Question:

 A light rain throughout could result in an awesome trip, The Finn

Cool, changing clothes and heading out now!!! WOO WOOOOO! — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Actually, I think it is T.S. Eliot, but could easily have been used by others. Mike

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Here I am, an old man in a dry month, Being read to by a boy, waiting for rain" I just read two books lately & damned if I can remember which one that (great) story was out of.    I’m thinking Jerry Dennis.   Do I win? Joe F.

Response:

Actually, I think it is T.S. Eliot, but could easily have been used by others.

It’s entirely possible that the story I’m thinking of quoted Eliot, & I completely ignored the reference.   Now I gotta go find where I saw it. Joe F.

Response:

 By the way,  is there game plan for fishing on Friday, in case I get a few hours…

— Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Bring your rods and flies with you to Bal’more.  We can do an afternoon on the Patapsco. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

"Frank Reid" Are there fall backs in case Isadore comes north (I know it will)?

http://forecast.accuweather.com/adcbin/local_index.asp?thisZip=16832&… Go&nav=home Accuweather says the forecast for Friday in Coburn is:  Pouring Rain, windy and 68 degrees.  God, I hope this doesn’t blow out the river.  At least I won’t be in my tent.  DavePA has kindly offered up a bunk in his cabin. Time to go finish packing the truck. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

If the Creek is as low as I think it is, it will clear up fast.  The trouble we had this spring is that it was soo high, it was washing the banks into the creek, bringing the mud/silt with it.  It may actually work in your favor, as the reports were indicating low and clear conditions, which can be very tough anywhere, an inch of rain mmay be perfect.  A light rain throughout could result in an awesome trip, The Finn

"Frank Reid" Are there fall backs in case Isadore comes north (I know it will)?

http://forecast.accuweather.com/adcbin/local_index.asp?thisZip=16832&… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Go&nav=home Accuweather says the forecast for Friday in Coburn is:  Pouring Rain, windy and 68 degrees.  God, I hope this doesn’t blow out the river.  At least I won’t be in my tent.  DavePA has kindly offered up a bunk in his cabin. Time to go finish packing the truck. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Sorry you can’t make it Vince would have been nice to see you again. But then May will be here soon and you will be up to see us i am sure.  Beer ??? we don’t need no stinking beer wraps whos got the wraps??? we need wraps lots of wraps. See ya all in a couple of days.                    Handyman Mike           Standing in a river waving a stick

Response:

Arriving Wednesday ’round supper-time. Will bring Bass,  Amber/Bock something brown, Vermouth, Gin and olives…and a finger. ..john

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who’s bringing the beer?  Who else will be there?  Are there fall backs in case Isadore comes north (I know it will)?  Mr. Makela, aka The Nymph Master, what will be the nymph of choice?  Who’s bringing the beer?  Is there a lobster night this Thursday?  Anyone gonna be there?  Who’s bringing the beer? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Very envious of you guys!  I would love to be there but I’m buried in a refueling outage.  With the weather looking good, temperatures perfect, and trout boxs full, I really hate to miss this one.  Right now I’m off Saturdays only and working 6/12’s.  Oh well, all the better to visit the fly fishing show in January!!  I am sneaking out October 5-7 for a little side trip but even that was tough to get approved! Wayne to fish is human….to release Divine!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who’s bringing the beer?  Who else will be there?  Are there fall backs in case Isadore comes north (I know it will)?  Mr. Makela, aka The Nymph Master, what will be the nymph of choice?  Who’s bringing the beer?  Is there a lobster night this Thursday?  Anyone gonna be there?  Who’s bringing the beer?

Response:

I have yet to unlock the locks on my chains, so getting up there is mere impossible for this weekend,  hell I’m still trying to find time to finish my trip report from May.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Frank asks the essential questions: Who’s bringing the beer? You are…..4 cases of Yeungling should suffice. Who else will be there? Possibles include: myself, Mike Shaw, asadi, Vince Norris, Mark Faulkner, DavePA, Lefty Kreh(just checking if you were still awake) and George Gherke. Mr. Makela, aka The Nymph Master, what will be the nymph of choice? the Nymph Master has been virtually unreachable, as he is chained to his new desk. Stoneflies always work, Pheasant Tails and Caddis Pupae are an idea as well. Who’s bringing the beer? we covered this one Is there a lobster night this Thursday? no clue, we could call the Millheim, but are basically lazy and shiftless, so will find out then. Who’s bringing the beer? alright, I will stop for some Lagers on the way up Weds night.                               Tom

Response:

Frank!!! What’s happenin!! I have to make a business trip down to Baltimore (Inner Harbor-Wyndham) for an  industry conference on September 29th-October 4th, HL7 data protocol conference (a.k.a. The Geek Conference – should be plenty of trekkies mixed in).  This makes it very interesting in the area of getting the wife to let me out to play, since she will inherit the madness of the two youngyens while I am in Baltimore those 5 days. As a last ditch effort, I’m actually trying to schedule a client stop in the area on Friday,  but it’s not looking too good.  If I make it up, it will only be for the day.  The other possibility may be Sunday, as a side trip on the way to Baltimore, but I assume most attendees will be gone by then. Just as a warning, my luck this year has been horrendous weather-wise whenever I get out to fish, so you may want to make sure you have the inflatable boat in the tent on Thursday/Friday night.  In addition to the obvious 2nd annual Clave,  I have seen 15 foot waves at Boca Grande Pass (another trip report yet posted concerning an unsuccessful/successful outing ending in a 250 lbr), and severe drought on the local streams.  When I was in the Outer Banks earlier this year, where it hadn’t rained for weeks, it decided to rain (w/ near gale force wind) on the two days I had to fish. I may leave the rod home, just to keep from destroying everyone else’s trip. Let’s see, Friday-Sunday is probably the time both of the remnants from ISIDORE and LILLI will converge over central Pennsylvania. Talk to ya, The Finn "Here I am, an old man in a dry month, Being read to by a boy, waiting for rain"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who’s bringing the beer?  Who else will be there?  Are there fall backs in case Isadore comes north (I know it will)?  Mr. Makela, aka The Nymph Master, what will be the nymph of choice?  Who’s bringing the beer?  Is there a lobster night this Thursday?  Anyone gonna be there?  Who’s bringing the beer? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

"Here I am, an old man in a dry month, Being read to by a boy, waiting for rain"

I just read two books lately & damned if I can remember which one that (great) story was out of.    I’m thinking Jerry Dennis.   Do I win? Joe F.

Response:

By the way,  is there game plan for fishing on Friday, in case I get a few hours…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there a lobster night this Thursday? no clue, we could call the Millheim, but are basically lazy and shiftless, so will find out then.                               Tom Called the Millheim.  No dice on the lobster.  It is seafood night on Thursday. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Is there a lobster night this Thursday? no clue, we could call the Millheim, but are basically lazy and shiftless, so will find out then.                               Tom

Called the Millheim.  No dice on the lobster.  It is seafood night on Thursday. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Frank asks the essential questions: Who’s bringing the beer? You are…..4 cases of Yeungling should suffice. Who else will be there? Possibles include: myself, Mike Shaw, asadi, Vince Norris, Mark Faulkner, DavePA, Lefty Kreh(just checking if you were still awake) and George Gherke.

I had planned to bring a supply of Chesterfield Ale; it seemed to go over pretty well on previous occasions. But now, I’m sorry to say, I can’t come.  My daughter has announced she and her family will be arriving Thursday for a long weekend.  I can’t very well bug out because they don’t get here that often. She works in a hospital and getting a weekend off is not easy. I phoned Mark Faulkner a few days ago to remind him, but got only a recorded message.  He hasn’t returned the call so I don’t know if he plans to come. Best wishes to all for a superduper time! vince

Response:

Who’s bringing the beer?  Who else will be there?  Are there fall backs in case Isadore comes north (I know it will)?  Mr. Makela, aka The Nymph Master, what will be the nymph of choice?  Who’s bringing the beer?  Is there a lobster night this Thursday?  Anyone gonna be there?  Who’s bringing the beer? — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply

Response:

Frank asks the essential questions: Who’s bringing the beer?

You are…..4 cases of Yeungling should suffice. Who else will be there?

Possibles include: myself, Mike Shaw, asadi, Vince Norris, Mark Faulkner, DavePA, Lefty Kreh(just checking if you were still awake) and George Gherke. Mr. Makela, aka The Nymph Master, what will be the nymph of choice?

the Nymph Master has been virtually unreachable, as he is chained to his new desk. Stoneflies always work, Pheasant Tails and Caddis Pupae are an idea as well. Who’s bringing the beer?

we covered this one Is there a lobster night this Thursday?

no clue, we could call the Millheim, but are basically lazy and shiftless, so will find out then. Who’s bringing the beer?

alright, I will stop for some Lagers on the way up Weds night.                               Tom

Response:

Question:

…reading a bit of ol bartram’s writings from the late 1700s (e-document on a UNC web site noted at the bottom of this post)and ran upon the following… southern fly-fishing heritage, eh? course, like most furriners, ol bartram didn’t know a trout from whatever it was those boys were dappin out from under the river bank in Florida… "….covered with the white hair of a deer’s tail, shreds of a red garter, and some particoloured feathers…." Fascinating.  Thanks for posting it. JR

thanks jeffie…. bartram’s travels is a classic….. well worth the read. –waldo, hoping i still have a copy somewheres…

Response:

Appreciate posts on FF history, thanx. Dave

Response:

Jeff  I missed the post explaing UnC  web to read early Bartram—-please offer again– Playing tennis thru Nov 11 but if you are interested in a western N.C. trip after that   let me know–only one  proviso ( a legal term I think )   motel rooms cannot be exited before six in morning.–Jeff and IJ sharinmg motel room-at 2:30 AM  AM Jeff showers and says I’ve had enought sleep  let"s o  – IJ ask it’s raining and dark and foggy and the next three hour drive is all curves–what the hell are we going to do in Graham Co. N.C at five Am in the mornimng??   Jeff yea but we will miss most of the traffic.  IJ

Response:

Playing tennis thru Nov 11 but if you are interested in a western N.C. trip after that   let me know–only one  proviso ( a legal term I think ) motel rooms cannot be exited before six in morning.–Jeff and IJ sharinmg motel room-at 2:30 AM  AM Jeff showers and says I’ve had enought sleep  let"s o  – IJ ask it’s raining and dark and foggy and the next three hour drive is all curves–what the hell are we going to do in Graham Co. N.C at five Am in the mornimng??   Jeff yea but we will miss most of the traffic.  IJ

I believe that somehow I must be related to Jeff Miller. I’m off to call my mom. –Steve

Response:

i think this is what you wanted, but not sure…  http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/bartram/bartram.html …i’m probably not gonna be able to get back to the mountains before christmas… but i might get ol pj and make a visit to you and that bass pond you keep braggin about… we’d arrive early and leave late, eat all your food, and drink your whisky… and since jim’s comin, you might wanna warn dene too… i hear it’s nice in wilmington this time of year… jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –        The electronic edition is a part of the UNC-CH digitization project, Documenting the American South.

Response:

…reading a bit of ol bartram’s writings from the late 1700s (e-document on a UNC web site noted at the bottom of this post)and ran upon the following… southern fly-fishing heritage, eh? course, like most furriners, ol bartram didn’t know a trout from whatever it was those boys were dappin out from under the river bank in Florida…

"….covered with the white hair of a deer’s tail, shreds of a red garter, and some particoloured feathers…."   Fascinating.  Thanks for posting it. JR

Response:

That ‘delicious food’ part doesn’t seem to fit, does it? riverman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – …reading a bit of ol bartram’s writings from the late 1700s (e-document on a UNC web site noted at the bottom of this post)and ran upon the following… southern fly-fishing heritage, eh? course, like most furriners, ol bartram didn’t know a trout from whatever it was those boys were dappin out from under the river bank in Florida… jeff <Page 108 "ON my return, I found some of my companions fishing for trout, round about the edges of the floating nymphaea, and not unsuccessfully, having then caught more than sufficient for us all. As the method of taking these fish is curious and singular, I shall just mention it. THEY are taken with a hook and line, but without any bait. Two people are in a little canoe, one sitting in the stern to steer, and the other near the bow, having a rod ten or twelve feet in length, to one end of which is tied a strong line, about twenty inches in length, to which is fastened three large hooks, back to back. These are fixed very securely, and covered with the white hair of a deer’s tail, shreds of a red garter, and some particoloured feathers, all which form a tuft, or tassel, nearly as large as one’s fist, and entirely cover and conceal the hooks:

this is called a bob. The steersman paddles softly, and proceeds slowly along shore, keeping the

boat parallel to it, at a distance just sufficient to admit the fisherman to reach the edge of

the floating weeds along shore: he now ingeniously swings the bob backwards and forwards, just above the surface, and sometimes tips the water with it; when the unfortunate cheated trout

instantly springs from under the weeds, and seizes the supposed prey. Thus he is caught without a

possibility of escape, unless he break the hooks, line, or rod, which he, however, sometime does

by dint of strength; but, to prevent this, the fisherman used to the sport is careful not to

raise the reed suddenly up, but jerks it instantly backwards, then steadily drags the sturdy reluctant

fish to the side of the < Page 109 canoe, and with a sudden upright jerk brings him into it. THE head of this fish makes about one third of his length, and

consequently the mouth is very large: birds, fish, frogs, and even serpents, are frequently found in its stomach. THE trout is of lead colour, inclining to a deep blue, and marked with

transverse waved lists, of a deep slate colour, and when fully grown, has a cast of red, or brick colour. The fins, with the tail, which is large, and beautifully formed, are of a light

reddish purple, or flesh colour, the whole body is covered with large scales. But what is most singular,

this fish is remarkably ravenous; nothing living, that he can seize upon, escapes his jaws, and the opening

and extending of the branchiostega, at the moment he rises to the surface to seize his prey,

discovering his bright red gills, through the transparent waters, give him a very terible appearance. Indeed

it may be observed, that all fish of prey have this opening and covering of the gills very large, in

order to discharge the great quantity of water, which they take in at their mouth, when they

strike at their prey. This fish is nearly cuniform, the body tapering gradually from the breast to the

tail, and lightly compressed on each side. They frequently weigh fifteen, twenty and thirty pounds, and are delicious food. …quoted from Travels Through North & South Carolina, Georgia, East & West

Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the

Country of the Chactaws; Containing An Account of the Soil and Natural Productions of Those Regions,

Together with Observations on the Manners of the Indians. Embellished with Copper-Plates (spine) Bartram’s Travels William Bartram xxxiv, 522 p., ill. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY JAMES & JOHNSON. M, DCC, XCI. Call number VC917 B29 (North Carolina Collection, University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill) http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/bartram/bartram.html —–        The electronic edition is a part of the UNC-CH digitization

project, Documenting the American South. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

…reading a bit of ol bartram’s writings from the late 1700s (e-document on a UNC web site noted at the bottom of this post)and ran upon the following… southern fly-fishing heritage, eh? course, like most furriners, ol bartram didn’t know a trout from whatever it was those boys were dappin out from under the river bank in Florida… jeff <Page 108         "ON my return, I found some of my companions fishing for trout, round about the edges of the floating nymphaea, and not unsuccessfully, having then caught more than sufficient for us all. As the method of taking these fish is curious and singular, I shall just mention it.         THEY are taken with a hook and line, but without any bait. Two people are in a little canoe, one sitting in the stern to steer, and the other near the bow, having a rod ten or twelve feet in length, to one end of which is tied a strong line, about twenty inches in length, to which is fastened three large hooks, back to back. These are fixed very securely, and covered with the white hair of a deer’s tail, shreds of a red garter, and some particoloured feathers, all which form a tuft, or tassel, nearly as large as one’s fist, and entirely cover and conceal the hooks: this is called a bob. The steersman paddles softly, and proceeds slowly along shore, keeping the boat parallel to it, at a distance just sufficient to admit the fisherman to reach the edge of the floating weeds along shore: he now ingeniously swings the bob backwards and forwards, just above the surface, and sometimes tips the water with it; when the unfortunate cheated trout instantly springs from under the weeds, and seizes the supposed prey. Thus he is caught without a possibility of escape, unless he break the hooks, line, or rod, which he, however, sometime does by dint of strength; but, to prevent this, the fisherman used to the sport is careful not to raise the reed suddenly up, but jerks it instantly backwards, then steadily drags the sturdy reluctant fish to the side of the < Page 109 canoe, and with a sudden upright jerk brings him into it.         THE head of this fish makes about one third of his length, and consequently the mouth is very large: birds, fish, frogs, and even serpents, are frequently found in its stomach. THE trout is of lead colour, inclining to a deep blue, and marked with transverse waved lists, of a deep slate colour, and when fully grown, has a cast of red, or brick colour. The fins, with the tail, which is large, and beautifully formed, are of a light reddish purple, or flesh colour, the whole body is covered with large scales. But what is most singular, this fish is remarkably ravenous; nothing living, that he can seize upon, escapes his jaws, and the opening and extending of the branchiostega, at the moment he rises to the surface to seize his prey, discovering his bright red gills, through the transparent waters, give him a very terible appearance. Indeed it may be observed, that all fish of prey have this opening and covering of the gills very large, in order to discharge the great quantity of water, which they take in at their mouth, when they strike at their prey. This fish is nearly cuniform, the body tapering gradually from the breast to the tail, and lightly compressed on each side. They frequently weigh fifteen, twenty and thirty pounds, and are delicious food. …quoted from Travels Through North & South Carolina, Georgia, East & West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws; Containing An Account of the Soil and Natural Productions of Those Regions, Together with Observations on the Manners of the Indians. Embellished with Copper-Plates (spine) Bartram’s Travels William Bartram xxxiv, 522 p., ill. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY JAMES & JOHNSON. M, DCC, XCI. Call number VC917 B29 (North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/bartram/bartram.html         The electronic edition is a part of the UNC-CH digitization project, Documenting the American South.

Response:

Question:

    Hi, I have never been in eastern Sierra area, but I am planning to make a photo trip to there soon. Shooting landscape is the major purpose of my trip. My question to you are: (1) ‘What are the top 10 places you think a landscape photographer must visit and shoot?’

Alabama Hills (very hot in summer) Mono Lake Lee Vining Creek Yosemite Hot Creek Use your eyes and you will find plenty. — http://www.fnet.net/~ellis/photo/

Response:

Having just gotten back from there I would add Bodie state park if you like ghost towns. I would also recommend a couple of sites at mono lake 1.  The south toufa (sp?) walk and tour 2.  The panum crater walk and tour. of course you can’t go wrong with anything in Yosemite. Make sure you have a place to stay before you go. btb

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Hi, I have never been in eastern Sierra area, but I am planning to make a photo trip to there soon. Shooting landscape is the major purpose of my trip. My question to you are: (1) ‘What are the top 10 places you think a landscape photographer must visit and shoot?’ Alabama Hills (very hot in summer) Mono Lake Lee Vining Creek Yosemite Hot Creek Use your eyes and you will find plenty. — http://www.fnet.net/~ellis/photo/

Response:

(2) Best guide book for photo trip to Eastern Sierra    Any feedback/suggestions are appreciated. Ronald

Take a look at California’s Eastern Sierra, A Vistor’s Guide by Sue Irwin (Cachuma Press). Good photos and info and only $18. Claude

Response:

Ronald, The Eastern Sierra is beautiful any time ofyear or day.  I suggest starting at one end of the Owens Valley and work your way through it, using your imagination.  You will no doubt find some spots of your own that are just as good or better than any that can be recommended. Bob Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

Come on over to my website and check out my sections on Mono Lake, Rock Creek, and the White Mountains. That will give you some ideas for shooting. I have some commentary there also in the different sections pertaining to those locations. http://www.californiapictures.com It is a good time now to shoot wildflowers in Mammoth Lakes. Go to Reds Meadow early, I mean early or you can’t drive your car. They will make you ride the trams after 6:30AM. They are trying to keep the traffic out. Dale Proctor * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Everyone has talked about Mono Lake, personally I haven’t been there, been close.  That is on a list of to-go places, however, I’ve been to Bodie which is a ghost town.  I think it is one of the nicest ghost towns that I’ve been to and would recommend it to others. Would need to gage your timing for lighting, etc. * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

Response:

Hi, Mono Lake is, without question, unique. But there are many other places of charm and beauty. On the web, start at http://www.395.com  This will give you links to about every place you’ll want to visit. It all depends on your tastes of course. In the Mammoth Lakes area, there are many opportunities to shoot wild flowers. Also consider Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow falls. The lakes basin is also nice with long and short hikes of various degrees of difficulty. The Mammoth Ranger Station can be very helpful! South of Mammoth Lakes you will find Convict Lake (morning shot), Hot Creek geo-thermal area (and fly fishing), McGee creek, and Little Lakes Valley. Little Lakes Valley is a very nice walk, spectacular at times, and not too strenuous, despite the high elevation. North of Mammoth is Lundy Canyon, fantastic in the fall.  The June Lake loop is another possibiliby, just south of Lee Vining. Lee Vining is, of course, where you will find Mono Lake as well as the eastern entrance to Yosemite via Tioga Pass. This is a fantastic road, an engineering feat (and perfectly safe), with grand vistas to the east. Tuolomne Meadows, just a few miles inside the park will give you a taste of granit domes. Before the park entrace is a road to the right (north) that takes you to Saddle Bag Lake. North of Lee Vining, about 5 mi before you get to Bridgeport, is the turn off to Bodie. Great pictures here! But watch the sun. The park is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm in the summer. You can shoot in August until about 10:30 am and then again after about 3:30. When the sun is low you get wonderful colors in the wooden buildings. When the sun is high, you can try to take some interiors through windows. Shooting anywhere in the Eastern Sierra generally requires a polarizer (but be careful; if you polarize to strongly the sky will turn almost black). Also, because of the altitude and thin atmosphere there is a lot of blue coming through. A 81A or 81B (better) will give you truer colors. One last tip. Watch the dust! A lot of it is pumice and it can scratch your glass. (Actually pumice is the foam form of the black obsidion, which is  volcanic glass.)  If you are interested, I have a section on Bodie on my webpage with links to other sites. (I’m in the process of re-doing the sections on Sierra Wild Flowers and the Eastern Sierra.)  http://toms_place_2.tripod.com Enjoy your trip! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –      Hi, I have never been in eastern Sierra area, but I am planning to make a photo trip to there soon. Shooting landscape is the major purpose of my trip. My question to you are: (1) ‘What are the top 10 places you think a landscape photographer must visit and shoot?’ (2) Best guide book for photo trip to Eastern Sierra     Any feedback/suggestions are appreciated. Ronald

Response:

     Hi, I have never been in eastern Sierra area, but I am planning to make a photo trip to there soon. Shooting landscape is the major purpose of my trip. My question to you are: (1) ‘What are the top 10 places you think a landscape photographer must visit and shoot?’ (2) Best guide book for photo trip to Eastern Sierra     Any feedback/suggestions are appreciated. Ronald

  shourong.shu.vcf

< 1K Download

Response:

Mono LAke. If it is no #1 then it is #2 or 3. Shoot at sunrise. GO th day before to scope out the area then come back for sunrise. With a little luch you will have clouds inte western sky andit will explode with color. Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

     Hi, I have never been in eastern Sierra area, but I am planning to make a photo trip to there soon. Shooting landscape is the major purpose of my trip. My question to you are: (1) ‘What are the top 10 places you think a landscape photographer must visit and shoot?’

Besides putting Mono Lake at the top of the list, here are some ideas in no particular order: – Mono Lake   See my "East of the Sierra" web gallery for some images from Mono Lake   (http://www.designsinlight.com/gallery.htm) – Alambama Hills   Near Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney, and where many westerns were shot. – White & Inyo Mountains – Bristlecone Pine forest   Some of the oldest living things in the world (4000+ years) and very cool looking   Some info: http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone/WhiteMts.html – Bodie ghost town – June Lake One meteorlogical feature to keep an eye out for is lenticular clouds. They form where there is a strong, steady wind blowing over mountains, in places like Owens Valley east of the Sierra Nevada. They can make for some spectacular skies, especially at sunrise or sunset. Have fun! It’s a beautiful part of the world. gene — Gene Anderson http://www.designsinlight.com/

Response:

Question:

BTY I just read an article about the state of Wisconsin purchasing a 32,000 acre tract of land. Nice purchase by the people of Wisconsin.

I missed that one Willi.  What tract, where?

Response:

don’t have much info. This is from Nature Conservancy magazine:  "The State with support from Nature’s Conservancy purchased 32,00 acres, including significant natural areas properties adjacent to Nature Conservancy preserves, using funds from the Stewardship Fund. The the program for the next 10 years." Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTY I just read an article about the state of Wisconsin purchasing a 32,000 acre tract of land. Nice purchase by the people of Wisconsin. I missed that one Willi.  What tract, where?

Response:

Constantly freezing guides and line are not very fun. When the water is extremely cold the fish don’t feed often, won’t move to take a fly and generally fight like an old boot. I have to have cabin fever pretty bad to fish during that kind of weather. In the West (Southwest too) we have spells of nice weather, most years, all through the winter. A couple days of nice weather will generally get a few fish moving during the warmest part of the day. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Willi, I live out in the Southwest and I have fished in the snow.  I mostly froze my butt off and didn’t catch anything.  You were a lucky dude to get in a few casts and have some fun. I remember fishing one creek in the mountains where I think the water was below freezing or right near freezing.  My fly line and leader was a long icicle. Eric It’s fairly warm but the skies are overcast and snow is falling.  I had about an hour or so free late this afternoon and I went to an area where I’ve been seeing some surface midging trout. Although I’m not too fond of the snow, the fish did seem to like the overcast skies. In areas where I had been finding single feeding fish, there were small pods of fish. Sometimes during overcast days even in the Winter, a very tiny BWO comes off. But none were to be found and the fish were feeding on the midges that they normally do this time of year. I approached the first pod of fish. Even with the low clear water, the overcast skies allowed me to get much closer to the fish than our more normal sunny skies do. At this distance, a good cast was easy as was following the tiny fly with my aging eyesight. The first cast resulted in a Rainbow whose fight put down the rest of that pod of fish. I waded downstream and approached the next pod of fish. Same result, one cast one Rainbow and the rest put down. I again went downstream and found another pod. First cast, no take. Second cast a Brown. I quit with that one. Good day, four casts and three fish! Cloud cover sure helps. Willi

Response:

Willi, I live out in the Southwest and I have fished in the snow.  I mostly froze my butt off and didn’t catch anything.  You were a lucky dude to get in a few casts and have some fun. I remember fishing one creek in the mountains where I think the water was below freezing or right near freezing.  My fly line and leader was a long icicle. Eric – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s fairly warm but the skies are overcast and snow is falling.  I had about an hour or so free late this afternoon and I went to an area where I’ve been seeing some surface midging trout. Although I’m not too fond of the snow, the fish did seem to like the overcast skies. In areas where I had been finding single feeding fish, there were small pods of fish. Sometimes during overcast days even in the Winter, a very tiny BWO comes off. But none were to be found and the fish were feeding on the midges that they normally do this time of year. I approached the first pod of fish. Even with the low clear water, the overcast skies allowed me to get much closer to the fish than our more normal sunny skies do. At this distance, a good cast was easy as was following the tiny fly with my aging eyesight. The first cast resulted in a Rainbow whose fight put down the rest of that pod of fish. I waded downstream and approached the next pod of fish. Same result, one cast one Rainbow and the rest put down. I again went downstream and found another pod. First cast, no take. Second cast a Brown. I quit with that one. Good day, four casts and three fish! Cloud cover sure helps. Willi

Response:

It’s fairly warm but the skies are overcast and snow is falling.  I had about an hour or so free late this afternoon and I went to an area where I’ve been seeing some surface midging trout. Although I’m not too fond of the snow, the fish did seem to like the overcast skies. In areas where I had been finding single feeding fish, there were small pods of fish. Sometimes during overcast days even in the Winter, a very tiny BWO comes off. But none were to be found and the fish were feeding on the midges that they normally do this time of year. I approached the first pod of fish. Even with the low clear water, the overcast skies allowed me to get much closer to the fish than our more normal sunny skies do. At this distance, a good cast was easy as was following the tiny fly with my aging eyesight. The first cast resulted in a Rainbow whose fight put down the rest of that pod of fish. I waded downstream and approached the next pod of fish. Same result, one cast one Rainbow and the rest put down. I again went downstream and found another pod. First cast, no take. Second cast a Brown. I quit with that one. Good day, four casts and three fish! Cloud cover sure helps. Willi

Response:

It’s fairly warm but the skies are overcast and snow is falling. (another nifty description of just one more day in paradise)

        you do appreciate it, don’t you, willi?  living where and how you live?  i thought so. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Willi

Response:

I do appreciate what I have. Fishing is and has been a big part of my life and has always been a consideration when deciding where to live and how to support myself. I’m self employed with a small business and the benefits of self employment are a mixed bag. I can get away from the business for frequent one to four hour outings but a "real" vacation is very difficult. It’s been several years since I’ve taken off more than four days. This lack of extended time off, I work at least a few hours seven days a week, has made me look closely at nearby waters. An hours drive one way is two hours less fishing. These local waters are generally ignored by other anglers. It seems that for most people, farther is better and famous or well known even more so.  In everywhere I’ve lived except Chicago (where I grew up) I was able to find such places. For the last 12 years I’ve lived on the edge of a metropolitan area of about 250,000 people with lots of fishermen. I fish a major river that runs through town and is passed by thousands of anglers on their way to work each day. Yet this eight mile stretch from the foothills until the river becomes too warm to support trout has MUCH less fishing pressure than any other area with public access on the 50 miles further upstream. Until the last four or five years, another angler more than a 100 yards from any point where a road crosses the river was an extremely rare occurrence. There are still a few stretches that get literally no pressure and even the most "crowded" ones may have one angler per 1/2 mile of river during prime time. IMHO, this area also has higher quality fish. It hasn’t been stocked in a VERY long time, the fish average about 4" larger than in the upstream sections, and there are a few VERY large fish around. However, the fishing is difficult. The density of the trout population is relatively low. The river is much more fertile (for a number of reasons both good and bad) so the fish can be choosy in when and how they feed. This is one of the things that keeps anglers away. My guess is that many people fish the area once or twice and write the area off as fishless. There are places similar to this area all over the country. They are worth checking out and getting to know them. In areas where lake fishing is popular, it may be a stream or river. Where streams are popular, it might be a pond or lake. Many of them are only productive certain times of the year and their secrets can be difficult to learn. Another bonus in these areas is the wide variety of wildlife these areas attract. Since they generally run through developed areas and the wildlife gets concentrated into these riparian areas. Check out your local waters well. Well known places aren’t always better. BTY I just read an article about the state of Wisconsin purchasing a 32,000 acre tract of land. Nice purchase by the people of Wisconsin. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s fairly warm but the skies are overcast and snow is falling. (another nifty description of just one more day in paradise)         you do appreciate it, don’t you, willi?  living where and how you live?  i thought so. wayno Willi

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Question:

Hi Jess, I  couldnt agree more, I grew up in England a long time after the depression, but I can appreciate your sentiments entirely. I enjoyed your article as well ! Keep up the good work ! Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

With the prices of new, state-of-the-art graphites approaching $600, I would say that we are entering a period of reverse bamboo snobbery! For $600 you can get a hell of deal on a used, 7 1/2-8 ft bamboo of good lineage.  You just have to pay attention to the used tackle lists. –Rich

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello, The fishing news groups are quite new to me.  As I browse and read the messages, I find that some feelings exist against flyfishing and flyfishers, and more particularly against the users of bamboo as being somehow snobbish or elite.  I don’t want to offend anybody, but would it be okay if I say something about this?  If you don’t want to read it, please just skip it now. I’m an old guy who grew up poor, without complaint then or now, during the depression.  I had a paper route, did odd jobs, shoveled snow, mowed lawns. In 1940, when I was 14, my first fly rod cost me $1.67 at a Coast to Coast hardware store, and with it I bought some cheap gut leaders.  Nothing snobbish about that or the way we fished.  After Navy duty in WWII, I first tied flies with supplies bought by mail from old George Leonard Herter.   Nothing snobbish about George Leonard.  Not no way, not no how.  In 1947, with blank sections bought from old George, I made up a bamboo rod, to save a buck and have some fun.   For me, yet, at 71, to go out with a bamboo rod makes me feel a bit like the kid with a stick, off to try to catch a fish.  I don’t even mind (please forgive) if somebody calls a bamboo rod a "fishpole."  "Let’s get our poles and go fishing."  "When?"  "Now!"  Nothing snobbish about that. Bamboo.  It’s fun to say.  Like "greenheart," another word that’s fun to say.  Unlike, to me,  "fibreglas"  or "graphite."  Further, it’s fun to fiddle with bamboo, with thread,  guides, tiptops.  Fun, even, to scrape off old varnish.  Yes, and to put it all together and wave it around and get the feel of that stick.   It is, after all, just a bunch of sticks glued together into one stick, isn’t it? Certainly, much science and technology goes into the making of a fibreglas or graphite rod.  Largely it’s a mystery to me, maybe to most of us.  On the other hand, I can somewhat understand the making of a bamboo rod, and I admire and respect the handwork, the craftsmanship that goes into its initial construction.  Not many people do much with their hands any more. Maybe it’s just a feeling for tradition.   Probably because of that feeling, I admire the warmth of wood, of bamboo. Admire it, maybe even, to……caress it.  I haven’t yet caressed a fibreglas or graphite rod.   Well, I have a pretty good Browning graphite (60 bucks) and a (wow) 80+ dollar IMG with a beautiful reel seat, made in Taiwan, and I’ve almost caressed it, but…..not like bamboo.  I recognize that a kid or teenager today, first used to graphite, may well have the same affection for his or her "new pole."   Moreover I realize that a fibreglas or graphite rod delivers more "power.’ It will not rot or come unglued or take a set.  You can’t slam the car door or close the trunk lid on it, but it will stand some abuse.  You have to give more care to bamboo.   But that was for me a good learning process.  You can’t treat bamboo like the horse that was "rode hard and put away wet."  You must wipe it off, dry it, keep it dry.  You don’t stand it in a corner or against the wall or bang it around.  You nurse it, gentle it, dare I say, respect it?  But that’s a good lesson to apply not only to a flyrod (or to any kind of fishing equipment), but to bicyles, clothes, cars, even…..to people. With this background, it never dawned on me that flyfishing or bamboo had anything snobbish about it, or that it was for any kind of elite.  If I had felt that, I would have known that I didn’t belong.  So it does bother me somewhat that in recent years flyfishing has given the impression to some that it has gone "high class" or Hollywood-ish, and that is has probably in fact drawn some snobs, or that some feel snobbish about their place in it. At the same time, I don’t begrudge those who can pay for expensive lessons, hire guides, buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment.  A couple years ago, at a shop in Livingston, the owner’s son told me that they had just sold a $1,600 Ovis rod over the phone, to mail out.  I can only blink at such goings on. Not to go off into rapture or anything like it, but to me one of the beautiful things about flycasting lies in the curve that a flyline makes when you throw it.  Have you seen Winslow Homer’s painting of the guy in the canoe, moving his flyline through the air?  Nature, if this is correct, has no straight lines, and the graceful flow of a flyline seems somehow alive.  Actually, I’d say the same thing about any kind of line flowing from any kind of rod or reel, for it’s not restricted to fly casting, and I do enjoy all kinds of fishing.   Like water that’s too high and gone off color, some things still rile me. But then too, as you grow older, you generally grow more respectful of the way others go about things.  So it seems to me that the world has room for the kid with a stick, for the guy in between who just wants to get off somewhere and fish a bit, and for snobs as well.  Who knows but what any of us might be a snob, if we just had the money. I hope with this bit that I haven’t touched anybody off.  If so, please ignore it.  It’ll pass quickly.  And you could have just skipped it.   Jess Thompson

Hi Jess, You have not missed anything. In fact you got to fish when it was still wild in America. Today much of the wild feeling is gone. Streams are crowded and stocked with hatchery fish. You were lucky to have been born when you were.  You really appreciate what you have and the good memories. I have memories of my youth that are good also ever though I was born in 1945. I have a bunch of old fish buddies that are now 70 to 80 years old. They have told me lots of great tales of the fishing when you and they were young. I feel that the youth of today are missing out on the simple fun that once was. Even though you remember the depression, you were born at the best time in America for a good life. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – = Hello, The fishing news groups are quite new to me.  As I browse and read the messages, I find that some feelings exist against flyfishing and flyfishers, and more particularly against the users of bamboo as being somehow snobbish or elite.  I don’t want to offend anybody, but would i= t be okay if I say something about this?  If you don’t want to read it, plea= se just skip it now. = I’m an old guy who grew up poor, without complaint then or now, during = the depression.  I had a paper route, did odd jobs, shoveled snow, mowed la= wns.  In 1940, when I was 14, my first fly rod cost me $1.67 at a Coast to C= oast hardware store, and with it I bought some cheap gut leaders.  Nothing snobbish about that or the way we fished.  After Navy duty in WWII, I f= irst tied flies with supplies bought by mail from old George Leonard Herter.= Nothing snobbish about George Leonard.  Not no way, not no how.  In 194= 7, with blank sections bought from old George, I made up a bamboo rod, to = save a buck and have some fun. = For me, yet, at 71, to go out with a bamboo rod makes me feel a bit lik= e the kid with a stick, off to try to catch a fish.  I don’t even mind (please forgive) if somebody calls a bamboo rod a "fishpole."  "Let’s g= et our poles and go fishing."  "When?"  "Now!"  Nothing snobbish about tha= t. = Bamboo.  It’s fun to say.  Like "greenheart," another word that’s fun t= o say.  Unlike, to me,  "fibreglas"  or "graphite."  Further, it’s fun to= fiddle with bamboo, with thread,  guides, tiptops.  Fun, even, to scrap= e off old varnish.  Yes, and to put it all together and wave it around an= d get the feel of that stick.   It is, after all, just a bunch of sticks glued together into one stick, isn’t it? = Certainly, much science and technology goes into the making of a fibreg= las or graphite rod.  Largely it’s a mystery to me, maybe to most of us.  O= n the other hand, I can somewhat understand the making of a bamboo rod, a= nd I admire and respect the handwork, the craftsmanship that goes into its initial construction.  Not many people do much with their hands any mor= e. Maybe it’s just a feeling for tradition. = Probably because of that feeling, I admire the warmth of wood, of bambo= o. Admire it, maybe even, to……caress it.  I haven’t yet caressed a fibreglas or graphite rod.   Well, I have a pretty good Browning graphi= te (60 bucks) and a (wow) 80+ dollar IMG with a beautiful reel seat, made = in Taiwan, and I’ve almost caressed it, but…..not like bamboo.  I recogn= ize that a kid or teenager today, first used to graphite, may well have the= same affection for his or her "new pole." = Moreover I realize that a fibreglas or graphite rod delivers more "powe= r.’ It will not rot or come unglued or take a set.  You can’t slam the car = door or close the trunk lid on it, but it will stand some abuse.  You have t= o give more care to bamboo. = But that was for me a good learning process.  You can’t treat bamboo li= ke the horse that was "rode hard and put away wet."  You must wipe it off,= dry it, keep it dry.  You don’t stand it in a corner or against the wall or= bang it around.  You nurse

(remainder of good stuff snipped) Jesse:  I really enjoyed your little essay.  Thoughtful and correct (and I obviously agree with it! Mark Faulkner

Response:

You might want to rethink that statement and read up on the genetic research on telemeres that has been reported in the last week.  You may have enough time left to PAY OFF a bamboo rod!!!  ;^) George – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Jessie, Every thing old will become new again except of course you and I Jessie. — Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail Ernie Harrison

Response:

Jesse One of my personal disappoints is that I came to flyfishing late, about nine years ago, when bamboo rod prices had already begun heading for the stratosphere.  In the early sixties, a good friend of mine had a bamboo spinning rod that his dad had handed down to him.  We would ride our bikes down to the canal to dunk worms for sunfish or throw spoons for pike.  He could always out cast me, especially considering the broomstick I was using. I had a paper route and I saved my coin to buy a Shakespeare Wonderod and a Mitchell 300 after my old rod broke.  I just knew that I would be able to outcast him once I got it.  Well, you guessed it, he could still throw a red devil 20′ further than I could.  We switched rods, and the bamboo still out cast the newfangled fibreglass. Having never owned a bamboo rod, I still lust for them.  Whenever I go into an old fishing shop, I always look around for an old bamboo that may be hiding in a corner.  Haven’t seen one yet, but I’m still hoping.  Funny enough, I still have the Wonderod and the Mitchell.  I hope to have a few grandkids in the next few years and I’ll be needing a good worm dunking rod. That was a very nice post, and considering some of the uninformed vitriol that is tossed around here, it’s a very pleasant change. Peter

Response:

Hello, The fishing news groups are quite new to me.  As I browse and read the messages, I find that some feelings exist against flyfishing and flyfishers, and more particularly again

Jesse, Wowwww waht can I say. All that I wanted to say about Bamboo but was to ignorent to do so. I have been fishing with Bamboo for the better part of 35 years now, and I would not change my rods for anything. I do not own glass, graphite or any other type of rods, just Bamboo and like you said, I caress them and yes I do respect them. They have serve me well over the years.  Please post more of your insight in fly fishing, I really enjoyed your post. Michel Lajoie http:www.titan.qc.ca/moucheux

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, The fishing news groups are quite new to me.  As I browse and read the messages, I find that some feelings exist against flyfishing and flyfishers, and more particularly against the users of bamboo as being somehow snobbish or elite.  I don’t want to offend anybody, but would it be okay if I say something about this?  If you don’t want to read it, please just skip it now. I’m an old guy who grew up poor, without complaint then or now, during the depression.  I had a paper route, did odd jobs, shoveled snow, mowed lawns.  In 1940, when I was 14, my first fly rod cost me $1.67 at a Coast to Coast hardware store, and with it I bought some cheap gut leaders.  Nothing snobbish about that or the way we fished.  After Navy duty in WWII, I first tied flies with supplies bought by mail from old George Leonard Herter. Nothing snobbish about George Leonard.  Not no way, not no how.  In 1947, with blank sections bought from old George, I made up a bamboo rod, to save a buck and have some fun. For me, yet, at 71, to go out with a bamboo rod makes me feel a bit like the kid with a stick, off to try to catch a fish.  I don’t even mind (please forgive) if somebody calls a bamboo rod a "fishpole."  "Let’s get our poles and go fishing."  "When?"  "Now!"  Nothing snobbish about that. Bamboo.  It’s fun to say.  Like "greenheart," another word that’s fun to say.  Unlike, to me,  "fibreglas"  or "graphite."  Further, it’s fun to fiddle with bamboo, with thread,  guides, tiptops.  Fun, even, to scrape off old varnish.  Yes, and to put it all together and wave it around and get the feel of that stick.   It is, after all, just a bunch of sticks glued together into one stick, isn’t it? Certainly, much science and technology goes into the making of a fibreglas or graphite rod.  Largely it’s a mystery to me, maybe to most of us.  On the other hand, I can somewhat understand the making of a bamboo rod, and I admire and respect the handwork, the craftsmanship that goes into its initial construction.  Not many people do much with their hands any more. Maybe it’s just a feeling for tradition. Probably because of that feeling, I admire the warmth of wood, of bamboo. Admire it, maybe even, to……caress it.  I haven’t yet caressed a fibreglas or graphite rod.   Well, I have a pretty good Browning graphite (60 bucks) and a (wow) 80+ dollar IMG with a beautiful reel seat, made in Taiwan, and I’ve almost caressed it, but…..not like bamboo.  I recognize that a kid or teenager today, first used to graphite, may well have the same affection for his or her "new pole." Moreover I realize that a fibreglas or graphite rod delivers more "power.’ It will not rot or come unglued or take a set.  You can’t slam the car door or close the trunk lid on it, but it will stand some abuse.  You have to give more care to bamboo. But that was for me a good learning process.  You can’t treat bamboo like the horse that was "rode hard and put away wet."  You must wipe it off, dry it, keep it dry.  You don’t stand it in a corner or against the wall or bang it around.  You nurse it, gentle it, dare I say, respect it?  But that’s a good lesson to apply not only to a flyrod (or to any kind of fishing equipment), but to bicyles, clothes, cars, even…..to people. With this background, it never dawned on me that flyfishing or bamboo had anything snobbish about it, or that it was for any kind of elite.  If I had felt that, I would have known that I didn’t belong.  So it does bother me somewhat that in recent years flyfishing has given the impression to some that it has gone "high class" or Hollywood-ish, and that is has probably in fact drawn some snobs, or that some feel snobbish about their place in it. At the same time, I don’t begrudge those who can pay for expensive lessons, hire guides, buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment.  A couple years ago, at a shop in Livingston, the owner’s son told me that they had just sold a $1,600 Ovis rod over the phone, to mail out.  I can only blink at such goings on. Not to go off into rapture or anything like it, but to me one of the beautiful things about flycasting lies in the curve that a flyline makes when you throw it.  Have you seen Winslow Homer’s painting of the guy in the canoe, moving his flyline through the air?  Nature, if this is correct, has no straight lines, and the graceful flow of a flyline seems somehow alive.  Actually, I’d say the same thing about any kind of line flowing from any kind of rod or reel, for it’s not restricted to fly casting, and I do enjoy all kinds of fishing. Like water that’s too high and gone off color, some things still rile me. But then too, as you grow older, you generally grow more respectful of the way others go about things.  So it seems to me that the world has room for the kid with a stick, for the guy in between who just wants to get off somewhere and fish a bit, and for snobs as well.  Who knows but what any of us might be a snob, if we just had the money. I hope with this bit that I haven’t touched anybody off.  If so, please ignore it.  It’ll pass quickly.  And you could have just skipped it. Jess Thompson

Hi Jess, I really like what you wrote above. One friends of mine, an old carpenter, he has made cane or bamboo rods from bar stock and ..well whatever you would call it. One of his biggest dissapointments getting older is not being able to make them anymore let alone casting. I do like those rods and have some of my own. My first memory actually was from an American friend of my fathers when I was 6 years old. He had a cane rod, brownish with lovely action. He is in one of my very short stories I once wrote about the grayling, lady of the stream, in my home river. Also one of my cherished memories are from Finland and Lapland there I for some nights during one summer had my 7 footer. Had anyone seen me grinning like I did, rollcasting and catching white fish, one after another, they would have thought me somewhat funny I think….<*)(((<( Cheers and thanks again for your nice piece. Harry Salmgren http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/6392/ http://www.savsjo.se/Forening/Hemsida/Sfkhugget/ ps tried your email also, but didn

Question:

I will be going to the Florida Keys this summer. Is there good flyfishing around the islands (I want to wade from the shoreline as opposed to hiring a guide or renting a boat). I’ve heard that some good flyfishing can be had around the mangroves. Any suggestions on techniques and fly patterns would be appreciated. Thanks. Steve

Response:

I will be going to the Florida Keys this summer. Is there good flyfishing around the islands (I want to wade from the shoreline as opposed to hiring a guide or renting a boat). I’ve heard that some good flyfishing can be had around the mangroves. Any suggestions on techniques and fly patterns would be appreciated. Thanks. Steve

I’m also looking at going to the Florida Keys, but probably in September.  I’d also be interested in some flyfishing opportunities. I don’t have much of a problem renting a boat (and in fact, one of the places that I am considering staying at includes a 15′ motorboat with the accomodations) but would rather not spend $100 or more for a guide on what is already going to be a rather expensive vacation. John Fereira

Response:

<big snip  but would rather not spend $100 or more for a guide on what is already going to be a rather expensive vacation.

$100? Geez john I don’t know where you’d find a guide in the keys for $100. More like $350. Phil Koenig Manhattan Custom Tackle Ltd. http://fishdoc.com "I’m the boss, so WHATEVER I say is OK."

Response:

<big snip but would rather not spend $100 or more for a guide on what is already going to be a rather expensive vacation. $100? Geez john I don’t know where you’d find a guide in the keys for $100. More like $350.

As I told Phil in email, that’s absurd.  Even more absurd than a guide that would charge $350 for a day of fishing is that someone would actually pay someone that much.  What do you actually get for that amount of money.  A ride on a boat, probably the use of a fly rod and flies, and someone standing on a boat pointing out fish and telling you to catch it. One of the places that I am considering staying at is about $140 a night and that *includes* the use of a boat with a 15HP motor on it for getting out to the flats.  That’s for two people.  Either way there is no guarentee that I’m going to catch anything.  TimW’s right. "A cash flow runs through it." John Fereira

Response:

I find it incredible that people who have no idea of what they are talking about, still manage to have an opinion and put it in writing. Have you ever fished the Florida Flats with a guide? Do you have any idea of what you are talking about? Until you you have, keep your advice to yourself. Paul Bunchuk PNB Graphics Ft. Lauderdale, Fl <<)))` For Tarpon Fishing – please visit:

http://www.geocities.com/~tarponhunter – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <big snip but would rather not spend $100 or more for a guide on what is already going to be a rather expensive vacation. $100? Geez john I don’t know where you’d find a guide in the keys for $100. More like $350. As I told Phil in email, that’s absurd.  Even more absurd than a guide that would charge $350 for a day of fishing is that someone would actually pay someone that much.  What do you actually get for that amount of money.  A ride on a boat, probably the use of a fly rod and flies, and someone standing on a boat pointing out fish and telling you to catch it. One of the places that I am considering staying at is about $140 a night and that *includes* the use of a boat with a 15HP motor on it for getting out to the flats.  That’s for two people.  Either way there is no guarentee that I’m going to catch anything.  TimW’s right. "A cash flow runs through it." John Fereira

Response:

Well, I have fished with a guide in the Florida Keys and paid $350 to catch nothing.  The incredible thing to me is that the guide expects a tip even if you catch nothing.  I spent my money on a flats boat. The months payment is less than one day with a guide. That’s my opinion and I think I – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I find it incredible that people who have no idea of what they are talking about, still manage to have an opinion and put it in writing. Have you ever fished the Florida Flats with a guide? Do you have any idea of what you are talking about? Until you you have, keep your advice to yourself. Paul Bunchuk PNB Graphics Ft. Lauderdale, Fl <<)))` For Tarpon Fishing – please visit: http://www.geocities.com/~tarponhunter <big snip but would rather not spend $100 or more for a guide on what is already going to be a rather expensive vacation. $100? Geez john I don’t know where you’d find a guide in the keys for $100. More like $350. As I told Phil in email, that’s absurd.  Even more absurd than a guide that would charge $350 for a day of fishing is that someone would actually pay someone that much.  What do you actually get for that amount of money.  A ride on a boat, probably the use of a fly rod and flies, and someone standing on a boat pointing out fish and telling you to catch it. One of the places that I am considering staying at is about $140 a night and that *includes* the use of a boat with a 15HP motor on it for getting out to the flats.  That’s for two people.  Either way there is no guarentee that I’m going to catch anything.  TimW’s right. "A cash flow runs through it." John Fereira

Response:

I find it incredible that people who have no idea of what they are talking about, still manage to have an opinion and put it in writing. Have you ever fished the Florida Flats with a guide? Do you have any idea of what you are talking about? Until you you have, keep your advice to yourself.

No, I haven’t fished the Florida flats with a guide, but I do understand how the cost of services can be driven up by supply and demand.  Perhaps you can explain to me some other justification for charging someone $350 a day for a guides services.  Please itemize expenses involved.  Guides that charge $350 a day, and people that continue to pay it, are making flyfishing a rich mans sport.  Whether you like it or not I will continue to lobby to keep flyfishing an advocation for the common man (or woman). I will continue to offer my opinion to anyone that will listen that guides are charging excessive prices and that we, the common angler, should not pay them.   If you don’t like it, tough.   John Fereira

Response:

Question:

: Why dont you look into a used inflatable. They are incredibly light, Can : move real well with minimum H.P., and can be trailered with ease. Most : 13-16 ft inflatables weigh less that 900lbs with engine. They can also : carry more weight in most circumstances than aluminum or fiberglass boats : of the same size. That would have been a good thought, too, but I ended up buying a new 16′ Carolina Skiff, with the semi-v hull. So far, I couldn’t be more delighted. With the boat, that is. My car, as a tow vehicle — another story. Yeah, the Saturn can pull it. On flat stretches, or down-grades, I can even shift into 5th at highway speeds. But I discovered the hard way about certain ramps. Too steep, too slippery, sand at the base….<sigh It sure as hell takes the fun out of things, when you’re worried like hell about getting it back out of the water, at the end of the day….

Response:

Why dont you look into a used inflatable. They are incredibly light, Can move real well with minimum H.P., and can be trailered with ease. Most 13-16 ft inflatables weigh less that 900lbs with engine. They can also carry more weight in most circumstances than aluminum or fiberglass boats of the same size. DB

Response:

Most fiberglass boats are heavy, and that’s the bottom line at to how much push you get from the kicker.  I’ve got a 15′ glass boat that weights about 400 lbs, the builder stamps it as rated for 25hp, but he personally says its ideal for 15 hp, and the coast guard rates it for 40 hp.  I put a 1997 25hp Mercury on it, and it jumps.  Clearly, I could pull a skier. Also, flat bottom boats (like mine) skip like a stone, once you’re on plane, they fly.  But they’re torture in any kind of chop. Carolina skiffs and whalers are heavy.  If you want to conserve, get an aluminum boat.  If you want to know about my boat builder, email me. (small shop in Central Florida.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It sounds like you want a setup like I got. The boats a 16 foot 1968 Duracraft Aluminum boat. The boat is heavy duty (not a sears special!!!), waying in at about 250 pounds. Its welded at the seems and then has rivited ribs. It was powered by a 1965 Wizard(aka West bend aka Chrysler) 20 HP. This was plenty of power for fishing, though I am in the process of getting a new one (probabl;y a 25hp honda, yamaha, or Mercury). this will probably pull a skier ,maybe, maybe not, never tried. The boat is very stable, is plenty fast for fishing, even with three people, and is strong despite its age. As for trailering, what you got will pull it, (heck even a geo metro would pull it). Figure 250 pounds for the boat, 110 pounds about for the motor, 15 0for the trailer, 100 pounds for gear, 65 pounds for Golden Retriever, and your still under 1000 pounds. Ive pulled this setup with a ‘86 nissan Sentra, so what you got will definantly pull it.                                    Good Luck,                                            Nathan Spitzer Hi folks — I’m suffering from boat fever again, and I’d appreciate any input y’all would be willing to provide, on some pretty basic questions. A couple years ago bought a canoe — almost exclusively for freshwater fishing. Canoe’s aren’t terrific fishing platforms, and finally I sold it and bought a 12′ aluminum Jon boat, which I car-topped. All I could afford, along with an old Sears 5hp engine, which still gives me nightmares. This boat was better, but issues related to car-topping started to become problematic: Haul nasty, leaking engine down 3 flights of stairs, and put in the back seat. Go back for rods, tackle, paddle, anchor, cooler, trolling motor and *heavy* battery, a zillion other things, and load *that* somewhere in my car. Drive somewhere else where my boat was. Tie that on the roof. Scratch roof, getting careless trying to load the boat by myself. Drive to the lake. Do all of the above, in reverse. And that’s just getting in the water. Y’all probably get the idea — I should have bought a trailer, but I couldn’t afford one, at the time. So I finally sold that, too, a month ago. Enough rambling. I’m at a point where I’ve got a little more money, and would like a truly decent boat for fishing/recreation. First: Towing. This is a big issue, and I know nothing about it. I’ve got a 4dr, FWD Saturn with 100k+ miles. I recall the owner’s manual saying something about 1k lbs max, but….? Is that realistic? Were I to buy a used 4-cyl truck, something like an S-10, or Nissan, or Toyota, would this dramatically increase my towing capacity? Are there any web-sites devoted to this — I sure haven’t found much, searching. Second: I’ve seen some ads for "hulls only" for things like 13′ Whalers, and Carolina Skiffs and such. Exactly what would be involved dressing ‘em up for a fishing boat, with enough power to tow the infrequent skier? I’m not entirely inept with common tools, but I’m not sure if this is really a job for the the casual handyman, or if it would cost more than a used boat in the same configuration — ie, center console, a couple seats. Also, would a motor sufficient to pull a skier (nothing fancy, just adequate) + boat + trailer start to get well over anything I could possibly tow with my car or a light-truck? *Roughly*, and I know this is an extremely technical issue in and of itself, but how many HP are we talking about for the above, anyway? 40? 50? 60, minimum? The thing is, I’ve seen old MFG’s and stuff, with ancient, but large OB’s, in the price range I’m looking at. They look heavy as *hell*, and also I have no idea if they’d even run a single season. I’ve seen newish Skiffs with smaller engines (ie, 25hp), that do look light enough to pull with my current car, but I can’t imagine they could get a skier out of the water, and I might be considerably deceived by appearance — they could be quite heavy, too, in reality. Is there any magic combination out there? I could put a hitch on my Saturn and get another, larger Jon boat, but I don’t really want to settle for a compromise, again. I’d rather work for another year or two, and be able to afford something else. Anyway, I’ve babbled enough — any thoughts (to the group’s fine) would sure be appreciated. Steve

Response:

Hi folks — I’m suffering from boat fever again, and I’d appreciate any input y’all would be willing to provide, on some pretty basic questions. A couple years ago bought a canoe — almost exclusively for freshwater fishing. Canoe’s aren’t terrific fishing platforms, and finally I sold it and bought a 12′ aluminum Jon boat, which I car-topped. All I could afford, along with an old Sears 5hp engine, which still gives me nightmares. This boat was better, but issues related to car-topping started to become problematic: Haul nasty, leaking engine down 3 flights of stairs, and put in the back seat. Go back for rods, tackle, paddle, anchor, cooler, trolling motor and *heavy* battery, a zillion other things, and load *that* somewhere in my car. Drive somewhere else where my boat was. Tie that on the roof. Scratch roof, getting careless trying to load the boat by myself. Drive to the lake. Do all of the above, in reverse. And that’s just getting in the water. Y’all probably get the idea — I should have bought a trailer, but I couldn’t afford one, at the time. So I finally sold that, too, a month ago. Enough rambling. I’m at a point where I’ve got a little more money, and would like a truly decent boat for fishing/recreation. First: Towing. This is a big issue, and I know nothing about it. I’ve got a 4dr, FWD Saturn with 100k+ miles. I recall the owner’s manual saying something about 1k lbs max, but….? Is that realistic? Were I to buy a used 4-cyl truck, something like an S-10, or Nissan, or Toyota, would this dramatically increase my towing capacity? Are there any web-sites devoted to this — I sure haven’t found much, searching. Second: I’ve seen some ads for "hulls only" for things like 13′ Whalers, and Carolina Skiffs and such. Exactly what would be involved dressing ‘em up for a fishing boat, with enough power to tow the infrequent skier? I’m not entirely inept with common tools, but I’m not sure if this is really a job for the the casual handyman, or if it would cost more than a used boat in the same configuration — ie, center console, a couple seats. Also, would a motor sufficient to pull a skier (nothing fancy, just adequate) + boat + trailer start to get well over anything I could possibly tow with my car or a light-truck? *Roughly*, and I know this is an extremely technical issue in and of itself, but how many HP are we talking about for the above, anyway? 40? 50? 60, minimum? The thing is, I’ve seen old MFG’s and stuff, with ancient, but large OB’s, in the price range I’m looking at. They look heavy as *hell*, and also I have no idea if they’d even run a single season. I’ve seen newish Skiffs with smaller engines (ie, 25hp), that do look light enough to pull with my current car, but I can’t imagine they could get a skier out of the water, and I might be considerably deceived by appearance — they could be quite heavy, too, in reality. Is there any magic combination out there? I could put a hitch on my Saturn and get another, larger Jon boat, but I don’t really want to settle for a compromise, again. I’d rather work for another year or two, and be able to afford something else. Anyway, I’ve babbled enough — any thoughts (to the group’s fine) would sure be appreciated. Steve

Response:

It sounds like you want a setup like I got. The boats a 16 foot 1968 Duracraft Aluminum boat. The boat is heavy duty (not a sears special!!!), waying in at about 250 pounds. Its welded at the seems and then has rivited ribs. It was powered by a 1965 Wizard(aka West bend aka Chrysler) 20 HP. This was plenty of power for fishing, though I am in the process of getting a new one (probabl;y a 25hp honda, yamaha, or Mercury). this will probably pull a skier ,maybe, maybe not, never tried. The boat is very stable, is plenty fast for fishing, even with three people, and is strong despite its age. As for trailering, what you got will pull it, (heck even a geo metro would pull it). Figure 250 pounds for the boat, 110 pounds about for the motor, 15 0for the trailer, 100 pounds for gear, 65 pounds for Golden Retriever, and your still under 1000 pounds. Ive pulled this setup with a ‘86 nissan Sentra, so what you got will definantly pull it.                                         Good Luck,                                                 Nathan Spitzer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi folks — I’m suffering from boat fever again, and I’d appreciate any input y’all would be willing to provide, on some pretty basic questions. A couple years ago bought a canoe — almost exclusively for freshwater fishing. Canoe’s aren’t terrific fishing platforms, and finally I sold it and bought a 12′ aluminum Jon boat, which I car-topped. All I could afford, along with an old Sears 5hp engine, which still gives me nightmares. This boat was better, but issues related to car-topping started to become problematic: Haul nasty, leaking engine down 3 flights of stairs, and put in the back seat. Go back for rods, tackle, paddle, anchor, cooler, trolling motor and *heavy* battery, a zillion other things, and load *that* somewhere in my car. Drive somewhere else where my boat was. Tie that on the roof. Scratch roof, getting careless trying to load the boat by myself. Drive to the lake. Do all of the above, in reverse. And that’s just getting in the water. Y’all probably get the idea — I should have bought a trailer, but I couldn’t afford one, at the time. So I finally sold that, too, a month ago. Enough rambling. I’m at a point where I’ve got a little more money, and would like a truly decent boat for fishing/recreation. First: Towing. This is a big issue, and I know nothing about it. I’ve got a 4dr, FWD Saturn with 100k+ miles. I recall the owner’s manual saying something about 1k lbs max, but….? Is that realistic? Were I to buy a used 4-cyl truck, something like an S-10, or Nissan, or Toyota, would this dramatically increase my towing capacity? Are there any web-sites devoted to this — I sure haven’t found much, searching. Second: I’ve seen some ads for "hulls only" for things like 13′ Whalers, and Carolina Skiffs and such. Exactly what would be involved dressing ‘em up for a fishing boat, with enough power to tow the infrequent skier? I’m not entirely inept with common tools, but I’m not sure if this is really a job for the the casual handyman, or if it would cost more than a used boat in the same configuration — ie, center console, a couple seats. Also, would a motor sufficient to pull a skier (nothing fancy, just adequate) + boat + trailer start to get well over anything I could possibly tow with my car or a light-truck? *Roughly*, and I know this is an extremely technical issue in and of itself, but how many HP are we talking about for the above, anyway? 40? 50? 60, minimum? The thing is, I’ve seen old MFG’s and stuff, with ancient, but large OB’s, in the price range I’m looking at. They look heavy as *hell*, and also I have no idea if they’d even run a single season. I’ve seen newish Skiffs with smaller engines (ie, 25hp), that do look light enough to pull with my current car, but I can’t imagine they could get a skier out of the water, and I might be considerably deceived by appearance — they could be quite heavy, too, in reality. Is there any magic combination out there? I could put a hitch on my Saturn and get another, larger Jon boat, but I don’t really want to settle for a compromise, again. I’d rather work for another year or two, and be able to afford something else. Anyway, I’ve babbled enough — any thoughts (to the group’s fine) would sure be appreciated. Steve

Response:

Question:

[deleted] I say stick with the SLR and be extra careful. Something I do not know yet is what the ‘practical’ shock-limit is on these SLR’s.  I mean, jostling them about…sticking them here and there…is that OK ? — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Tim, I would recommend putting a skylight filter on your lens. If you bump the front of your lens or scratch it, you have ruined a cheap filter and not an expensive lens. I’ve prevented expensive damage to two or three lenses this way. Just put it on and leave it. Your exposure won’t be noticably affected. Jim

Response:

Hi Moe,

I only bring my camera when I’m hiking and fishing into a pretty, isolated area so it just goes into my daypack with everything else.  The pack stays on the bank when I go into the water.  It works out fine, and I haven’t lost the pack yet.  I don’t wear a vest, though, so I’m not sure how that would work. Dave

Response:

Actually may soften the image and shadows in a pleasing way. Try it out!

Q: Do photographers still use Vaseline for the same effect? A: Not when they’re using a condom.  The petroleum weakens them, and they break. Be careful out there. Dave

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly   Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a   ruggedized waterproof camera ? NO and YES. I bought a Pentax IQ zoom waterproof camera (~$250-270) for this purpose after I fell into a stream in New Zealand with my friend’s camera (ruining it and leaving me without a small camera).  I rarely carry my SLR/lenses because of weight and fear that I will ruin a zillion dollars with one false step.  This particular waterproof camera is pretty good – it is not a simple point and shoot.  I wear it around my neck all the time when fishing, and I take more pictures now. cheers,       -tgades I’ve got the same camera – a great piece of work. To bad there’s no built-in lens cap for it, but it’s 99.9999% on the way to being the perfect camera for fishing. Nice macro feature for close-ups. Pentax has a new model (IQ 110?) for more money – with a very wide angle lens for panorama shots, but this one gives up on the water- resistance feature, I think. I also carry my camera in a plastic zip-lock baggie (my wallet’s got a baggie too) just to be sure it’ll survive my next unplanned wetdown. If I’m with someone else, they learn how to shoot a picture with it in about 10 seconds.

I tried the inexpensive point and shoot.  My photos were fine, but my ex-girlfriend couldn’t take a picture of me, with my fish, without cutting my head off.  I’ve easily got 20 pictures of me with fish that aren’t up to quality for the album. At least she had other attributes… I seem to recall Outer Banks used to sell a camera bag, made for several different makes.  Essentially a ziplock attached to a lens filter. Anyone ever use one?  Probably not good for underwater shots, but I bet it’d hold up through one of my early morning baths. — Mark N. Cahill For E-mail remove the _Remove_This from the reply to address.   On a side note, my grandfather aways told me you couldn’t catch fish until you got water in you waders.  I’ve ammended that to you can’t catch trophy fish until you’ve ruined the camera.  His maxim still holds true though.

Response:

(But, being prone to being prone…

Priceless ! — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

[deleted] I say stick with the SLR and be extra careful.

Something I do not know yet is what the ‘practical’ shock-limit is on these SLR’s.  I mean, jostling them about…sticking them here and there…is that OK ?   — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

DENNIS VICK responds: Well I hate to mention this in a family area, but condoms work just

great for protecting your SLR from the environment(non-ribbed type!) and you can still use the buttons, etc. And if you use the colored ones, It creates Great visual filter effects, Right?  Now, if they only made polorized ones for under water shots..;)

Response:

[deleted] I say stick with the SLR and be extra careful. Something I do not know yet is what the ‘practical’ shock-limit is on these SLR’s.  I mean, jostling them about…sticking them here and there…is that OK ? — TimW Halfordian Golfer

The better models in almost all camera makers lines are very shock resistant. Nikon F series, Pentax K series, Olympus OM, Cannon F series. If you keep your gear in a well padded and designed bag it will take a drop from body height without any problem. Zoom lenses can be the exception I have had them break when I rolled a bag of gear down a stairs. They can’t handle a blow head on. If you are really rough or travel a log get a hard case. I have run over my hard case with my truck without damage…….woops. If you do dunk a high quality slr equipment in a river get it to a camera repair person as soon as possible. If you dunk it good in saltwater look for a new camera. In using your camera. Remove from well padded case put strap over neck then make your pictures, change your film etc. Never set your gear on the trunk of your car. If you need a clean surface set your gear on the driver’s side hood. If you are hiking around rocks and need quick access to your camera keep it around your neck with the lens facing your body. This is photojournalist style. If you have been working in a dusty area use canned air to remove dust. I don’t care where you put your lens cap but make a habbit of putting it in the same place every time. All the Best, Michael Smith

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. but that is not why I post… How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for ….etc…. — TimW Halfordian Golfer      Tim – I carry a small 35mm auto-everything camera with me, and I protect it by putting it in a sturdy ziplock bag. Just before you close the last little corner of the ziplock, wrap your lips around it tightly and suck out the air in the bag; then quickly close the seal. This sort of molds to bag to the camera – you can even take a decent shot with the bag still on the camera in desperate circumstances. It has worked for me for many, many years.     In rereading this I see I have left myself wide open to your brand of humor, Tim. Try to restrain yourself, I am a respectable old lady of 66 [but still fishing!].      

Thank goodness you realize it as the harmless humor that it is …life is too short not to laugh…laugh loud and laugh often… Thanks very much for the tip and I will not take advantage of the obvious cheap shot that you left me and my devils workshop…   — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

MS How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a MS component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for MS the day on the river on Saturday, my vest could carry water or MS the camera, but not both, and I did not want another bag. MS Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a MS ruggedized waterproof camera ?  Perhaps the fishing stuff stays MS home and only the photography equipment makes the truck ride MS next time. Well I hate to mention this in a family area, but condoms work just great for protecting your SLR from the environment(non-ribbed type!) and you can still use the buttons, etc.

You either have a really small camera or a really big asdfj NO CARRIER                                                 John Fereira

Response:

DD Actually may soften the DD image and shadows in a pleasing way. Try it out! DD DD Q: Do photographers still use Vaseline for the same effect? DD DD A: Not when they’re using a condom.  The petroleum weakens them, and they DD break. Be careful out there. Oh man, I knew I forgot something important in the original post, and now I remember it… Be certain to buy the UNLUBRICATED version of the condom for use with your cameras! Now for the photography question. YES, wedding photographers still do this on occasion, but usually on a screw on filter instead of the actual lense, at least after their first try. I have also made many different special effects in the past by fooling with things on the filter. You can create a split-image rangefinder of sorts by a solid black stripe right down the middle of your filter for instance. Doesn’t show on the final image at all. Filters may be purchased with scored perpendicular lines on the called "starfire" filters which create incredble star highlights from candles, sunlight reflections off the water, etc. Dennis Vick … nfx v2.6 [C0000]                                                        

Response:

[deleted] I say stick with the SLR and be extra careful. Something I do not know yet is what the ‘practical’ shock-limit is on these SLR’s.  I mean, jostling them about…sticking them here and there…is that OK ?

It probably depends on the model.  My Canon has been on every backpacking trip I’ve been on in the past couple years and accompanies me on most fishing trips.  So far, I haven’t managed to even put a scratch on it.  If it is raining, I can take it out, take a picture, whipe the rain off, and put it back in the case with no harm done.  One of these times, I’m sure I’ll take a nasty tumble and kill it, but so far so good.   Later,      - Ken — Ken Janik Oregon State University Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – MS How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a MS component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for MS the day on the river on Saturday, my vest could carry water or MS the camera, but not both, and I did not want another bag. MS Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a MS ruggedized waterproof camera ?  Perhaps the fishing stuff stays MS home and only the photography equipment makes the truck ride MS next time. Well I hate to mention this in a family area, but condoms work just great for protecting your SLR from the environment(non-ribbed type!) and you can still use the buttons, etc. Good Lord, I hate to see the reponse from this one…but I AM SERIOUS. BTW, be sure to buy a good name brand. Leaks in these things can be pretty devastating. I swear, I am serious, Try it…….really! These things will blow up to 6′ diameter. No problem with a little camera. Stretch the material over the lense part so its close to clear. Why am I explaining this to you anyway, didn’t your parents tell you anything! Teachers, clergy, planned parenthood? Oh heck, just have fun. It works!

Interesting… You shoot through the stretched latex ???? I can really see explaining the condoms to my wife as I head out the door for a weeks fishing in Idaho… "Really honey, they are, uh, for my, uh, camera…!!!" This is a family area ?   Scary, as you can be in alt.things.even.your.mama.never.told.you in about 3 mouse clicks… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Moe, I have a Nikon FG and a Nikon F70, both of which cause me to cring a little when I bring them close to the water. I enjoy the artistic element of using an SLR too much to justify getting a waterproof auto camera. I have thus run into your problem. So far I have handled it by only taking the camera out of the car for dedicated photo shoots. I try to avoid wading with the camera if possible. When I’m done I get the rod out again and enjoy the fishing.  Last year my sis’ accompanied me on a trip and I got her to take some photos of me from the bank while I was wading. I say stick with the SLR and be extra careful. Paul

I’ll second the sticking with the SLR.  I have a Canon Elan.  I went to G.I. Joe’s and got a small (6"x7"x2") canvas bag.  It’s not waterproof, but it keeps the rain out.  It’ll hold the body and one lens, detached of course.  I wrap them both in ziplock freezer bags and throw those little water absorption pads that come with most electronic equipment in with them (you know, the ones that advise not eating them).  Most electonic stores will give them away from the packaging of their floor models. I attach it to my vest or backpack with a carbeaner(SP?), but if the wading looks too risky I’ll leave it on the bank of the river.  Yes, I tend to fish in VERY isolated areas, do not try this in more crowded areas. My $0.02,      - Ken — Ken Janik Oregon State University Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Response:

Hi. but that is not why I post… How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for ….etc…. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

     Tim – I carry a small 35mm auto-everything camera with me, and I protect it by putting it in a sturdy ziplock bag. Just before you close the last little corner of the ziplock, wrap your lips around it tightly and suck out the air in the bag; then quickly close the seal. This sort of molds to bag to the camera – you can even take a decent shot with the bag still on the camera in desperate circumstances. It has worked for me for many, many years.     In rereading this I see I have left myself wide open to your brand of humor, Tim. Try to restrain yourself, I am a respectable old lady of 66 [but still fishing!].       Louise Scharrenberg

Response:

BD Well I hate to mention this in a family area, but condoms work just great BD protecting your SLR from the environment(non-ribbed type!) and you can sti BD use the buttons, etc. BD BD You either have a really small camera or a really big No big thing Roger.  Without getting too detailed, I have actually seen these things blown up to 5′ diameters and paper macheyed(sp?) in the old "phyche shops" of the 60’s. Pretty scary under black lights with flourescent posters and incense burning… Dennis Vick … nfx v2.6 [C0000]                                                        

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MS Interesting… MS MS You shoot through the stretched latex ???? Yep! You stretch it over the lense until it becomes pretty clear. Don’t have the technical reason for you, but cameras tend to ignore things that are very close to the lense. I have shot right thorough chain link fences for instance with no noticeable affect provided I was close enough. Actually may soften the image and shadows in a pleasing way. Try it out! MS I can really see explaining the condoms to my wife as I head out the MS door for a weeks fishing in Idaho… MS MS "Really honey, they are, uh, for my, uh, camera…!!!" Reminds of a story where the hunter bitches out his wife for not packing his socks after a three week hunting trip.. "But I did pack your socks honey!" "Where the he** did you pack them then?" "In the case with your rifle!" Dennis Vick … nfx v2.6 [C0000]                                                        

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Hi. I recently acquired my first 35mmSLR, and I really, really enjoy learning about and using it.  It is my sincere hope that I can capture some of the joys of flyfishing on film as it satisfies me.  I also want to try and document some of what I feel is very wrong in our sport, particularly overcrowding on the river and wounded or sickly fish that should be killed… but that is not why I post… How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for the day on the river on Saturday, my vest could carry water or the camera, but not both, and I did not want another bag. As it turns out, I had the opportunity to get some great shots of my dear friend flyfishing, but as it also turned out, I did a little uninentional snorkelling on saturday AM too…I would have gotten the camera wet, at the very least. Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a ruggedized waterproof camera ?  Perhaps the fishing stuff stays home and only the photography equipment makes the truck ride next time. Tia, — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly    Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a    ruggedized waterproof camera ?   NO and YES. I bought a Pentax IQ zoom waterproof camera (~$250-270) for this purpose after I fell into a stream in New Zealand with my friend’s camera (ruining it and leaving me without a small camera).  I rarely carry my SLR/lenses because of weight and fear that I will ruin a zillion dollars with one false step.  This particular waterproof camera is pretty good – it is not a simple point and shoot.  I wear it around my neck all the time when fishing, and I take more pictures now. cheers,         -tgades http://weber.u.washington.edu/~tgades/Fishing/fish_page.html

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. I recently acquired my first 35mmSLR, and I really, really enjoy learning about and using it……. How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for the day on the river on Saturday, my vest could carry water or the camera, but not both, and I did not want another bag. As it turns out, I had the opportunity to get some great shots of my dear friend flyfishing, but as it also turned out, I did a little uninentional snorkelling on saturday AM too…I would have gotten the camera wet, at the very least. Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a ruggedized waterproof camera ?  Perhaps the fishing stuff stays home and only the photography equipment makes the truck ride next time.

Over the last twenty-five years I’ve had different cameras, SLR’s, range finders and one fixed lens. Sailing the ocean, mountaineering in unforgiving places, and stream side require different kind of cammera, NOT. Your camera, like your fly rod, is just a tool with limitations. What I discovered is, to take really wonderful shots use a SLR and buy every lens and gadget you find to help you at your task. Forget about fishing you won’t have time. You’ll be checking your light meter, checking back lighting, comparing gray scale zones, experimenting with how far you can push the ASA. And coming full circle when you move to a new location. Man that sounds like a lot of work and it really is. You could empty out you fishing vest and fill it full of camera stuff. Bingo, you are an official professional photographer or at least look like one. But for my money I went for the range finder type. One lens and one filter and that’s it. No fuss, good pic’s, with limitations. I just wanted to record what I saw, where I’d been, and what I’d experience. Just didn’t want to build a monument around it. I recommend these three range finder cameras, Reolli 35S (older german made w/big lens), Nikon Action Touch (really water proof to 12 feet), and an old Cannon Cannonete which is my current clicker. If my camera fell into bad grace I would not feel to badly because I mostly find used cameras that others have traded in to buy SLR’s. There’s a good steady supply, you just have to look for the deals. They do make waterproof bags that will keep your cameras dry, mostly used by white water rafters. But I hate cumbersome bags and am willing to take the chance on dousing the camera. Maybe if your fascination of fishing pictures really develops you could start taking pictures underwater of trout behavior and taking the fly. Yes, like flyfishing, it’s just another disease. When you get the darkroom going I could use some flytying gear, hint, hint, hint, since you will be up to your elbows in developer and fixer. — Doug Knight                           metalfab<atefaxinc.com Junk e-mail, solicitation, sales, products and services gladly accepted at $500.00 per mailing and billed directly to your ISP.

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MS How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a MS component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for MS the day on the river on Saturday, my vest could carry water or MS the camera, but not both, and I did not want another bag. MS Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a MS ruggedized waterproof camera ?  Perhaps the fishing stuff stays MS home and only the photography equipment makes the truck ride MS next time. Well I hate to mention this in a family area, but condoms work just great for protecting your SLR from the environment(non-ribbed type!) and you can still use the buttons, etc. Good Lord, I hate to see the reponse from this one…but I AM SERIOUS. BTW, be sure to buy a good name brand. Leaks in these things can be pretty devastating. I swear, I am serious, Try it…….really! These things will blow up to 6′ diameter. No problem with a little camera. Stretch the material over the lense part so its close to clear. Why am I explaining this to you anyway, didn’t your parents tell you anything! Teachers, clergy, planned parenthood? Oh heck, just have fun. It works! Dennis Vick … nfx v2.6 [C0000]                                                        

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly   Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a   ruggedized waterproof camera ?   NO and YES. I bought a Pentax IQ zoom waterproof camera (~$250-270) for this purpose after I fell into a stream in New Zealand with my friend’s camera (ruining it and leaving me without a small camera).  I rarely carry my SLR/lenses because of weight and fear that I will ruin a zillion dollars with one false step.  This particular waterproof camera is pretty good – it is not a simple point and shoot.  I wear it around my neck all the time when fishing, and I take more pictures now. cheers,    -tgades

I’ve got the same camera – a great piece of work. To bad there’s no built-in lens cap for it, but it’s 99.9999% on the way to being the perfect camera for fishing. Nice macro feature for close-ups. Pentax has a new model (IQ 110?) for more money – with a very wide angle lens for panorama shots, but this one gives up on the water- resistance feature, I think. I also carry my camera in a plastic zip-lock baggie (my wallet’s got a baggie too) just to be sure it’ll survive my next unplanned wetdown. If I’m with someone else, they learn how to shoot a picture with it in about 10 seconds. Don B. Wishful collector of Gillums and Dickersons – owner of Montague, H-I and Heddons.

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I, too, rarely carry my SLR when fishing. And I often regret it when I get back prints from my point and shoot that are incorrectly exposed. (But, being prone to being prone, it’s the only way to go for me). Does anyone have any ideas for an inexpensive (<$150) auto-focus that allows for manual exposure setting? John Nesselrode Shawnee, KS

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there a couple of nice "photo backpacks" on the market. the one i got has a space for water or snacks or whatever. although it is not 100% waterproof – it will keep my expensive gear dry during brief recreational swims. i have decided that the inconvenience of the extra weight on my back is outweighed by the potential for great photos. p.s.   olympus makes a very small camera (will fit in almost any vest pocket) that is weatherproof. i believe they cost around $200.   greg

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Hi Moe, I have a Nikon FG and a Nikon F70, both of which cause me to cring a little when I bring them close to the water. I enjoy the artistic element of using an SLR too much to justify getting a waterproof auto camera. I have thus run into your problem. So far I have handled it by only taking the camera out of the car for dedicated photo shoots. I try to avoid wading with the camera if possible. When I’m done I get the rod out again and enjoy the fishing.  Last year my sis’ accompanied me on a trip and I got her to take some photos of me from the bank while I was wading. I say stick with the SLR and be extra careful. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. How do you deal with an expensive electronic ridden camera as a component of your flyfishing equipment ?.  As I was preparing for the day on the river on Saturday, my vest could carry water or the camera, but not both, and I did not want another bag. Is this insolvable ?  Is the only answer a compromise towards a ruggedized waterproof camera ?  Perhaps the fishing stuff stays home and only the photography equipment makes the truck ride next time. Tia, — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

I am going to be in Islamorada, FL for part of the week of November 20 and am interested in spending a day fishing the flats.  Can anyone recommend a good-quality guide who doesn’t charge a king’s ransom? MZ

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Stop at Bonefish Bob’s shop.  He is most helpful with questions.  Best ? guide- Jim Lopez phone at Marathon.  Expensive, tho.  Ask Bob. Regards, CLiff

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Johnson’s out of Baldwin, MI used to guide down there. I don’t know if they still do but they would be able to offer someone’s name.

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I just went bone fishing with Capt. Steve Impallomeni (305) 292-9837 . and had a wonderful day with him!  I also would suggest dealing with Capt. Jeffrey Cardenas of The Saltwater Angler (800) 223-1629 for bookings and information … they were the best help and friendliest people I dealt with in Florida! KStJ

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Question:

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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