased.  Your chances of mortally wounding the fish as the trailer wraps in its gills is also greatly increased.   Not that you should worry…just truth.  One whitefish this weekend had a nice 6cm gash in its belly from being foul hooked on my dropper #20 coachman, guts visible.  kilt it. smoked it. et it. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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: I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I : cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle : up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the : leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap : around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one : too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the : base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and : I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot : I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any : advice, Arek. : Arek: :    The only thing I could add to the previous post is that you may : need to pay more attention to your casting. Open that casting loop a : bit so that you’re not throwing a very tight loop and you sure need to : make sure that the back cast is fully extended before starting the : forward cast so that east doesn’t meet west. I generally will use the : same diameter tippet for the point fly as I’m using for the top one. : Jim There is some debate whether to put the heavy fly at the end or the lighter fly.  My experience is that if you cast a tighter loop, put the small fly on the end.  If you can cast a wider loop, put the heavy fly at the end. Pete

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I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any advice, Arek.

Response:

I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any

I fish this way most of the time.  The "dropper" leader is usually lighter than my main leader because the fly is always smaller.  I use no special knot, but have seen a blood knot reccomended, as well as the Surgeon’s knot. The length of the dropper leader should be around 4 inches (18 inches up the leader from the "point fly"), much longer than this and it twist around the main leader, too short and it takes action out of the dropper fly.  I think the key is not to have a weighted fly on the dropper.  Just a small nymph, wet or emerger. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley           2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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Arek, You can you use what ever size tippet you prefer and secure it to the gape of the first hook with a regular old improved clinch Knot.  Or you can place a loop somwhere in your leader and attach the two leaders loop to leader loop…no knot. They will tangle once in awhile…It wouldn’t be fly fishing if you didn’t get a tangle or two now and then.  One the leader material starts to become twisted…replace it right away….will prevent snarls. Good luck.  Email me with any questions.Works for me…I am sure there are probably other methods…we do not usually false cast these set-ups much… Regards, James Uncle Jammer’s Guide Service Vermont Fly Fishing, Hunting, River and Woodland Outings http://pobox.com/~uncle

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I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any advice, Arek.

Hi Arek I’ve always used and "in-line dropper system." Start by tying on your first fly, then tie an 18" or so piece of tippet to the bend of the first hook. Tie your second fly on the second piece of tippet. I use a Unit Knot or Clinch Knot (improved). I have fished up to three flies in this manner but two are easier to cast. Also you can fish a dry fly as your first fly with a nymph under it using the dry as your strike indicator. Or for old folks like me whose eyes are not as good as they used to be use a larger dry fly with a real small dry fly as the dropper. The bigger dry will give you a fairly good idea where the small fly is located. Good Tying & … — Tight Lines ….. Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products http://www.btsflyfishing.com Tiemco quality hooks, under $6.00 pkg/50

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I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any advice, Arek.

Hello Arek, I have experienced the same problems as you describe. The best (to date) solution for me is to tie the first nymph to the end of the tippet and then attach a second piece of tippet to the bend of the first nymph with an improved cinch knot. I use 18 to 24 inches of tippet and tie on the second nymph. Using heavy nymphs requires a special technique – the chuck and duck. You might want to experiment on the placement of the heavier nymph– first or second fly. I also use the technique with the first fly being a dry fly and the second either a small nymph, soft hackle, or in some cases, another too small-to-see dry fly. The first fly becomes a fishing strike indicator. Good luck and let us know how your experimenting works out. Vic’s Fly-By-Night http://www.navicom.com

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Arek writes, in part: <<I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time…… In Maine, it is illegal to use split shot with a fly.  So, I first tie on a bead head (or other weighted nymph) and tie my "intended lure" onto the bead head’s hook bend with about two feet of tippet of the *same* size.  I have no problems with the flies getting tangled — they are for all intents and purposes a single strand.  With this method, I can experiment with the size of the bead head to get deeper or shallower depending on the type water I am fishing.  Another way to do it, and it is easier, is to tie on about 2-3 feet of tippet using a double surgeon’s knot or barrell knot and leave a foot or less of the tag end intact — i.e., do not cut the tag end short.  This works just as well as the first method and is easier to tie.  I sometimes use a large dry fly (#12 Elk Hair Caddis tied with CDC feathers) tied to the leader and about 2 feet of tippet (same size!) tied to it’s hook bend, with an appropriate caddis nymph tied on as the dropper.  The dry fly then acts as a strike indicator —  I once caught a small brookie on the dry fly and while landing it, a larger brookie took the Rhyacophila nymph!  I lost the larger trout, but managed to land the little fella — fun and games when you have two on at once!! Sorry for the rambling reply, but I hope it helps. Good drifts, Paul LaCourse  

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I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.  I cast short, not much longer than the lenght of the leader and the leader that the fly is on (the shorter one) tends to wrap around the leading one.  I tried using a thicker line, a realy short one too; did not really help much.  I tried to tie the second leader to the base of the hook, I tried the eye of the hook; if I use thin tippet and I kept loosing flies when setting the hook(poor fish..) Is there a knot I could use that will prevent that?  Or what should I do?  Thanx for any advice, Arek.

Arek:    The only thing I could add to the previous post is that you may need to pay more attention to your casting. Open that casting loop a bit so that you’re not throwing a very tight loop and you sure need to make sure that the back cast is fully extended before starting the forward cast so that east doesn’t meet west. I generally will use the same diameter tippet for the point fly as I’m using for the top one. Jim

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Arek, I have tried fishing two flies, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.         your ability to control the situation ends when a fish takes         one of the flies.  That’s when the worst tangles happen.

Yeah, especially when a big fish is making a run and that second fly gets it’s barb caught on a rock.  Argh…! -Burton — L. Burton Hawley         2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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Burton,         your ability to control the situation ends when a fish takes         one of the flies.  That’s when the worst tangles happen. Yeah, especially when a big fish is making a run and that second fly gets it’s barb caught on a rock.  Argh…!         The salmon fly came         to an abrupt halt.  The fish, caddis fly and dropper didn’t.         I just stared at the errant salmon fly for some time, trying         to fully absorb the reality of the situation.  The image is         still vivid.

That’s why I added the Argh!  I’ve had this happen a couple of times, once with a nice steelhead on.  Image my embarrasment when I finally realized I was fighting a rock.  You are right the image is very vivid. -Burton — L. Burton Hawley           2330 NW Hummingbird Corvallis, OR

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Arek, I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.

        What I do is tie the larger of the two flies to the end of the         tippet, then tie a second tippet to the eye of the first fly.         The second tippet is usually about 18" long, and often of a         smaller diameter than the first tippet.  The second fly is         tied to the end of the second tippet.  This method does not         seem to have a significant effect on drift or hooking.         Tangles are almost impossible to avoid if a dropper is used.         Most casting tangles can be avoided with a bit of care, but         your ability to control the situation ends when a fish takes         one of the flies.  That’s when the worst tangles happen.                                         Tom Hewlett-Packard Laboratories                     Phone: (970) 229-3531 External Research Program                          FAX: (970) 229-6198 3404 East Harmony Road Fort Collins, CO 80525-9599

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Arek, I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.         What I do is tie the larger of the two flies to the end of the         tippet, then tie a second tippet to the eye of the first fly.         The second tippet is usually about 18" long, and often of a         smaller diameter than the first tippet.  The second fly is         tied to the end of the second tippet.  This method does not         seem to have a significant effect on drift or hooking.         Tangles are almost impossible to avoid if a dropper is used.         Most casting tangles can be avoided with a bit of care, but         your ability to control the situation ends when a fish takes         one of the flies.  That’s when the worst tangles happen.                                         Tom Hewlett-Packard Laboratories                     Phone: (970) 229-3531 External Research Program                          FAX: (970) 229-6198 3404 East Harmony Road Fort Collins, CO 80525-9599

What we used to do for two flies, was use an extension of the heavier leader material to tie the dropper to. Sometimes you needed two or three x-ratings differential to assure you wouldn’t tangle. This required good knots where the two mono sizes were joined. Jim N.

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I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.

I use a surgeon’s knot to attach a tippet, and I tie one fly to each of the two tippet tails.  I leave one tail long (18") and one short (6"). I tie a big dry fly to the short tail and a nymph to the other.  Then I cast great big wide loops.  It works OK for me.  Yes the casting is a little laborious, but it is pretty exciting when you get two lunker dace  on at once! Keep your stick on the ice, Thos.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Arek, I have tried fishing two files, actually nymphs on on one line and I cannot find a right way, or right knot to use, so they will not tangle up all the time.         What I do is tie the larger of the two flies to the end of the         tippet, then tie a second tippet to the eye of the first fly.         The second tippet is usually about 18" long, and often of a         smaller diameter than the first tippet.  The second fly is         tied to the end of the second tippet.  This method does not         seem to have a significant effect on drift or hooking.         Tangles are almost impossible to avoid if a dropper is used.         Most casting tangles can be avoided with a bit of care, but         your ability to control the situation ends when a fish takes         one of the flies.  That’s when the worst tangles happen.

Hi Tom and Arek, I tie the second tippet to the bend of the first fly with an improved cinch knot and then tie the second fly on the end of the tippet. I usually use about 24" of tippet. I have experimented with using the heavier fly as the first or second fly. I think fewer tangles are encountered when the heavier fly is on the bottom. Again experiment with using the a dry fly as the first fly with a lightly weighted nymph, soft hackle, or a tiny dry fly as the second fly. The first fly serves as a fishing strike indicator. — Vic Brockett Vic’s Fly-By-Night http://www.navicom.com/~vic

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Question:

What are the best EASILY AVAILABLE books on salmon fishing and tying salmon flies? Thanx for the help.

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What are the best EASILY AVAILABLE books on salmon fishing and tying salmon flies? Thanx for the help.

First I presume you are asking about Atlantic salmon books, not books relating to inferior <vbg Pacific species. As I write, Fishing Atlantic Salmon by Joe Bates and Pamela Bates Richards, is the best and most available Atlantic salmon fly fishing and fly tying book. It is published by Stackpole and goes for $75.00(US)–although I am reliably informed that a little shopping around might beat that price. Poul Jorgensen’s Salmon Flies is always recommended for fly tying and is easily available. Bates’ much earlier book, Atlantic Salmon Flies and Fishing, is a great classic and has been reissued by Stackpole. Finally, my own, Atlantic Salmon – A Fly Fishing Primer (mimimal fly-tying), can usually be found in second hand catalogs at indecently low prices. Paul Marriner

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What are the best EASILY AVAILABLE books on salmon fishing and tying salmon flies? Thanx for the help.

What kind of salmon and where?  Full dress atlantic salmon flies or pacific/alaska shiny "purty" things?

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Fishing, is a great classic and has been reissued by Stackpole. Finally, my own, Atlantic Salmon – A Fly Fishing Primer (mimimal fly-tying), can usually be found in second hand catalogs at indecently low prices. Paul Marriner

All great fishing books eventually get remaindered. Known fact. Charles Cotton had the same problem. Andrew

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For Atlantic Salmon fishing I swear by Hugh Falkus’ book "Salmon Fishing" available here through Orvis and presumably others.

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Try Fly Fishing for Pacific Salmon, Bruce Ferguson, Les Johnson, Pat Trotter, Frank Amato Publications.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I have just gone through a bunch of older fly rods and decided that I’d like to try them again. Unfortunately, they do not have any markings on them as to line weight. The rods are fiber glass and thus old enough not to have the AFTMA or older ABCDEFGH marking, so it probably will have to be trial and error before I get lines to work properly. Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can get the correct line weights without having to buy a whole bunch of lines? I remember using the rods 25 years ago and enjoying them, so I don’t just want to discard them for my current tackle. There is a 7′, 8′, and an 8 1/2′. The little one seems to overload with a 7weight and the longer rods appear not to load properly with the 7wt.        Frank —

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Maybe these fly fishing yuppies everybody likes to harangue are good for the sport. Although the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers and state and local irrigation agencies aren’t building dams like they used to, there’s still lots of opportunity to ruin good streams, right? Who do you suppose is better positioned to fight a project that will ruin a particular stream: some misanthropic, authority-detesting fly fishing zealot who wields no power outside of his Sage 5-wt?; or an Orvis jeep-driving lawyer who’s been fly fishing since she saw A River Runs Through It? I’ll take the lawyer, thank you. I doubt the misanthrope knows much about how to organize and file for an injunction protecting the river. Maybe we should help these yuppies get *into* the club and with the program. Building a powerful, moneyed constituency for preserving our streams and rivers makes common sense.–Just my 2 cents. –Eric Robinson

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Make that .04  I think this yuppie-bashing is ludricrous.  Does the sport belong to the impoverished?  Anyone who is interested in flyfishing and all that it entails gets my nod, no matter what his/her economic bracket.  The rest is simple jealousy. — Jim Benenson                 Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA "To protect your rivers, protect your mountains"       Emperor Yu of China, circa 1600 B.C.

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Who do you suppose is better positioned to fight a project that will ruin a particular stream: some misanthropic, authority-detesting fly fishing zealot who wields no power outside of his Sage 5-wt?; or an Orvis jeep-driving lawyer who’s been fly fishing since she saw A River Runs Through It? I’ll take the lawyer, thank you. I doubt the misanthrope knows much about how to organize and file for an injunction protecting the river.

You should get to know more of the people you mistakenly term "misanthropes."  The backbone of any fight to save a particular stream and watershed  is always comprised of local plumbers, electricians, telephone repairmen and the like.  These blue-collar workers usually come to appeals board and conservation commission meetings well-prepared to quote the regs from memory when appropriate, and to work around the regs when necessary. They call in scientific consultants and legal advisors when needed, but they do the real work, for one simple, overriding reason: They need local waters on which to fish, and on which to take their kids fishing.  If local waters are ruined, the yuppie can always take a long vacation to an exotic fishery; the blue-collar worker doesn’t always have that option.  When an environmental struggle deals with large regions, international boundaries or anadromous fisheries, then wealthy professionals are indeed the leaders of such struggles: the fight to save the Atlantic salmon is a good example.  We need to work side by side with both types of people, but don’t sell short the people who’ll never own an Orvis Jeep. Woods Hole, MA   USA

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IF WE DON’T HANG TOGETHER, WE ALL HANG-TOGETHER! REGARDS MK

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