Question:

[...] PULEAZE cease with the html. Text only, thanks very much.

Response:

[snipped] <yawn how about yawning us an answer, eh mr. grey matter?

OK, if you promise not to top post any longer? There is no "answer", as anyone with a collection of more than a couple of flyrods (or over two dozen, in my case) will attest. We often allow ourselves "current favorites", and on occasion may even profess to a single "favorite" rod. But within a week we’re loving another just as much. We’re fickle. Sue us But, fwiw, I’ve got nothing better to do during rehab this morning, so I’ll play along: the finest five piece nine foot eight weight rod ever made is *my* Winston BL5 9/8. It has the sweetest action of any 8 or 9 weight in my stable (6 or 7 rods in that range) and you never notice the ferrules. It *is* the Holy Grail – if that happens to describe a highly portable bonefish and striper machine with no equal, period. OK? /daytripper (tune in later when I wax eloquent over my 7/2, or one of my 9/5s, or ….)

Response:

A couple fun questions for the group to chew on… What is the Holy Grail of flyrods?  Be specific.  Pick a single identifiable rod that you feel has more historical significance than any other.  Explain. The Leonard used by G.E.M. Skues.  It was more than a little responsible for some of his excellent writings and musings.

For me, there isn’t _one_ particular rod as there are too many that would fit the above description, and like most things involving tackle, no one would agree – one person’s "Holy Grail" is another’s flea-market, carnival glass candy dish.   For example, in no particular order, the above mentioned rod, rods used by Bergman, Ed Payne’s first rod (or a Payne-ferruled Leonard), Hemingway-owned rods, various Garrison rods (for example, very early rods, such as John Alden Knight’s or Miller’s "Wyandach" rod, or even the first of certain tapers) or even the borrowed Payne that started Garrison off.   Heck, even the rod(s) used in "the movie," or just the first split-bamboo, fiberglass, or graphite, etc. might qualify to one or more people. What is the Rolls Royce of flyrods?  Again, be specific.  Pick a single rod (or line of rods)that you feel represents the pinnacle of the rod building craft.  Explain. The Hexagraph range.  They combine all the desirable attributes of a good fishing rod, without the disadvantages.( excepting the relatively high price).

I suppose in very general terms, assuming a middle and general range of size, either the early Payne (the later Paynes are not, IMO, the rods the early rods were) or Garrison rods, given the "pinnacle of the rod building craft" condition.  But they have the disadvantage of needing a certain level of care.   That said, I don’t think there is a specific "Rolls-Royce of flyrods." A 6 1/2′ foot Payne to a saltwater fisher is little more than kindling, and a big Garrison with a large Fin-Nor to a small-stream trouter is a tentpole.  As to pure workmanship, I have a Payne-made multipart/multirod "set," thought to be a "one-off," that is probably the finest overall workmanship I’ve ever seen (and others have agreed), but as a true fishing "masterpiece," IMO, it’s marginal, given it’s bulk and as a whole, its overall lack of practicality.  But I also have what was a very inexpensive very light St. Croix glass, completely redone, that is as good at its purpose any I’ve used, and the finish is, again, IMO, as good as it comes. TC, R

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Hexagraph range.  They combine all the desirable attributes of a good fishing rod, without the disadvantages.( excepting the relatively high price). fascinated by this, mike. Although I fish for salmon with B&W, this is the first good word I’ve heard about the hexagraph range. I’m shocked, btw, to learn that you’re even younger than I am. Ah those youthful days! Lazarus — Lazarus Cooke I know some of the rods from Bruce and Walker were pretty awful, in fact I cast a few.  This I feel was due to many of them having the wrong design characteristics. I did  not handle them all, and none of the salmon rods, so my comments are rather general in nature, and should not be construed as a general condemnation of the B&W rods.

I fish for salmon either with a 9 foot hardy – the first rod I bought – 6/7 weight, on which I’ve also caught most of my salmon, or on a B&W ‘Silver Stream’ 12 foot, which was never highly regarded but which I love, or a lovely rod (to my hand) – a very gentle 15 foot B&W ‘grilse’ – only 6 or 7 weight, but terrific for covering bouldery streams – quite big – like the upper reaches of the Finn, in Donegal, or the Mourne, in Tyrone, which are my favourite salmon rivers. These two rods are  quite slow, but they don’t get all nervous in the big winds of the West of Ireland, and you can keep control of the line and, if you’re lucky, the fish, in amongst all those boulders. So I like B&W a lot. SNIP As I have also said before, these rods are "fishing" tools, not "casting" tools. If you want a cannon, then get a super fast Sage or Loomis etc.  If you want pleasurable tireless fishing on rivers and streams, get either a good cane, ( not my preference, too much trouble,, and too expensive anyway), or a Hexagraph.

I agree with this distinction. Especially with salmon, you have to enjoy casting, rather than worry about it, since you may end up doing an awful lot of it for any fish you may hook. So I’m all for an easy, pleasant action rather than something that shoots the line a bit further. And few of the trout I catch are hooked more than (at the most) fifteen yards away. Occasionally, for fun, I’ll  cast a trout line further, but it’s only for the fun. i know that at that sort of distance the fly will be dragging enough for the fish to see, even if I can’t. That said, I’m very fond of a couple of rods I built myself from Sage reject blanks at fifty bucks apiece. L — Lazarus Cooke

Response:

<snip Deal with it, luser… /daytripper (who still doesn’t suffer newbie fools very well at all)

I dunno, Dave. I think you showed amazing restraint. I thought his indignant reply to your post would *really* set you off!  :) Tim

Response:

Oh, blow it out your ample arse, newbie. Someone posts an obvious troll ("duckin’ and runnin’", wasn’t it?) and you expect RESPECT for that act? /daytripper (who still doesn’t suffer newbie fools very well at all)

Well, at least he didn’t ask what everyone’s favorite "social lubricant" was…under the name of "Trixie ‘Biguns’ LaBoom"…from Dripping Springs, Texas… TC, R "standing tall and taunting…."

Response:

The Hexagraph range.  They combine all the desirable attributes of a good fishing rod, without the disadvantages.( excepting the relatively high price).

fascinated by this, mike. Although I fish for salmon with B&W, this is the first good word I’ve heard about the hexagraph range. I’m shocked, btw, to learn that you’re even younger than I am. Ah those youthful days! Lazarus — Lazarus Cooke

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Hexagraph range.  They combine all the desirable attributes of a good fishing rod, without the disadvantages.( excepting the relatively high price). fascinated by this, mike. Although I fish for salmon with B&W, this is the first good word I’ve heard about the hexagraph range. I’m shocked, btw, to learn that you’re even younger than I am. Ah those youthful days! Lazarus — Lazarus Cooke

I know some of the rods from Bruce and Walker were pretty awful, in fact I cast a few.  This I feel was due to many of them having the wrong design characteristics. I did  not handle them all, and none of the salmon rods, so my comments are rather general in nature, and should not be construed as a general condemnation of the B&W rods. The first carbon fibre rods I handled, were also pretty lousy, as they were obvious attempts to duplicate cane actions. Carbon fibre does not possess many of the limitations of cane, and it seems pretty pointless to duplicate cane rods in this manner. It is in any case impossible to even duplicate cane accurately, unless you also consider the weight, which contributes to the action.  Saying that an ultra-light carbon fibre rod has the same "action" as cane is absolute nonsense, it can not have the same action, it simply does not possess sufficient mass. Notwithstanding its limitations, cane also has advantages. One of these is the "solid" construction. This contributes weight of course, but also gives the rod capabilities which an ultra-light tubular carbon fibre rod simply does not have. You may need to apply so much power to an ultra-light rod, to get it to perform at all, that it becomes infinitely more tiring to use, than a rod which is heavier to start with. One reason why many are now using fibreglass rods again. If these are relatively short, there is no noticeable disadvantage due to excess weight, in fact it is a positive advantage when casting. They are not as troublesome to care for as cane, and they are not as easily damaged either. Also, the "transition" point of a solid rod, the point before which a rod is capable of loading itself, because of its own mass, is much more pronounced, and much more useful for close range work with light lines. Some tubular rods are impossible to cast properly at short range, because one can not move them fast enough to load them. This also considerably reduces the delicacy with which one is able to cast. This, which I consider to be probably the single most important characteristic of a cane rod, can be not only duplicated, but enhanced, using the solid "hexagraph" construction. The resulting blank is perfectly straight, can not warp, is extremely robust, and more or less invulnerable to weather or any other similar damage. It will not take a set, it will cast in a perfectly straight line, without "wobbling", it has no pronounced "spine", ( it has none at all), the deformation common in tubular rods under stress does not take place, it will cast a wide range of weights easily,  etc etc etc. For a long time, it was my ambition to build such a rod, and make the materials and processes available to the home builder. Unfortunately I never realised it. The closest I ever got was building a hexagonal rod tip using fibre glass.  It took me a long time to make it, and the results, although encouraging, did not really warrant the amount of time involved. I am sure that if I could have used carbon fibre, that they would have been much better. I have read a great deal about the hexagraphs, and I have handled quite a few. For quite a while I snapped up all the second hand ones I could get hold of, as far as I could afford them, and I even bought three new ones. Incidentally the only "new" rods I have ever bought in my entire life, which were not either damaged, or heavily discounted in the first place. If I ever have the wherewithal, I would throw all the rods I own away, ( even the "good" ones), and buy myself a range of the new Hexagraphs. I think they are just about the ultimate fishing tool, at this particular point in time. As I have also said before, these rods are "fishing" tools, not "casting" tools. If you want a cannon, then get a super fast Sage or Loomis etc.  If you want pleasurable tireless fishing on rivers and streams, get either a good cane, ( not my preference, too much trouble,, and too expensive anyway), or a Hexagraph. TL MC

Response:

<yawn So sorry my posts don’t amuse you, oh great and powerful Caesar. Please don’t feed me to the lions!  I’ll try harder to please you next time, I promise. Do you treat all strangers with such disrespect?  I guess it’s pretty easy when you have a screen name to hide behind. Pete Greenwood

Oh, blow it out your ample arse, newbie. Someone posts an obvious troll ("duckin’ and runnin’", wasn’t it?) and you expect RESPECT for that act? Here’s what you earned so far: one FOAD on your permanent record. My "screen name" has been here for years and years, and the person behind it is known to far more of the denizens than yours shall ever be. Deal with it, luser… /daytripper (who still doesn’t suffer newbie fools very well at all)

Response:

A couple fun questions for the group to chew on… What is the Holy Grail of flyrods?  Be specific.  Pick a single identifiable rod that you feel has more historical significance than any other.  Explain. What is the Rolls Royce of flyrods?  Again, be specific.  Pick a single rod (or line of rods)that you feel represents the pinnacle of the rod building craft.  Explain. Ducking and covering… Pete Greenwood

Response:

[snipped] <yawn

Response:

how about yawning us an answer, eh mr. grey matter?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [snipped] <yawn

Response:

<yawn

So sorry my posts don’t amuse you, oh great and powerful Caesar. Please don’t feed me to the lions!  I’ll try harder to please you next time, I promise. Do you treat all strangers with such disrespect?  I guess it’s pretty easy when you have a screen name to hide behind. Pete Greenwood

Response:

A couple fun questions for the group to chew on… What is the Holy Grail of flyrods?  Be specific.  Pick a single identifiable rod that you feel has more historical significance than any other.  Explain.

The Leonard used by G.E.M. Skues.  It was more than a little responsible for some of his excellent writings and musings. What is the Rolls Royce of flyrods?  Again, be specific.  Pick a single rod (or line of rods)that you feel represents the pinnacle of the rod building craft.  Explain.

The Hexagraph range.  They combine all the desirable attributes of a good fishing rod, without the disadvantages.( excepting the relatively high price). Ducking and covering… Pete Greenwood

Casting and mending…. TL MC

Response:

Question:

"Upon reviewing A Modern Dry-Fly Code for this new edition I am struck by the remarkable intensity of the narrative, which seems a little strange to me now. For me fly-fishing was never a contemplative man’s recreation.  I could never achieve the placidity or the detachment expressed in Izaak Walton’s Compleat Angler; since Walton practiced and wrote abut a blood sport, he and his book will remain forever anomalies in fishing literature.  If anything, fly-fishing was and is for me a constant state of excitement, and my attitude is best likened to that of a hound dog joyously baying in full, hot pursuit of its quarry.  True, there are many sections in the "Code" that seem to have philosophical flavor; but this is only because they represent some attempt to rationalize the behavior of trout and the imitations in the form of dry flies.  The excitement that I mention was and is generated as much by the preliminary moves as by the ultimate capture of a trout.  The mysteries of fly-fishing and the inscrutable ways of trout will forever fascinate me." Vincent C. Marinaro "A Modern Dry-Fly Code"  Second Edition: My old friend Vincent now fishes the most heavenly of rivers and streams and I’m sure his beloved LeTort is still haunted by memories of many who have seen him fish it.  I am struck by the words, as often said in "A River Runs Through It,"  "They are under the rocks of time . . . ," and never has anyone expressed my feelings about the ways of the trout better than what Vincent has portrayed in his masterful volume, "A Modern Dry-Fly Code". The older I get the more I seem to like to visit old friends through their literary works.  It remember often sitting with these gentlemen, perhaps enjoying a libation after a nice meal and waxing about the world of fly fishing, the people involved in it at that time, and the many hours of pleasant conversations and pleasant thoughts. Vincent, as a fly tier, was more like a paint artist who was more of an impressionist then anything else.  He was a man mindful of form and silhouette rather then a mechanical perfectionist. The deadliest fly creation Vincent has ever created from the world of terrestrials is his Jassid Series in my opinion.  I doubt if many Roffians  use this fly much at all because Vincent’s work is now considered "old hat" when in fact the man’s work is still light years ahead of the modern generation.  I wouldn’t be caught naked without a tray full of Marinaro Jassid flies or beetles.  It’s a shame so many modern fishermen are hypnotized by only aquatic insects in lieu of terra ferma crawlies, save the multi colored ants and hoppers?  Ants can be found with most fly fishermen but when it comes to paying attention to the millions of tons of terrestrials that fall into America’s rivers, that is just about it. This is a sound premise to consider a fly exchange that deals only with terrestrials. Anyone who does fish a favorite terrestrial should submit it to me for entry into "Flies of the World" web site so it may be shared it around the world.  Nothing is more fun than rereading this great work by Vincent which is well worth anyone’s time during this fly tying season. George Gehrke "A Look Backward"

Response:

"George Gehrke" My old friend Vincent now fishes the most heavenly of

bliuztfrugmfjpk……      Translation for those who don’t speak Schizophrenese- "I was sitting in my lonely little booth at a trade show one year and Vince walked by. I tried to offer him a free bottle of Fink but he ignored me. At least I was in his presence." The older I get the more I seem to like to visit old friends through their literary works.

    Which is the most amount of interaction you ever had with any of flyfishing’s great ones. Every time another great one dies and is unable to deny knowing you, he becomes your "dear old friend". What a lying sack of shit you are.

Response:

"George Gehrke" My old friend Vincent now fishes the most heavenly of bliuztfrugmfjpk……      Translation for those who don’t speak Schizophrenese- "I was sitting in my lonely little booth at a trade show one year and Vince walked by. I tried to offer him a free bottle of Fink but he ignored me. At least I was in his presence."

Me and Ike and Julie had a big row about this sort of thing one time. They’d gotten in the habit of telling everybody we knew that we were like, REALLY close chums.  Never could make them understand that it’s unseemly for students to presume that sort of familiarity with their mentor.  Kids!  Whattya gonna do with ‘em?   Wolfgang

Response:

"a modern dry fly code" is one imposing title…like marinaro was some sort of existentialist fly fisherman or something…i think he and his posse took themselves pretty damn seriously. Eugene

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "George Gehrke" My old friend Vincent now fishes the most heavenly of bliuztfrugmfjpk……      Translation for those who don’t speak Schizophrenese- "I was sitting in my lonely little booth at a trade show one year and Vince walked by. I tried to offer him a free bottle of Fink but he ignored me. At least I was in his presence." Me and Ike and Julie had a big row about this sort of thing one time. They’d gotten in the habit of telling everybody we knew that we were like, REALLY close chums.  Never could make them understand that it’s unseemly for students to presume that sort of familiarity with their mentor.  Kids!  Whattya gonna do with ‘em?   Wolfgang

Response:

"a modern dry fly code" is one imposing title…like marinaro was some sort of existentialist fly fisherman or something…i think he and his posse took themselves pretty damn seriously.

Uh huh….  But what did you think of the book itself? JR

Response:

its not one of my favorites, though sure its interesting. Eugene

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "a modern dry fly code" is one imposing title…like marinaro was some sort of existentialist fly fisherman or something…i think he and his posse took themselves pretty damn seriously. Uh huh….  But what did you think of the book itself? JR

Response:

Mr. Gehrke! Though I know of Mr. Marinaros

Question:

For Christmas one year, I got a large wooden "book like" router bit holder. and let me tell ya! It works great as a tackle holder, too!!! I sure got some funky looks for that one from my family……hopefully, I get another one this year! Mike

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I keep my hooks, jigheads, and other such terminal gear in a Plano plastic box. The one I am using now has lids on each side. It would be much better if it opened like a book, or, err, uh, a fly box. I saw such a thing a Home Depot by Dewalt, but it is not quite big enough. It is *very* nice though. And, it might just be big enough… — Citizen Fisherman

Response:

What does it look like??? — regards, RichG

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For Christmas one year, I got a large wooden "book like" router bit holder. and let me tell ya! It works great as a tackle holder, too!!! I sure got some funky looks for that one from my family……hopefully, I get another one this year! Mike I keep my hooks, jigheads, and other such terminal gear in a Plano plastic box. The one I am using now has lids on each side. It would be much better if it opened like a book, or, err, uh, a fly box. I saw such a thing a Home Depot by Dewalt, but it is not quite big enough. It is *very* nice though. And, it might just be big enough… — Citizen Fisherman

Response:

It’s a hinged wooden box with compartments in the inside that hold bits. They are just the right size to hold a med spinnerbait that has the two ends squeezed together, various worms, rapala, etc.  good for when your shore fishing….even though I haven’t shore fished in years……. but, you can bring just the necessary stuff and that is it. Mike

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What does it look like??? — regards, RichG For Christmas one year, I got a large wooden "book like" router bit holder. and let me tell ya! It works great as a tackle holder, too!!! I sure got some funky looks for that one from my family……hopefully, I get another one this year! Mike I keep my hooks, jigheads, and other such terminal gear in a Plano plastic box. The one I am using now has lids on each side. It would be much better if it opened like a book, or, err, uh, a fly box. I saw such a thing a Home Depot by Dewalt, but it is not quite big enough. It is *very* nice though. And, it might just be big enough… — Citizen Fisherman

Response:

Question:

How about taking this to an email status, guys. I have a 3 month old yellow Lab in the vet hospital with Parvo. The vet thinks he can get her through it, but she is sick as hell. Amazing how quickly you can get attached to a dumb old dog… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman

– http://members.home.net/jbarton248

Response:

I’m very sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid it’s due to your own carelessness. Never, ever let your pup around other dogs, or in places where other dogs roam, until it’s had its full set of parvo shots. These are typically given every three to four weeks until the dog is four months old. The dog is NOT immune until it’s had all the shots. A parvo booster shot is given once a year. It’s important to socialize a pup to people and other dogs, but they should only be allowed around other dogs that you KNOW are healthy and immune to the parvo virus.

Ah nothing like a little dose of salt for a wound.  Sorry RW, I know you could care less but I think this was a low blow and rather presumptuous of you.  I don’t know the circumstances surrounding Mr. Colliers pup…given that, I certainly wouldn’t affix blame.  Even if I did know, I don’t see the point in the blame game anyway…I’m sure he’ll learn all he needs to about Parvo by the time this is all done. Michael F. Pitch (Natty)

Response:

Yeesh. And I  thought that the South African where a heartless bunch! Yowza! I have a 3 month old yellow Lab in the vet hospital with Parvo. The vet thinks he can get her through it, but she is sick as hell. Amazing how quickly you can get attached to a dumb old dog… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman

Ari Bert                                        Gaelle Bert +27 (0) 83 232 9903                             +27 (0) 83 236 5308 Flyfishing Corner +27 (0) 11 447 7230                             Shop 94, Admirals Court +27 (0) 11 882 8537 (fax)                       Cnr Craddock & Tyrwhitt www.troutfishing.co.za                                Street, Rosebank P.O.Box 79067 Senderwood 2145 South Africa

Response:

You first, clueless newbie! Op

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How about taking this to an email status, guys. — http://members.home.net/jbarton248

Response:

Yeesh. And I  thought that the South African where a heartless bunch! Yowza!

Nah, we got you beat all over for incivility, bud. We don’t have a T&R commission trying to keep us straight, either.

Response:

I have a 3 month old yellow Lab in the vet hospital with Parvo. The vet thinks he can get her through it, but she is sick as hell. Amazing how quickly you can get attached to a dumb old dog… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman

Mike, Got a pup myself. Wouldn’t trade him for a million. However, I wouldn’t give you $.10 for another. Seriously, hope your pet gets well. Ken Williams

Response:

Bovine Excrement on your part rw!  Friend’s dog got parvo at the vets when he went in for the parvo shots.  Manure happens. Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Parvo is like a roulette wheel, and our number came up. Bullshit. Your dog was exposed to parvo when it was in your care, then you have the cheek to come here looking for sympathy. I never got on your case during the sorry eBay debacle, but it’s now very clear that you have a problem in taking responsibility for your actions, or inactions. BTW, if you get the opportunity to counsel people with sick kids, pass… If they’re parents who exposed their kids to a deadly, contagious, and preventable disease through negligence, I’ll pass. And please, whatever else you do, if your dog dies don’t get another one. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Calif Bill writes: Bovine Excrement on your part rw!  Friend’s dog got parvo at the vets when he went in for the parvo shots.  Manure happens. Bill

No doubt about it.  The best place to catch it is *at* the vet’s.  If you bring an unprotected puppy to the vet’s office, you should bring a large towel for the dog to sit/lie on.  While a good vet will spray and clean the surfaces exposed to dogs/puppies, there is still the chance that the virus will survive.  So, beat it by not allowing the puppy on *any* of the surfaces at the vet’s office until the pup is fully vaccinated.  It is the only sure way to protect your dog.  Although rw was a little blunt in his approach of placing blame, it is the human’s fault that the animal gets infected.  Keep the pup away from possible infected surfaces. I leave for Idaho in a few hours.  Unfortunately, Henry can’t go with me…d;0( Dave

Response:

Not your falt.  Parvo shots don’t always prevent your dog from getting it but it may lessen the effect enough that he’ll live.  Parvo can stay in the ground where an infected dog has dumped for a year or more, so chances are you never nknew where he came up with it. Bill Pentheny Adams (PA) County Bassmasters Cheasapeake Bay Retriever Relief & Rescue

Response:

True,,, Although the good old T&R aren’t all that straight themselves. ‘Bout as straight as a caddis hook I reckon. Ari Yeesh. And I  thought that the South African where a heartless bunch! Yowza! Nah, we got you beat all over for incivility, bud. We don’t have a T&R commission trying to keep us straight, either.

Ari Bert                                        Gaelle Bert +27 (0) 83 232 9903                             +27 (0) 83 236 5308 Flyfishing Corner +27 (0) 11 447 7230                             Shop 94, Admirals Court +27 (0) 11 882 8537 (fax)                       Cnr Craddock & Tyrwhitt www.troutfishing.co.za                                Street, Rosebank P.O.Box 79067 Senderwood 2145 South Africa

Response:

…so it is fitting that the dog should die to punish his master’s mistakes. Hmm. Interesting viewpoint.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bullshit. Your dog was exposed to parvo when it was in your care, then you have the cheek to come here looking for sympathy. I never got on your case during the sorry eBay debacle, but it’s now very clear that you have a problem in taking responsibility for your actions, or inactions. And please, whatever else you do, if your dog dies don’t get another one.

Response:

Bullshit. Your dog was exposed to parvo when

it was in your care….<   Let me tell you a story, rw…and please, comment on it.  I raised a litter of pointers a few years ago.   They were whelped in my garage.  Never around any dogs except their mother.  I started giving them shots at 5 weeks (when I weaned them).   I gave them a shot at 5 weeks, a shot at 6, one at 8, one at 10 and one at 14.  5 shots in all.  I kept 4 of these puppies.  They were in a new pen that had never had other dogs in it.  At 17/18 weeks, two of them developed parvo and subsequently died.  The other two (in the same pen) lived and showed no signs of sickness.   I see no reason why 2 puppies out of 4, raised under identical conditions would develop parvo and 2 would not.  Obviously, they were "exposed" to parvo but I can’t for the life of me figure how unless I carried it in on my boots from a field trial.  BUT, I had given them *5* shots and only 2 of the 4 died.  Shit happens.

Response:

Dog’s fine and is coming home this afternoon. Thanks for all the kind words. — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman

Response:

I have a 3 month old yellow Lab in the vet hospital with Parvo. The vet thinks he can get her through it, but she is sick as hell. Amazing how quickly you can get attached to a dumb old dog…

I’m very sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid it’s due to your own carelessness. Never, ever let your pup around other dogs, or in places where other dogs roam, until it’s had its full set of parvo shots. These are typically given every three to four weeks until the dog is four months old. The dog is NOT immune until it’s had all the shots. A parvo booster shot is given once a year. It’s important to socialize a pup to people and other dogs, but they should only be allowed around other dogs that you KNOW are healthy and immune to the parvo virus. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I wish you a lot of good luck with your puppy.  Your right about how quick you get to loving a pup.  I hope this works out well for you and your pup. PS:  Wish it was my ex who got the Parvo instead Richard

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a 3 month old yellow Lab in the vet hospital with Parvo. The vet thinks he can get her through it, but she is sick as hell. Amazing how quickly you can get attached to a dumb old dog… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman

Response:

Don’t know about the divorce part, but one of the hardest things I’ve had to do was put down my Aussie. Tim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks. Michael Collier <- lump in throat, feeling kinda silly Citizen Fisherman Don’t sweat it. One of the worst times I ever had was when I had to put my last dog down. Hell of a lot worse than divorcing my old lady. —  Charles Davis     K4SWB <<I’m The NRA

Response:

rw writes: Never, ever let your pup around other dogs, or in places where other dogs roam, until it’s had its full set of parvo shots. These are typically given every three to four weeks until the dog is four months old. The dog is NOT immune until it’s had all the shots. A parvo booster shot is given once a year.

When we got Henry two and half years ago at age 8 weeks, we took him to the vet for a check up, but we brought a towel for him to sit/stand on.  Never let an unvacinated pup around the floor or tables of any vet. It’s important to socialize a pup to people and other dogs, but they should only be allowed around other dogs that you KNOW are healthy and immune to the parvo virus.

If you do socialize around others pubs (puppy kindergarden, obedience school, etc., ensure that one of the requirements is up-to-date parvo shots.   I’ll be out your way on Sunday, Steve.  Taking grandson #2 fishing somewhere east of Cascade — we fly in from Boise.   Dave

Response:

Did you know the Parvo virus can survive in dog feces for up to a year? Did you know some dogs only carry the virus? Did you know puppies are born with their mother’s immunity to Parvo, and there is only the briefest window from the time the in-born immunity fails and the puppies own kicks in? We were not at all careless with this dog. Parvo is like a roulette wheel, and our number came up. BTW, if you get the opportunity to counsel people with sick kids, pass… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m very sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid it’s due to your own carelessness.

Response:

Thank you! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW, if you get the opportunity to counsel people with sick kids, pass… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman I’m very sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid it’s due to your own carelessness.

Response:

It’s important to socialize a pup to people and other dogs, but they should only be allowed around other dogs that you KNOW are healthy and immune to the parvo virus.

My neighbor’s pup was in a fenced backyard when he was visited by a sick loose dog (that dog later died — his owners *were* careless).  The pup got sick very quickly and my neighbors took him to the vet right away.  With lots of care, he did recover beautifully.  My dogs were older (and had their regular booster shots) and they weren’t affected, luckily. Hang in there, Michael.  Thinking good thoughts your way. Sandy

Response:

Parvo is like a roulette wheel, and our number came up.

Bullshit. Your dog was exposed to parvo when it was in your care, then you have the cheek to come here looking for sympathy. I never got on your case during the sorry eBay debacle, but it’s now very clear that you have a problem in taking responsibility for your actions, or inactions. BTW, if you get the opportunity to counsel people with sick kids, pass…

If they’re parents who exposed their kids to a deadly, contagious, and preventable disease through negligence, I’ll pass. And please, whatever else you do, if your dog dies don’t get another one. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I have a 3 month old yellow Lab in the vet hospital with Parvo. The vet thinks he can get her through it, but she is sick as hell. Amazing how quickly you can get attached to a dumb old dog… — Michael Collier Citizen Fisherman

Response:

Michael I am very sorry to hear this, we lost a puppy to Parvo and we DO understand how you must be feeling.  Hang in there, there is hope, your puppy is a little older than ours was and the vet told us the older the better… Padishar Creel –  My best friend has always been a dog.

Response:

Thanks. — Michael Collier <- lump in throat, feeling kinda silly Citizen Fisherman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Michael I am very sorry to hear this, we lost a puppy to Parvo and we DO understand how you must be feeling.  Hang in there, there is hope, your puppy is a little older than ours was and the vet told us the older the better…

Response:

Thanks. Michael Collier <- lump in throat, feeling kinda silly Citizen Fisherman

Don’t sweat it. One of the worst times I ever had was when I had to put my last dog down. Hell of a lot worse than divorcing my old lady. —  Charles Davis     K4SWB <<I’m The NRA

Response:

Question:

There’s finally a product that does away with bouncing bottles and poorly distributed weight- it’s called the Fuel Belt.  This posting serves as an information bulletin to help you get the most out of your training.  Staying hydrated is half the battle and one that can finally be managed comfortably. If you’re interested in learning more about these belts, e-mail me or visit: www.fuelbelt.com   for more information.  Get more out of your hardwork and have fun doing it. Best, -Vinu — Vinu Malik President, Fuel Belt p:  617.868.9506 (direct) p:  888.666.BELT (2358) f:  617.661.7808 w:  www.fuelbelt.com Fuel Belt:  Proven at Ironman races around the world…

Response:

Dan, Are you talking about saltwater speckled trout or garfish? Inquiring minds wanna know. I used to love fishing for the "specs" in and around Sarasota. go gatahs…. Walt I never miss a home game at gatorsville, but this time of year the only gators I think about are Gator Trout.Have C.& R.  11 in the past week 22 inches or longer. Will start to think about choump choump  Gators in Sept.    Capt Dan   We play St. Bobby at home this year. Choump—–Choump **** Posted from RemarQ – http://www.remarq.com – Discussions Start Here ™ ****

–          The Blue Ridge Book Gallery      P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604       http://www.mercury.net/~wgwinter

Response:

I never miss a home game at gatorsville, but this time of year the only gators I think about are Gator Trout.Have C.& R.  11 in the past week 22 inches or longer. Will start to think about choump choump  Gators in Sept.    Capt Dan   We play St. Bobby at home this year. Choump—–Choump **** Posted from RemarQ – http://www.remarq.com – Discussions Start Here ™ ****

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Matt, I like the camelback myself for long hot days. But where does this slimy little geek Malik get the crazy idea to SPAM a fly fishing newsgroup with this stuff. Where or where would he get the idea that he could SPAM in ROFF???? I take my camelback fishing, so it is "technically" an on-topic post.     – Ken    umm, ken, i plan on taking my gerkhe bastard fishing.  does this mean you are gonna get off george’s ass, at last?

Actually, Wayno, you missed the point, it was sarcasm.  Both are SPAM.  The point was that people complained about the camelback dude, but want to give George free rein.  I just hold all the spammers in equal disdain. Later,      - Ken — "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the  initiative in creating the Internet."  - Al Gore

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Waldo,   Don’t know how much attention you pay tohim, but Beano Cook is already predicting the 2000 Sugar Bowl (which will be the BCS championship game): The chomp chomp fun and gun Gators of the University of Spurrier                                        vs.         The Penn State JoePa is God Nittany Lions Need I point out where I went to college?  College football is life, and life is good.

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I like the hard hat with the built in beer can holders and long straw that hangs by your mouth. Bet Walt has one to. Big Al

shoot Al, how’d you know that. betcha didn’t know it’s a big ole UF gatah and it holds a sixpak. cool thing is, it has a gatah jaw brim with a length of  mono. when you tug on the mono the jaws go up and down like a real gatah… pretty neat huh. man, back in g’ville in the early eighties i couldn’t keep the gatorettes off me when i wore that cap. hell, mebbe it was the beer, who knows. waldo gatah

Response:

Matt, I like the camelback myself for long hot days. But where does this slimy little geek Malik get the crazy idea to SPAM a fly fishing newsgroup with this stuff.

Where or where would he get the idea that he could SPAM in ROFF???? I take my camelback fishing, so it is "technically" an on-topic post.      - Ken — "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the  initiative in creating the Internet."  - Al Gore

Response:

Matt, I like the camelback myself for long hot days. But where does this slimy little geek Malik get the crazy idea to SPAM a fly fishing newsgroup with this stuff. Where or where would he get the idea that he could SPAM in ROFF???? I take my camelback fishing, so it is "technically" an on-topic post.     – Ken

        umm, ken, i plan on taking my gerkhe bastard fishing.  does this mean you are gonna get off george’s ass, at last? wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text — "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet."  - Al Gore

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Matt, I like the camelback myself for long hot days. But where does this slimy little geek Malik get the crazy idea to SPAM a fly fishing newsgroup with this stuff.  My first impression is this guy couldn’t make the sale to the Lilian Vernon Catalogue! Wayne To fish is human…to release divine.     don’t spend alot of money on crap, buy a camelbak, I’m in the army and we use them everywhere, it’s like a water backpack…never sloshes..nobody uses canteens in the army now…you can find them at sporting goods stores

I like the hard hat with the built in beer can holders and long straw that hangs by your mouth. Bet Walt has one to. Big Al

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     don’t spend alot of money on crap, buy a camelbak, I’m in the army and we use them everywhere, it’s like a water backpack…never sloshes..nobody uses canteens in the army now…you can find them at sporting goods stores

Response:

Matt, I like the camelback myself for long hot days. But where does this slimy little geek Malik get the crazy idea to SPAM a fly fishing newsgroup with this stuff.  My first impression is this guy couldn’t make the sale to the Lilian Vernon Catalogue! Wayne To fish is human…to release divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     don’t spend alot of money on crap, buy a camelbak, I’m in the army and we use them everywhere, it’s like a water backpack…never sloshes..nobody uses canteens in the army now…you can find them at sporting goods stores

Response:

Question:

Don’t let a little rain dampen your fishing!  Last weekend the west coast of Florida suffered a deluge; 12 to 15 inches of rain in two days.  As crazy as it sounds two brothers from Charleston, SC showed up wanting to fish, come hell or high water.  Well, we got the high water, but the low pressure turned on the fish.  In two days we caught over 100 redfish and more than 25 snook.  We didn’t even count the trout and snapper.  All I can say is Mal and Jim Rhodes are as game a couple of crazies as their intrepid guide.        Thursday last the sky was cloudy and the air heavy with the coming storm.  Phil Saul asked me to take him snook fishing and, because Phil is an expert with a bait casting rod, I opted for top water plugs.  We took fish all morning with a variety of lures; Mirrolures, Reel Magic, Bait Busters and Zara Spooks.  The best were a 30 inch snook and a 30 inch redfish.  There is little that tops the resounding strike of a snook on top water.  It sound like a rifle report!  Kraak!      Here is a tip for anglers that love top water fishing.  When you find an active tide under a cloudy sky and a dropping barometer it’s time to pull out the big rods.  The fish will searching the mangrove edges for wayward mullet and larger bait fish.  If the water is a little choppy try a noisy bait like a Zara Spook or Jumpin’ Minnow.  When in calmer conditions go to a Mirrolure, Bait Buster or Reel Magic, lures that push water and disturb the surface.  Capt. Dennis Lily did just that last week and was rewarded with a ten snook day, all on top water. Great action!      Next week will see some different activity.  Mackerel, Bonito and Kingfish are showing up crashing the schools of bait that roam our near shore gulf water.  Some of the first winter low tides will occur causing redfish to tail on the flats.  Today we found numerous "flags" along the grass edges of fully exposed bars.  A top water fly or a surface film lure like a Reel Magic will attract a lot of attention from some very nice redfish.  Snook activity is on the increase in the back country as the fish move from the gulf into their winter locations.  Expect to find snook almost everywhere.        Our next report will include an update on inshore fishing for sheepshead and snapper.  It will not be long before a few triple tail will make their appearance on the crab trap buoys.  Watch for a subtle change to winter conditions over the next few weeks.        Until next week, keep a tight line,      Capt. Pete — http://www.floridaflyfishing.com

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wanting to fish, come hell or high water.  Well, we got the high water, but the low pressure turned on the fish.  In two days we caught over 100 redfish and more than 25 snook.  We didn’t even count the trout and snapper. Bait Busters and Zara Spooks.  The best were a 30 inch snook and a 30 inch redfish.        Until next week, keep a tight line,      Capt. Pete

Well "Capt." sure hope you were just catching and releasing all them fish. The last time I checked the limits: Redfish limit 1 (27"MAX) Snook limit 2 As far as the "we didn’t even count the trout and snapper….Here is a list for you to look over, some of us fishermen use and obey it. Amberjack…28" minimum/fork…bag 3 (New: one fish per person in Monroe County) Bluefish…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Bonefish…18" minimum/overall…bag 1 Cobia…33" minimum/fork…bag 2 Dolphin…bag 10 Drum, Black…14" min/overall…24" max/overall…bag 5 Flounder…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Grouper (a)…20" minimum/overall…bag 5 Hogfish…12" minimum/fork…bag 5 Mackerel, Spanish…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Mackerel, king…20" minimum/fork…bag 2 Marlin, blue…86" minimum (b)…bag (b) Marlin, white…62" minimum (b)…bag (b) Mullet…bag 50 per boat Permit…10" min/overall…20" max/overall…bag 10 (c) Pompano, African…24" minimum/fork…bag 2 (c) Pompano, Florida…10" minimum/fork…bag 10 (c) Redfish…18" min/overall…27" max/overall…bag 1 Sailfish…57" minimum (b)…bag (b) Seabass…8" minimum/overall Sheepshead…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Seatrout, spotted (e)…  15" min/fork…20" max/overall (e)…bag 5 Seatrout, spotted, NW zone (e)…  15" min/fork…24" max/overall (e)…bag 7 Shad…bag 10 Shark…bag 1 (f) Snapper: cubera…12" minimum/overall…bag (g) Snapper: gray (mangrove)…10" minimum/overall…bag 5 (g) Snapper: lane…8" minimum/overall Snapper: Mutton…16" minimum/overall…bag 10 (g) Snapper: vermilion (Atlantic)…10" minimum/overall…bag 10 Snapper: vermilion (Gulf)…8" minimum/overall Snapper: queen, blackfin, dog, mahogany, silk, yellowtail  12" minimum/overall…bag 10 (g) Snapper: red (Gulf)…15" minimum/overall…bag 5 (g) Snapper: red (Atlantic)…20" minimum/overall…bag 2 (g) Snapper: schoolmaster…10" minimum/overall…bag 10 (g) Spearfish…bag (b) Tarpon (h)…bag 2 Triggerfish, gray…12" minimum/overall Tripletail…15" minimum/fork…bag 2

Response:

Old Crow, You just pass out insults or dip into your namesake?

Yes you do and you make highly insulting insinuations You do your namesake proud,  Hope that shoe isn’t squeezing your toes too bad.

Response:

Old Crow, Congratulations,  You have just made the biggest blunder on any of these boards.  Capt. Pete is one of the most respected and conservation minded Capts. on the FL west coast. You just pass out insults or dip into your namesake? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – wanting to fish, come hell or high water.  Well, we got the high water, but the low pressure turned on the fish.  In two days we caught over 100 redfish and more than 25 snook.  We didn’t even count the trout and snapper. Bait Busters and Zara Spooks.  The best were a 30 inch snook and a 30 inch redfish.        Until next week, keep a tight line,      Capt. Pete Well "Capt." sure hope you were just catching and releasing all them fish. The last time I checked the limits: Redfish limit 1 (27"MAX) Snook limit 2 As far as the "we didn’t even count the trout and snapper….Here is a list for you to look over, some of us fishermen use and obey it. Amberjack…28" minimum/fork…bag 3 (New: one fish per person in Monroe County) Bluefish…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Bonefish…18" minimum/overall…bag 1 Cobia…33" minimum/fork…bag 2 Dolphin…bag 10 Drum, Black…14" min/overall…24" max/overall…bag 5 Flounder…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Grouper (a)…20" minimum/overall…bag 5 Hogfish…12" minimum/fork…bag 5 Mackerel, Spanish…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Mackerel, king…20" minimum/fork…bag 2 Marlin, blue…86" minimum (b)…bag (b) Marlin, white…62" minimum (b)…bag (b) Mullet…bag 50 per boat Permit…10" min/overall…20" max/overall…bag 10 (c) Pompano, African…24" minimum/fork…bag 2 (c) Pompano, Florida…10" minimum/fork…bag 10 (c) Redfish…18" min/overall…27" max/overall…bag 1 Sailfish…57" minimum (b)…bag (b) Seabass…8" minimum/overall Sheepshead…12" minimum/fork…bag 10 Seatrout, spotted (e)…  15" min/fork…20" max/overall (e)…bag 5 Seatrout, spotted, NW zone (e)…  15" min/fork…24" max/overall (e)…bag 7 Shad…bag 10 Shark…bag 1 (f) Snapper: cubera…12" minimum/overall…bag (g) Snapper: gray (mangrove)…10" minimum/overall…bag 5 (g) Snapper: lane…8" minimum/overall Snapper: Mutton…16" minimum/overall…bag 10 (g) Snapper: vermilion (Atlantic)…10" minimum/overall…bag 10 Snapper: vermilion (Gulf)…8" minimum/overall Snapper: queen, blackfin, dog, mahogany, silk, yellowtail  12" minimum/overall…bag 10 (g) Snapper: red (Gulf)…15" minimum/overall…bag 5 (g) Snapper: red (Atlantic)…20" minimum/overall…bag 2 (g) Snapper: schoolmaster…10" minimum/overall…bag 10 (g) Spearfish…bag (b) Tarpon (h)…bag 2 Triggerfish, gray…12" minimum/overall Tripletail…15" minimum/fork…bag 2

Response:

Old Crow, Congratulations,  You have just made the biggest blunder on any of these boards.  Capt. Pete is one of the most respected and conservation minded Capts. on the FL west coast.

No I didn’t blunder.  I’m not the one who posted about the number or size of the catch.  If the good old Capt had posted that he caught his limit, or caught and released___ many fish, that would have been fine.   If he runs a head boat he could have stated x number aboard, his comments were I quote "In two days we caught over 100 redfish and more than 25 snook.  We didn’t even count the trout and snapper.  All I can say is Mal and Jim Rhodes are as game a couple of crazies as their intrepid guide". Now lets see…the Capt makes one, Mel and Jim make 3 times two days… by the book the limit would be SIX (6). You just pass out insults or dip into your namesake?

Response:

Question:

I am an avid fly fisher doin’ cold turkey in Hong Kong, but am planning a trip to New Zealand, Tauranga/Rotorua/Taupo area for about a week in a camper van at the end of October with my 2 young lads. Any info on locations, flies, tactics, anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Adam J. Marr

Response:

I am an avid fly fisher doin’ cold turkey in Hong Kong, but am planning a trip to New Zealand, Tauranga/Rotorua/Taupo area for about a week in a camper van at the end of October with my 2 young lads. Any info on locations, flies, tactics, anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Adam J. Marr

Adam: Check out Anglers Paradise in Turangi. John and Val  Milner have retired now, but the new owbners would help. Sporting Life in Turangi is THE place to get info and tackle. Graham has fished the Tongiriro all of his life.  ****  THE BEST **** guide in the Turangi area is Tim Mcarthy. His father was a guide (still is, I believe), but Tim is, in the opinion of MANY of the locals as well, THE BEST guide. Use his services for ONE DAY, and you will learn the pools and what catches fish. I spent 9 months fishing that river and Lake Taupo, and it’s a WONDERFUL experience. Don’t forget to bring your "winter woolies"; ice can form on the guides this time of year, but the fishing is SUPERB in June and August. After all, the NZ fish are transplanted Oregon WINTER STEELHEAD. Enjoy your trip. I wish I was going with you !!   Regards de Mikey !!

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Question:

Every year, hunter friends give me deer hides and tails. Is there anyone out there who has successfully dyed deer hair? I would like to end up with vibrant yellow, red, and green. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Response:

In regards to your question, I have been somwhat succesful with dyeing hair. I fyou have some of the under belly, (all white) thats the best to work with. You are able to dye over the natural, but it is not as bright and vivid. I use Rit-Dye and just follow the directions. I dont use any of the acid-dyes, simply because I think it is to complicated. I hope this was of some help. Mike

Response:

Every year, hunter friends give me deer hides and tails. Is there anyone out there who has successfully dyed deer hair? I would like to end up with vibrant yellow, red, and green. Any help would be greatly appreciated

There are no shortcuts.    Step 1. Degrease and clean the hair with Veniard’s degreaser.     Step 2. Bleach the hair with *commercial* hair bleach such as Basic White (the best I’ve used . . . must be purchased through a beauty salon). The over the counter bleaches will simply turn your hair a yellowish brown.    Step 3. Dye with your favorite die. I like Veniard’s for the most intense colors possible. For more eathy colors like greens, browns, straw, etc., Rit is fine.    Tight lines, Ralph Ralph Cutter, California School of Flyfishing. http://www.flyline.com

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Thanks Ralph. Good advice. As usual, there never is an acceptable shortcut to a proper end-product. Unfortunately, I am not at all familiar with the Veniard product line. Any clues as to where I might start looking? Your input much appreciated.

Response:

Every year, hunter friends give me deer hides and tails. Is there anyone out there who has successfully dyed deer hair? I would like to end up with vibrant yellow, red, and green. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Method 1: Home Brew I’ve dyed deer hair yellow, red, green and black using RIT brand LIQUID dyes bought at the grocery with results as good as you can buy, but I can’t call them vibrant. The belly hair takes better than the darker parts. Make sure the hide scrap is clean. I use dishwashing liquid. Mix the dye as strong as you like. Soak scraps in hot solution for about 20 minutes. Make sure to "set" the dye by adding white vinegar to the brew when the color is dark enough. Method 2: Totally Scientific Look to the 3 part series in ‘94 issues of American Angler for a dye-meister’s techniques. The may/june, july/august & september/october issues have William T. Roubal’s techniques for truly vibrant colors with modern dyes, natural dyes, etc. He is supposed to have a book out on the same subject. If you can’t locate back issues drop me e-mail and I’ll Xerox the series and mail it to you. Make big fun. mayfly

Response:

In regards to your question, I have been somwhat succesful with dyeing hair. I fyou have some of the under belly, (all white) thats the best to work with. You are able to dye over the natural, but it is not as bright and vivid. I use Rit-Dye and just follow the directions. I dont use any of the acid-dyes, simply because I think it is to complicated. I hope this was of some help. Mike

Mike, Take a look at A.K. Best’s "Dyeing and Bleaching Natural Fly Tying Materials"  It’s a great book and goes in depth into degreasing etc… Good Luck! Jack

Response:

Does A.K.’s book deal with rit dye or is is all acid dyes? I have read the articles in American Angler(except for the first and last one, cant find those issues) and it seems to complicated for me. I just want some good colors and I think I am abel to get them with the rit-dye method. -Mike

Hi Mike, In addition to Rit dye I also use Veniards. If you can find them their colors are much brighter and vibrant. Good Luck! Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (96 catalog)

Response:

Question:

I am looking into getting a new net. I want something durable and easy on the fish.  I only catch and release.  I have seen some long narrow nets that have shallow bags.  These were listed as C&R nets but I thought the lack of depth might make it difficult to control a large fish when removing the hook. I am not interested in looks, just reliability. any ideas/comments? Thanks John Lokanis

Response:

I am looking into getting a new net. I want something durable and easy on the fish.  I only catch and release.  I have seen some long narrow nets that have shallow bags.  These were listed as C&R nets but I thought the lack of depth might make it difficult to control a large fish when removing the hook. I am not interested in looks, just reliability.

Those "C&R" nets are certainly the rage these days. They’re design is the polar opposite of the typical trout net with a bag that’s so deep you could hide Jimmy Hoffa in it. Given the choice of a conventional net with a deep bag, a conventional net with a shallow bag (which I have), or the narrow C&R net, I’d definitely go the the C&R net. I hope to find the time n this lifetime to build one of those myself ;^) If it’s large fish you’re worried about, the purpose of the long narrow hoop is to avoid folding the fish on itself – which can harm the fish and make the release a bity futile. There is just enough depth to the net to contain the fish while you quickly remove your barbless hook, and in most cases a large fish will remain fairly docile once it’s layed out on the netting (I’ve found the smaller fish will be the more wriggly)… <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < Digital Equipment Corp.    Alpha Server Engineering  < <           "Read this and nobody gets hurt"           < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking into getting a new net. I want something durable and easy on the fish.  I only catch and release.  I have seen some long narrow nets that have shallow bags.  These were listed as C&R nets but I thought the lack of depth might make it difficult to control a large fish when removing the hook. I am not interested in looks, just reliability. any ideas/comments? Thanks John Lokanis

John, L.L. Bean sells one ($50) having the following dimensions:  Net — 16" long, 7" wide, 6 1/2" deep; 23" long overall. Orvis also sells the Rocky Mountain Stretch and Release ($69) with the following dimensions:  Net — 15" long, 10" wide, 18" deep; 22" long overall.  This is probably more your speed. Best regards, Jim Davis Philadelphia, PA Temple University

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking into getting a new net. I want something durable and easy on the fish.  I only catch and release.  I have seen some long narrow nets that have shallow bags.  These were listed as C&R nets but I thought the lack of depth might make it difficult to control a large fish when removing the hook. I am not interested in looks, just reliability. any ideas/comments? Thanks John Lokanis John, L.L. Bean sells one ($50) having the following dimensions:  Net — 16" long, 7" wide, 6 1/2" deep; 23" long overall. Orvis also sells the Rocky Mountain Stretch and Release ($69) with the following dimensions:  Net — 15" long, 10" wide, 18" deep; 22" long overall.  This is probably more your speed. Best regards, Jim Davis Philadelphia, PA Temple University

I just got an LL Bean C&R the other day.  Nice net, but just a little large.  But, I still like it anyway.  Good quality wood too.  Keep away from those cheap imported ones ($20 or less).  I got one and it was crap!  The screw eye in the handle stripped out the third time I grabbed for it.  I bought a good net basket and replaced the cheap one it came with, put a bigger screw eye in the handle, and gave it to my 7 year old for her first net (she’ll never know).  :-) Steve   A sunny day,      a box of midges,         and a wandering stream…   Man, this MUST be heaven!   <    Steve Kulpa    <<

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I am looking into getting a new net.

I’m courious why you need a net at all.  I have been fly fishing for five years and have caught every thing from redfish in the Gulf of Mexico to salmon in British Columbia and have never needed a net (except when fishing for Spring Salmon).  If a fish is played correctly, and handled with a little care your god given hands should be good enough.  Instead, why not check out some of the new gloves that are available for handling fish.  They help avoid damage to the fish’s layer of protective slime. Just my $.02

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I have a C&R net, and I have securely landed trout up to 22" in the mesh bag. If you are worried about losing fish when removing hooks, don’t be.   The finer mesh helps keep the protective slime on the fish and the shallower bag prevents the fish from "bending," a major cause of injury.

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I am looking into getting a new net. I want something durable and easy on the fish.  I only catch and release.  I have seen some long narrow nets that have shallow bags.  These were listed as C&R nets but I thought the lack of depth might make it difficult to control a large fish when removing the hook. I am not interested in looks, just reliability. any ideas/comments? Thanks

I’ve heard good things about Bridgeport Landing Net Company. They are in Portland OR. I don’t have a net, but will soon, and from wh= at I can tell they seem to be a good deal for the money. Michael Paine – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -John Lokanis

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Hi Michael, I’m struggling with my newsreader, so I’m not sure if this response will get posted to the newsgroup, but here goes.  If my previous one got posted, please ignore… I see some of the other responses suggested various models, but for me, I really advise using the hand. Although it takes some getting used to, rolling the trout on it’s back usually quites them down – or – holding them upright with gentle pressure applied just forward of the ventral fins will also.   Compared to the struggle of getting teeth, gills, and hook untangled from the net always seems more traumatic and time consuming to me.  Bag the net – they’re more bother than they are worth, and bringing to hand is more satisfying.  Besides, the trout I’m into won’t fit into any net small enough to carry

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I am looking into getting a new net. I want something durable and easy on the fish.  I only catch and release.  I have seen some long narrow nets that have shallow bags.  These were listed as C&R nets but I thought the lack of depth might make it difficult to control a large fish when removing the hook. I am not interested in looks, just reliability. any ideas/comments? Thanks

I just bought the Orvis Stretch and Release net. I’ve landed about a dozen fish over 17 inches with it, with no problems. It is without a doubt the best net I’ve ever owned, I would highly recommend it. Also take a look at their magnetic net attachment gizmo, I love that thing.

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Given the choice of a conventional net with a deep bag, a conventional net with a shallow bag (which I have), or the narrow C&R net, I’d definitely go the the C&R net. I hope to find the time n this lifetime to build one of those myself ;^)

I presume you will make one from a kit. Where can you buy a kit for a net? Richard Warren Raleigh, NC

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TO:   hi there      re: your  net inquiry…I know it’s the fashion to bash Orvis products these days, but I am going to go out on a limb here and recommend the Orvis "Catch and Release" net. I have had one two years and they are very easy on the fish. The mesh is soft and tightly woven. Yes they are shallow, but if you buy the large one, I doubt you will stick many trout that you cant handle with it. Three weeks ago I caught 4 trout between 20 and 21 inches on the Bighorn R. and had no problem handling the fish. A year ago I caught my largest fish ever on a fly..a bruiser brown 26"..in North Carolina of all places. I landed him with this same net and was able to control him and gently release him with no harm done. I am not an Orvis junkie, but this is the best net I’ve ever owned.  I fish alot, and in two years the net, including the mesh, is still in fine shape. My only hope is that someday soon you catch a trout that really is too big for this net to handle! Dale Owens

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Question:

(Fournier Thomas A.J.) writes: Am having trouble casting more than 15 feet without knots in line.

I’m sure you can cast further than that, but I get the point. Usually, excessive knotting is the result of overpowering the cast, thus allowing tailing loops to form. Spend an hour in an open space–not fishing. Watch your cast as you gradually work out line to different distances. I’ll bet you’ll find two things. First, your backcast is breaking down, causing the line to describe something more like a figure-8 than a pair of balanced loops. The remedy is to add a little more power at the start of the backcast and to move your forearm in an upwards direction as it sweeps past you. Second, I’ll bet your loops are *real* tight right now, even with the breakdown. Slow down and open the loop a bit. The line will accept more power (speed) and travel further with less effort. If your loops stand one foot tall or less, that’s too tight and wind knots are inevitable. Try the graduated target method for an afternoon. E-mail me if you need any info on how to set that up. Good luck! JL 8-Wt Editor

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(Fournier Thomas A.J.) writes: Am having trouble casting more than 15 feet without knots in line. Best advice I’ve received — don’t cast with your wrist.  Your wrist stays locked, and tight (almost touching) the pole, and your arm does the casting.  This forces you to move your arm quickly, from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock and back, to achieve the desired result.  If you do this, you’re casting with the strength of your arm and back and not just with your wrist — you get less tired and the line shoots farther and straighter. Ben

Ben is giving you excellent advice here. My local guru gave me a little casting clinic a few weeks ago and got me to break the bad habit of cocking my wrist on the backcast by tying my forearm to the reel seat – he used a peice of monofilament, but a heavy rubber band would work even better.  I can now lay out sixty or seventy-foot casts with a DT 3-wt., where before I couldn’t do much better than forty or fifty feet.  I found that not cock- ing my wrist has also kept the fly off the water (or in the bushes) on the backcast.  I’m convinced this helps in not spooking a pool.  So get a heavy rubber band or one of those spool keepers and practice a while fishing for lawn trout.  I hope it helps you as much as it has me!  Also, if you’re knotting your line it may because you’re starting your forecast too soon. Try laying off until the rod is "loaded", i.e., ’til you feel the weight of the backcast really pull on the rod tip. Cheers,

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(Fournier Thomas A.J.) writes: Am having trouble casting more than 15 feet without knots in line.

MISATTRIBUTION!!! I can cast 15 feet.  Honest.  No, really. Best advice I’ve received — don’t cast with your wrist.  Your wrist stays locked, and tight (almost touching) the pole, and your arm does the casting.  This forces you to move your arm quickly, from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock and back, to achieve the desired result.  If you do this, you’re casting with the strength of your arm and back and not just with your wrist — you get less tired and the line shoots farther and straighter. Ben

Good advice. Keep your stick on the ice. Thos.

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I have a Sage fishing pole and the line seems to be sticking in the bottom loop by the handle.  Is this unusual?

Not sure if you mean the little loop just above the handle cork/foam (which is parallel to the rod instead of perpendicular), but if your line is strung through it, that might be the problem. That bottom loop is just there to hook a fly to while you’re not fishing, to keep the fly from snagging on trees, shrubs, and ears of friends. Not sure if this was what you meant by bottom loop, but I thought I’d pipe up just in case. — Scott Ferguson                          My views are mine; what’s mine is mine Cray Computer Corporation       http://www.craycos.com/~ferguson/ferguson.html

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  I’ve been having some problems casting and I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.  I’m kinda new to fly fishing so any advice would greatly be appreciated. I’ve been having trouble casting more than about fifteen feet without getting knots around my fly or tiring myself out. I don’t understand what I am doing wrong. I’ve followed all the directions they gave me at the fishing school I went to .  I’m afraid it might be my fishing pole that might be the trouble.  I have a Sage fishing pole and the line seems to be sticking in the bottom loop by the handle.  Is this unusual? Does anyone else have this problem?  Is my

Ref. "bottom loop":  someone else has already pointed out fly line should be strung from reel to tip only through fly rod guides, not the hook keeper attached just above the handle. Ref. "fifteen feet": modern fly rods are rated to flex under the weight of the first 30 feet of a particular line.  If less line than 30 feet extends beyond the rod tip, it’s that much harder to get the rod to flex OK.  I.e. it’s (usually) harder to cast a fly 20 feet than 40 feet. Unmentioned common casting error is failure to hold the line in the left hand so that it does not move relative to the stripper guide.  While the rod is moving (false casting) the line length beyond the tip should be held constant by left-hand control.  If the line is travelling up and down the guides, i.e. getting longer and shorter, energy is being lost rather than being transferred from hand to rod to line beyond tip. —  |          Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Rd., Carlsbad         |  |        Springs, Ont., Canada K0A 1K0; tel: (613) 822-0734       |  |  "What I’ve always liked about science is its independence from |  |  authority"–Ontario Science Centre (name on file) 10 July 1981 |

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: Am having trouble casting more than 15 feet without knots in line. Best advice I’ve received — don’t cast with your wrist.  Your wrist stays  locked, and tight (almost touching) the pole, and your arm does the  casting.   This forces you to move your arm quickly, from 10 o’clock to 2  o’clock and back, to achieve the desired result.  If you do this, you’re  casting with the strength of your arm and back and not just with your   wrist — you get less tired and the line shoots farther and straighter. Ben

I would also suggest reading Mel Krieger’s book, "The Essence of Fly Casting" and watching his videos. Gary W. Godden

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(Fournier Thomas A.J.) writes: Am having trouble casting more than 15 feet without knots in line.

Best advice I’ve received — don’t cast with your wrist.  Your wrist stays locked, and tight (almost touching) the pole, and your arm does the casting.  This forces you to move your arm quickly, from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock and back, to achieve the desired result.  If you do this, you’re casting with the strength of your arm and back and not just with your wrist — you get less tired and the line shoots farther and straighter. Ben

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  I’ve been having some problems casting and I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.  I’m kinda new to fly fishing so any advice would greatly be appreciated. I’ve been having trouble casting more than about fifteen feet without getting knots around my fly or tiring myself out.

Try cleaning your fly line.  I find that if I practice on a lawn (especially a new mown lawn) gunk accumulates that impedes the smooth flow of the line through the guides.  When the line is sticky I have to work harder to shoot line.  When I work hard my timing goes off, I "punch" the line out, and I get wind knots. Keep your stick on the ice. Thos.

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  I’ve been having some problems casting and I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.  I’m kinda new to fly fishing so any advice would greatly be appreciated. I’ve been having trouble casting more than about fifteen feet without getting knots around my fly or tiring myself out. Unmentioned common casting error is failure to hold the line in the left hand so that it does not move relative to the stripper guide.  While the rod is moving (false casting) the line length beyond the tip should be held constant by left-hand control.  If the line is travelling up and down the guides, i.e. getting longer and shorter, energy is being lost rather than being transferred from hand to rod to line beyond tip.

FWIW: I had real problems keeping the energy going as well, until a kindly passer-by pointed out this last to me, and also taught me to "load the rod", as he called it. Just a little yank (4-6") on the line with my left hand just as I begin to go forward on the cast really helps me a lot. Also, I was not waiting long enough on the backcast for the line to go all the way out. I still count "one-mississippi-two", but as my .sig shows, I mostly plug & chug, so I don’t get a whole lotta practice. Anyway, without that guy I probably woulda chucked the whole thing, so thanks guy if you’re out there. (Course, I didn’t have a Sage, either)         /   V  V  V  V  V  V  V  /      King’s Computer Management, Inc.        <   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  (o   1633 NE Hwy 10      VVV              Y                 612-784-8042 (voice)                      VVV Heddon Lucky 13 leopard: the lure doesn’t catch fish, fish catch the lure. Opinions? I’m married. I am not allowed to have opinions.

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* Le 09-25-94, JENNIFER LEIGH BOUGHNER exprimait . ALL le propos suivant: JL   I’ve been having some problems casting and I wondered if anyone could JLgive me some advice.   <deleted stuff JLmight be my fishing pole that might be the trouble.  I have a Sage JLfishing pole and the line seems to be sticking in the bottom loop by the <deleted stuff JLfat part be hanging up?  We used orvis poles at my school and we didn’t JLhave any trouble at all. One thing you might want to verify is the flexibility of your Sage pole compare to the Orvis. If you have a soft pole (or slow action) compare to a stiff pole (or fast action) there might be the source of your problem. You have to wait more before changing direction in your cast, to give the line the time to extend completely and the pole to charge (whip action) to the max. If you do not wait enough, than your doing all the work and not the pole. Furthermore, I noticed myself that when I’m not doing it right there are nots in my line. I hope this help. Au plaisir de vous lire, Denis Lamy Trois-Rivieres (Quebec, Canada) ~~~ * VbReader 2.2 #67 * La pensee n’est helas souvent qu’un eclair dans la nuit.

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   I’ve been having some problems casting and I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.  I’m kinda new to fly fishing so any advice would greatly be appreciated. I’ve been having trouble casting more than about fifteen feet without getting knots around my fly or tiring myself out. I don’t understand what I am doing wrong. I’ve followed all the directions they gave me at the fishing school I went to .  I’m afraid it might be my fishing pole that might be the trouble.  I have a Sage fishing pole and the line seems to be sticking in the bottom loop by the handle.  Is this unusual? Does anyone else have this problem?  Is my line too big? I have the line with the triangle in the front. Could the fat part be hanging up?  We used orvis poles at my school and we didn’t have any trouble at all. Thanks for your help, Jennifer    " In our family there wasn’t a clear line between religion and fly fishing.."                 …Norman Mclean

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I’ve been having some problems casting and I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.

It sounds like you’re trying to cast too fast. One of the main reasons for "wind knots" is too quick a motion through the cast. The loop gets too tight, resulting in tailing loops, wind knots and no distance. A very helpful exercise, particularly when getting used to a new rod, is to set out a couple of markers at ten-foot intervals. Start with the ten-foot mark and lay down just enough line to reach it. Pull the line off the reel and manually lay it on the ground between you and the mar if you have to. Then, without pulling any line back through the guides, simply pick the line up with the rod, swing it behind you and lay it back down onto the ten-foot mark as gently as possible. Do this as many times as it takes until you’re comfortable and consistent. Then do the same with the 20-foot mark. You should be able to pick up 25 to 30 feet of line off grass without having to do more than swing the rod back and forth. This exercise will teach you the rythm of your rod and your own body. Once you’ve found those, casting further should be easy. Personally, I floundered around for months before I tried this exercise. Once I did, casting problems get much less severe. It’s no panacea, but I’ve tried it with other novices and all have found that it helped. Good luck! JL 8-Wt Editor LPM Editor

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