Question:

Things seem to have changed from the good ‘ol ‘357′ fishing days …… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The only trouble I had was  with a fly fisherman who was alone in  a 3-4 person  spot and thought I was rude  moving into it.

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<snip Choc fishing maggots for carp in Japan. Excellent. Most Excellent. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

Maggots are great to fish on a flyrod. They are not easily cast off the hook, and are great fishcatchers. Good, reliable pattern for me. Herman

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Choc fishing maggots for carp in Japan. Excellent. Most Excellent.

And ethical. — Charlie…

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I ve been up at  Pulaski a couple  days  a week during Oct., generally at the Baseball field. The only trouble I had was  with a fly fisherman who was alone in  a 3-4 person  spot and thought I was rude  moving into it.

I fished the baseball field area many years ago (pre-ffing), and IIRC, it’s a madhouse of shoulder to shoulder spin fishermen.   Anybody who’d seriously attempt to fly fish there is crazier that I am.  :-) Joe F.

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……I think back on how insuffereable I must have been to my trolling and casting buddies when I went through my 20 years of catch and release flyfishing purist horseshit…..

Might be worthwhile to approach this from a slightly different angle. Ever stop to think that maybe you are simply insufferable……that it might not have anything to do with whatever dim glimmerings of a philosophy are bumping around in your skull at any given moment, or the way you fish? Something to think about anyway. Wolfgang

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 The "Unified Stream Theory"  has eluded the grasp of every philosopher  that has tried to fabricate it so far. — Don Thompson Another Thompson Scion

LOL !!!  MT

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Well…most flyfishermen I’ve met really do think that they are superior No, not the back cast  but the latter

Before I fly fished and in the first couple of years after I started, most fly fishermen that I encountered did fit that mold.  I’ve met plenty however who are not like that at all.  My favorite moment from the shad trip this past June happened while standing in the river with Bill Kiene. He was talking in that particular Kiene way – I don’t know if he is trying to be funny but for some reason you want to smile or even start laughing when he’s saying stuff.  He was admiring the colors of the sunset when he directed my attention to a bait fisherman on far bank.  I’ll paraphrase what he said but it went something along the lines of: that guy might be soaking stinkbait for catfish but I bet he loves the outdoors and this river as much as we do.  So we aren’t that different from him.  And that’s a good thing. Mu

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well…most flyfishermen I’ve met really do think that they are superior No, not the back cast  but the latter Before I fly fished and in the first couple of years after I started, most fly fishermen that I encountered did fit that mold.  I’ve met plenty however who are not like that at all.  My favorite moment from the shad trip this past June happened while standing in the river with Bill Kiene. He was talking in that particular Kiene way – I don’t know if he is trying to be funny but for some reason you want to smile or even start laughing when he’s saying stuff.  He was admiring the colors of the sunset when he directed my attention to a bait fisherman on far bank.  I’ll paraphrase what he said but it went something along the lines of: that guy might be soaking stinkbait for catfish but I bet he loves the outdoors and this river as much as we do.  So we aren’t that different from him.  And that’s a good thing.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about Bill Keine. I’d like to fish with him sometime. Willi

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I’ve heard nothing but good things about Bill Keine…..

Sorry.  Been busy.  Give me a couple of days. Wolfgang

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Their comment was they  prefer to stay away from fly fisherman. I’m assuming you mean as so to not be hooked on a wayward backcast ? An interesting perspective…… Well…most flyfishermen I’ve met really do think that they are superior because they flyfish. This is unbelievably sickening to the average blue collar fishermen.  I think back on how insuffereable I must have been to my trolling and casting buddies when I went through my 20 years of catch and release flyfishing purist horseshit. I owe them for sticking with me.

No, not the back cast  but the latter. I guess each type of fishing has   it s own ethos, maybe  somewhere out there  theyll be a unifying   principals of  fishing  that someone will discover that works for everything.  MT

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No, not the back cast  but the latter. I guess each type of fishing has it s own ethos, maybe  somewhere out there  theyll be a unifying principals of  fishing  that someone will discover that works for everything.

That’s the funny thing. There is a common core, in fishing probably more than in any other human endeavour. If you read the english fishing publication "The Waterlog" it becomes immediately apparent where deep love and lore of fishing exists and where one can find these elusive unifying principals. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Their comment was they  prefer to stay away from fly fisherman. I’m assuming you mean as so to not be hooked on a wayward backcast ? An interesting perspective…… Well…most flyfishermen I’ve met really do think that they are superior because they flyfish. This is unbelievably sickening to the average blue collar fishermen.  I think back on how insuffereable I must have been to my trolling and casting buddies when I went through my 20 years of catch and release flyfishing purist horseshit. I owe them for sticking with me. No, not the back cast  but the latter. I guess each type of fishing has it s own ethos, maybe  somewhere out there  theyll be a unifying principals of  fishing  that someone will discover that works for everything.

 The "Unified Stream Theory"  has eluded the grasp of every philosopher that has tried to fabricate it so far. — Don Thompson Another Thompson Scion

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It’s like an addiction – you know it isn’t good for you, you know the neighbourhood isn’t the best, you know that nothing much good comes of it, but you go anyway.  At least once a year, I need my salmon fix. Those that know the Great Lakes tributary salmon hunt, find superlatives are non-existant and compliments stick south of the navel, yet it’s amazing how many of us like to get down and grubby. The Burnhamthorpe parking lot was a sight to be seen.  Not a spot anywhere, with the truly desperate parking on any semi-level ground not occupied by an immoveable object.  The new 2002 fishing car got broken-in as I scraped its belly on a half-buried concrete curb in an effort to secure the last stretch of unmuddied grass.  Truck habits are obviously hard to break.  Two weeks ago it would’ve been, "What curb?" My Scott SAS two-hander had only been out a couple of times and still didn’t have a fish to it’s credit – neither did the reel (in my possession.)  So despite this being highly unsuitable conditions for a two-hander, I took it anyway.  The long and the short of it – fair hooked three, landed one.   Though not Alaska combat conditions, one does fish cheek-by-jowl. There’s something to be said for shooting the shit with a half dozen or more anglers with earshot – sharing a laugh or helping out with another’s fish, spotting a salmon for someone, or giving ground when your offering has been rejected and letting someone else have a go. More than just fishing, given proximity to a couple of pleasant personalities, it turns into a little social event.  There is the odd dickhead but it isn’t much of a challenge in refusing to let the mood be spoiled. Probably take the bro-in-law and Scott out next Sunday morning for one last try. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

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Though not Alaska combat conditions, one does fish cheek-by-jowl. There’s something to be said for shooting the shit with a half dozen or more anglers with earshot – sharing a laugh or helping out with another’s fish, spotting a salmon for someone, or giving ground when your offering has been rejected and letting someone else have a go. More than just fishing, given proximity to a couple of pleasant personalities, it turns into a little social event.  There is the odd dickhead but it isn’t much of a challenge in refusing to let the mood be spoiled.

…this is so, well… YOU!  one of the reasons your presence at the roff gatherings is such a welcoming thing. well said… jeff (a sow’s ear)

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There’s something to be said for shooting the shit with a half dozen or more anglers with earshot – sharing a laugh or helping out with another’s fish, spotting a salmon for someone, or giving ground when your offering has been rejected and letting someone else have a go. More than just fishing, given proximity to a couple of pleasant personalities, it turns into a little social event.  There is the odd dickhead but it isn’t much of a challenge in refusing to let the mood be spoiled.

That’s a good description of the silver lining to the crowds on the Salmon River in Pulaski.   Yeah, it can be a bit testy at times, but now and then you find yourself, as much through luck as anything else, standing amongst a crowd of genuinely good-natured fellows out to have as much fun as you.   In some respects, there’s a parallel to ROFF in these situations.   A group of strangers shout, joke, fish, and generally have a good time in each other’s company; and the occasional dickhead doesn’t ruin the fun.   Solitude on a peaceful stream is still great, but there *is* something to be said for the group mayhem during these runs. Joe F. (ten more days ’til my turn.)

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That’s a good description of the silver lining to the crowds on the Salmon River in Pulaski.   Yeah, it can be a bit testy at times, but now and then you find yourself, as much through luck as anything else, standing amongst a crowd of genuinely good-natured fellows out to have as much fun as you.  

That sounds a lot like shad fishing on the American River in Sacramento. Now if only the shad would cooperate … — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

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 I ve been up at  Pulaski a couple  days  a week during Oct., generally at the Baseball field. I ve found the  other fisherman up there to be a great  bunch of folks, willing to  get out of your way when a  hooked salmon  goes plunging thru the spots they re fishing, helping with   landing and interesting to talk to. The only trouble I had was  with a fly fisherman who was alone in  a 3-4 person  spot and thought I was rude  moving into it. As I was only there to  help a friend get started  salmon fishing I soon left    once he   got the hang  it.  I mentioned this encounter to some of the regulars   on the other bank. Their comment was they  prefer to stay away from fly fisherman. An interesting perspective……  MT

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Their comment was they  prefer to stay away from fly fisherman.

I’m assuming you mean as so to not be hooked on a wayward backcast ? An interesting perspective……

Well…most flyfishermen I’ve met really do think that they are superior because they flyfish. This is unbelievably sickening to the average blue collar fishermen.  I think back on how insuffereable I must have been to my trolling and casting buddies when I went through my 20 years of catch and release flyfishing purist horseshit. I owe them for sticking with me. Choc fishing maggots for carp in Japan. Excellent. Most Excellent. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

Took my son Tom, up NW of Jackman, Me. for a couple of nights of camping and fishing. We drove up Friday, the weather threatening some rain so I nipped into WallyWorld and got him a cheapie rainsuit, hopefully guaranteeing that it wouldn’t rain. On the way in we went down to the boat launch on Holeb pond, one of two spots where people put in for the "bow trip". The campsite was mobbed, a full troop of scouts from Connecticut were preparing to launch the bow trip the next day and there was a full load of other campers. We then drove up to Turner pond, a small pond with special regs (arts only, 2 fish with a slot limit) and found that campsite deserted so we made camp. After a tasty steak we took the canoe out on the pond and to my surprise there were some hex’s hatching so I rigged up and moved down the left shore where I spotted some fish rising. I managed to miss a half dozen hits and the hatch died off so we made for the tent. The next morning after breakfast we went out and I hit the sinking line hard, fishing streamers and missed a couple of feeble hits. After lunch I let Tom take the canoe out by himself, a first for him, and he went out to a big rock and managed to get on the rock without dumping himself in the pond. He found a plaque that was somewhat sobering, commerating two fishermen who drowned in 1976 while fishing their "favorite pond". Later in the day a local came by and shared what he knew about it, the two gentlemen, one in his 70’s and one in his 50’s, a father and son, got caught on the pond in a storm and their canoe capsized, they didn’t make it to shore. Tom wanted to try flyfishing so I spent an hour or so with him in the road working on his cast. After dinner we went back out and he managed a couple of brookies, one about 6" and one about 10" on the dry fly. He was very happy. I managed one about 12" and again the hatch died off so we made to bed. This morning the wind was high, it was drizzling and nasty hot and humid, the mosquitoes were well fed, so we decided to cut the trip short by a day and come home. He was ready and to be fair so was I. Turner pond, for the record, is a pretty little pond about 18 miles out of Jackman. The main concentration of fish seemed to be on the north shore, where I could hear a fast running brook, but never managed to see where it was dumping into the pond. I suspect the fish population isn’t what it should be, or it was just a poor weekend for fishing as there were not that many fish showing, despite the hex hatch. I did manage to foul hook a 4" rainbow smelt on my #6 dry fly, a new accomplishment in setting records for the smallest fish on a trip The kick for me in this trip was Tom’s first trout/fish on a flyrod.  Tom had tried flyfishing once before but refused to practice casting, so the results were predictable, he got skunked and discouraged. The kick for Tom this time was outfishing his dad, and on a fly rod to boot ( he was so smug). In another 10-15 years I expect he’ll be in here sharing his (hopefully improved) puns and sharply developing sense of humor. Another flyfisherman has been introduced to the ranks. Flyfish — dave’s homepage madness http://www.ctel.net/~brooktrout flyfishing in Maine and more

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Great report, Dave.  I’ve been thinking about making an overnighter up that direction sometime in the next week or so.  May even stop by the Rapid.  How are water levels in the rivers?  Water temps? Dave L.

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appreciated.  Indian Joe

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appreciated. Indian Joe

You should be able to forward the message, is a list isn’t it? Just forward the roff message to the address you use to post to the list. — Charlie…

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The Kennebec north of Madison is running very low, except the streach near the forks where the levels are dictated by the rafting companies. I stopped in a small fly shop near Solon on the way back and he said that the river is fishing well, but the hatches are poor, nymphs seem to be the ticket. He also said the water temp is running 65-68 in the Kennebec. I’m told the kennebec in Waterville is so low that you have to carry your boat across the sand bar, I’ve never seen it that low. Also Waterville is "off" as far as fishing, the trout must be sulking and the stripers went back down the river. Fly

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Great report, Dave.  I’ve been thinking about making an overnighter up that direction sometime in the next week or so.  May even stop by the Rapid. How are water levels in the rivers?  Water temps? Dave L.

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Question:

I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. Dustin

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Hang around for a while. Participate, argue, share ideas, get out on a limb, be an asshole, get huffy, find out you don’t know it all, etc.. The fairly normal way people get to know something of one another outside of family. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. Dustin

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I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. Dustin

        because roff is darwinian. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. Dustin         because roff is darwinian. wayno

______  Roffians are all psychologists who have wives that can’t keep secrets?

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        because roff is darwinian. wayno

actually wayno… it’s dahlwhinnian –waldo — Ezflyfish.com                 Blue Ridge Book Gallery Quality Gear & Service        Used & Out-of-Print Books http://www.ezflyfish.com      http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

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I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious.

It’s just a matter of time.   There are quite a few "regulars" who post here frequently.   After reading a few thousand posts, you get a pretty good feel for who is intelligent, cultured, experienced, helpful or otherwise.   In reading the discussions, you’ll see who puts forth substantial, well-reasoned arguments and who is just a rectum.   Throughout the course of these exchanges over a wide variety of topics, you also pick up some personal information such as where we live, who is married, what we like to eat (and drink, especially drink), and what we drive.   A while back, there was even a "Who Am I" thread where many ng members abandoned their cyber anonymity and offered a short bio. The friendships (and disagreements) which have grown here at our individual keyboards also led to a ROFF conclave in May of this year where many heretofore unaquainted ROFFians actually met on the streams of North Carolina for a week of fishing, drinking, male bonding, and a few other things I’m not sure about.   Those fortunate few who attended now have faces to match the screen names and forged new friendships and respect.   (I regret I was not among them.) There’s a fine bunch of fellows here; and even if I don’t know what they look like, I’d be pleased to wet a line or quench my thirst with any of ‘em. Joe Fleischman Bel Air, MD (See, you learned something about me.)

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I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. It’s just a matter of time.   There are quite a few "regulars" who post here frequently.   After reading a few thousand posts, you get a pretty good

feel     (meaningful response snipped) Joe Fleischman Bel Air, MD (See, you learned something about me.)

    i didn’t know you were a doctor from los angeles! wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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   i didn’t know you were a doctor from los angeles!

LOL.   For a while, I was often mistaken for a TV doctor in Alaska. Joe

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Or you could go to the clave and meet face to face. Ernie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hang around for a while. Participate, argue, share ideas, get out on a limb, be an asshole, get huffy, find out you don’t know it all, etc.. The fairly normal way people get to know something of one another outside of family. Dave I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. Dustin

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We have the same interest. Fly Fishing and Fly Tying. Thus , we know each other. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been reading many of the long threads on this newgroup and I have just one question: How do so many of you know each other so well?? Just curious. Dustin

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yea, Big Dale, but what about the parties you get to and the controlled substances that keep coming your way.  There is an upside, you know.  Except, of course, at the Almond Boat Dock, where it’s your soul they want to save. Mark Faulkner

Mark, We all missed you at the wed, thur, and fri eve prayer meetins’. Heard tell you were at that house of sin, that den of depravity, that fuliginous pavillion on the isthmus of time, little waynos   waldo It could be worse Joe…I am still mistaken for Jerry Garcia, which realy bothers me because I thought he was STILL DEAD!!!!! Big Dale

– Ezflyfish.com                 Blue Ridge Book Gallery Quality Gear & Service        Used & Out-of-Print Books http://www.ezflyfish.com      http://www.abebooks.com/home/BLUEBOOKS P.O. Box 5112  Banner Elk, NC 28604 (828)963-5001

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Big Dale stroked. "It could be worse Joe…I am still mistaken for Jerry Garcia" Long silence. Fire on the mountain. I’ll keep that in my head today as the Western Slope is ablaze and the USFS helicopters fill the air. No doubt of some powerful orange sunsets this evening. Your pal, — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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substances that keep coming your way.  

Sorry to disappoint you Mark,but I gave up the controlled substances over 25 years ago. I was always more into the wacky weed way back in my hippie days. I still enjoy the parties, but depend mostly on import beers, single malts, and sucking on a big bottle of gin.  On another subject it seems to me that the guy that got out of rehab and took up flyfishing and fly tying and reported that it was only slightly more expensive than drugs was still extremely naive. Big Dale

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We have the same interest. Fly Fishing and Fly Tying. Thus , we know each other. Paul

        ok, asadi, that "paul" disguise don’t fool ol’ wayno… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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yea, Big Dale, but what about the parties you get to and the controlled substances that keep coming your way.  There is an upside, you know.  Except, of course, at the Almond Boat Dock, where it’s your soul they want to save. Mark Faulkner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It could be worse Joe…I am still mistaken for Jerry Garcia, which realy bothers me because I thought he was STILL DEAD!!!!! Big Dale

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It could be worse Joe…I am still mistaken for Jerry Garcia, which realy bothers me because I thought he was STILL DEAD!!!!! Big Dale

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Question:

Tom , My friend your singing to The Choir .   Harry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :  #17-Outlaw all types of fishing in any of the river so reclamied. : After all it’s about the fish …right? You bet, Harry. I’m with you on that one. Rather than proposing to make it pure C+R, why not have a 1-weekend season? Hunting seems to work rather well like that. If the fish can handle pure C+R, they can handle some harvest. Why bias the policy against the vast majority of fishermen who like to keep some fish? : : 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their : wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund : the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our : taxes. Should this be taken as "I’m not willing to pay for it myself"? Of course, sending a bill doesn’t mean you actually collect money. Do you *really* think we’d reap a "windfall"? No, if they have the money, rather than pay us, they’d keep that money and raise their own army. Then we’d be back to square one. It is in our own interest for these nations to not keep large standing armies. That’s what gives us the title "superpower". If a country had the money to build a strong military, it probably would not need US aid to protect itself from other nations. For example, England would not need US intervention in the foreseeable future, but Kosovo will. Meanwhile, the US spent over a billion dollars on Kosovo and we never see that money again. The US will end up fighting over there again without compensation because of Milosevic or some other tyrant and we will spend billions of dollars to try to solve a problem that will never be solved without 50 or more years of commitment. As far as I am concerned, the US environmental problems are more important than Kosovo. Congress whines "a Billion dollars has been spent on the salmon in the last 20 years….", but is a happy camper whenever we blow billions of dollars in a few weeks to try to rectify a problem that has existed for 1000’s of years in the false hope that we can make things better in a month of bombing when the Serbs and Kosovars have been intolerant of each other for hundreds, if not thousands of years. A few years of peacekeeping will not make things better and the US will spend more on Kosovo, a place more than 3000 miles away from America than it will on fixing our environmental problems in the next few years. When was Kosovo a part of the US? Is it the 51st state? It is wrong for the government to spend more money on Kosovo than it does for many states. I bet the people of Wyoming are pleased that the citizens of Kosovo get more Wyoming taxpayer dollars than the people of Wyoming. If Kosovo wants our help, they better pay their share of the taxes. Whenever Americans need improvements or protection, Americans pay their government for those services. Why should another nation who uses our Governement to solve their problems be absolved from paying for the services that they used? Anyways, the *real* question is how much are *you* willing to have *your* taxes increase to fund all of your points?  If you are not willing to pay for it yourself, then it’s all just hot air. no, I am willing to pay my taxes even with an increase, but the government should be efficient with the money it collects from taxpayers. It is not right for the government to spend billions of dollars on the problems of other nations while we have so many problems at home to solve. If the government is going to spend money on other nations, the government should demand payment for services rendered. I pay to fish by buying a license and that money is used to manage fisheries. My payment pays for the management services provided by my state. Why should the military be any different? If a country has a problem that has to be resolved by the military and they ask for our help, that US military aid should be paid for by the country that is asking for our help. What’s wrong with paying for services delivered? It’s ridiculous to let our tax dollars be spent without demanding compensation for what has been done. Spend the money on the salmon/steelhead, forests, waterways, educational system, infrastructure and technology instead of throwing money into a fire. Tom JonCook.

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Are there any other rivers in the lower 48 states that a summer Steelhead will take a fly on the surface?   I’ve had many days of ten fish on the Deschutes river in Oregon skating fly’s on the surface for Steelhead.  Wonder why they take a fly on the surface on the Deschutes, and not on other rivers? — Sharp Hooks, Pat Holdzit Fishing Products Inc. http://www.holdzit.com Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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At the right time and place they’ll take a dry on any water.

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I believe wild fish come to the surface more readily than planted fish. I know that Bill McMillan swears by surface fishing for steal head in his book Dry Line Fishing For Pacific Steelhead.

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I believe wild fish come to the surface more readily than planted fish. I know that Bill McMillan swears by surface fishing for steal head in his book Dry Line Fishing For Pacific Steelhead.

Hi All, There are two ways to dry fly fish for steelhead. Waking or skating dry flies and dead drifting dry flies. We met an old English angler on the Bulkley River in B.C. who said that the only tasteful way was to dead drift dries. I think wild fish are preferable. Sun off the water and 60 degree water temperater also can help. You are looking for water that is less than 10 feet deep, moving at a medium speed and with a pretty smooth surface. Maybe late September, early October? There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found.

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There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found.

Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam)

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says… There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever?

Excessive commercial fishing pressure, improperly designed dams, water pollution, destruction of habitat and improperly managed sport fisheries….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text — something bogus to avoid spam)

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If you catch enough steelhead, the nonsense about a difference between hatchery and wild fish becomes obvious.  I have always found steelhead come up for dries best in the tail of a pool, usually on a side.  Probably just less water overhead and that they usually are found in this area at the start and end of the day which probably means they have not been disturbed for some time.  If you spot a fish in such a location, a little skate when the fly is about 2 foot above the fish’s lie helps. Fred – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe wild fish come to the surface more readily than planted fish. I know that Bill McMillan swears by surface fishing for steal head in his book Dry Line Fishing For Pacific Steelhead.

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There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam)

I started fishing steelhead in the 60s in northern California. It was still pretty good fishing then, but the older guys really saw it in it’s ‘hay days’. I have fished with an old group of anglers that fished for them heavily from the end of W W II till just recently. Mostly, they are too old to wade and secondly in the last 10 years they have lost interest. We still have a pretty strong younger group that travel up and down the northwest coast of North America. I have listened to them tell the stories of fishing 50 years ago on the great un-damed rivers of North America. The mighty Russian, Eel, Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua and on up through Oregon, Washington and the great rivers of British Columbia. It is a crime what we let happen to our great rivers. We mostly wipped out the wild steelhead in the 1900s. Bad logging, too many dams, de-watering and agriculture have lead to the loss of habitate for the might ‘Iron Head’. Commercial netting up north in BC is to blame also. If they could just start working on some of the good rivers that are left we could save some wild steelhead stocks. I have been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Take a few rivers and turn them back to wild rivers with no hatchery fish. Close them for 10 years and build back up a good population. No logging on the drainage. No dams. No more roads. Steelhead should all be wild and all be catch and release. If you have caught wild steelhead on a fly rod with a floating line and dry or unweighted steelhead fly, you can understand this kind of thinking. Hell, if you caught a wild steelhead on any kind of tackle you would understand. Rather than complain all the time, we should try to save what is left.

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says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam) I started fishing steelhead in the 60s in northern California. It was still pretty good fishing then, but the older guys really saw it in it’s ‘hay days’. I have fished with an old group of anglers that fished for them heavily from the end of W W II till just recently. Mostly, they are too old to wade and secondly in the last 10 years they have lost interest. We still have a pretty strong younger group that travel up and down the northwest coast of North America. I have listened to them tell the stories of fishing 50 years ago on the great un-damed rivers of North America. The mighty Russian, Eel, Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua and on up through Oregon, Washington and the great rivers of British Columbia. It is a crime what we let happen to our great rivers. We mostly wipped out the wild steelhead in the 1900s. Bad logging, too many dams, de-watering and agriculture have lead to the loss of habitate for the might ‘Iron Head’. Commercial netting up north in BC is to blame also. If they could just start working on some of the good rivers that are left we could save some wild steelhead stocks. I have been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Take a few rivers and turn them back to wild rivers with no hatchery fish. Close them for 10 years and build back up a good population. No logging on the drainage. No dams. No more roads. Steelhead should all be wild and all be catch and release. If you have caught wild steelhead on a fly rod with a floating line and dry or unweighted steelhead fly, you can understand this kind of thinking. Hell, if you caught a wild steelhead on any kind of tackle you would understand. Rather than complain all the time, we should try to save what is left.

I think the steelhead and salmon could come back to historic proportions if the following things were done: 1.) All remaining undammed rivers are allowed to flow freely for eternity. 2.) Cities built near spawning habitat should be forced stop all development     near the spawning habitat. 3.) Ban commercial fishing for coldwater fish in the sea or freshwater. Catch     and Release only for wild stocks and certain hatchery stocks should be     maintained to create fisheries for the average angler while saving the     wild fish with prudent management. Seafood farming (the planting and     raising of seafood)would be implemented instead of commercial fishing. 4.) Train and pay former commercial fishermen to help study and protect the         fish stocks.     5.) Create tree farms for necessary lumber and ban logging in pristine         forests. Hire loggers to log the tree farms and use their expertise to             assist in the reclaimation of logged forests. Train loggers to fight         forest fires, maintain national parks and use their forestry skills             /training to help wilderness areas. 6.) retrofit all amenable dams with fish ladders to allow fish migration. 7.) breach all dams that cannot be retrofitted to help the salmon/steelhead         migrations. 8.) All hatchery plantings be restricted to planting native river stocks only     and augmenting the hatchery stock by a yearly infusion of native river.     stocks. 9.) Ban all logging, development and restrict access in sensitive areas. 10.) Reward organizations and industrial firms by giving huge tax breaks to companies that actively seek to help the environment by complying with the environmental regulations. 11.) Punish (15,000% tax rate)all firms that show wanton disregard for the environment by heavy taxation. 12.) Punish firms that try to leave the US in effort to circumvent the rules with a 20,000% tax rate. 13.) Punish (100,000% tax rate) rogue firms that try to lay off workers to offset financial punishments due to environmental callousness and ineptitude. 14.) after implementation of rules 10-13, all firms will be in compliance as it will be unprofitable to intentionally pollute. 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our taxes. 16.) With the 15 rules above, the salmon, steelhead and other wild stocks would be saved, fisheries for the average angler would exist, the environment would be cleaner, the old growth forest would remain, wars would cease, loggers would still be employed, development would be carefully controlled, taxes would be lower, the military would be superpowerful/well funded and we would have enough money to enhance America’s future and resolve many of our problems.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :  #17-Outlaw all types of fishing in any of the river so reclamied. : After all it’s about the fish …right? You bet, Harry. I’m with you on that one. Rather than proposing to make it pure C+R, why not have a 1-weekend season? Hunting seems to work rather well like that. If the fish can handle pure C+R, they can handle some harvest. Why bias the policy against the vast majority of fishermen who like to keep some fish? : : 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their : wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund : the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our : taxes. Should this be taken as "I’m not willing to pay for it myself"? Of course, sending a bill doesn’t mean you actually collect money. Do you *really* think we’d reap a "windfall"? No, if they have the money, rather than pay us, they’d keep that money and raise their own army. Then we’d be back to square one. It is in our own interest for these nations to not keep large standing armies. That’s what gives us the title "superpower".

If a country had the money to build a strong military, it probably would not need US aid to protect itself from other nations. For example, England would not need US intervention in the foreseeable future, but Kosovo will. Meanwhile, the US spent over a billion dollars on Kosovo and we never see that money again. The US will end up fighting over there again without compensation because of Milosevic or some other tyrant and we will spend billions of dollars to try to solve a problem that will never be solved without 50 or more years of commitment. As far as I am concerned, the US environmental problems are more important than Kosovo. Congress whines "a Billion dollars has been spent on the salmon in the last 20 years….", but is a happy camper whenever we blow billions of dollars in a few weeks to try to rectify a problem that has existed for 1000’s of years in the false hope that we can make things better in a month of bombing when the Serbs and Kosovars have been intolerant of each other for hundreds, if not thousands of years. A few years of peacekeeping will not make things better and the US will spend more on Kosovo, a place more than 3000 miles away from America than it will on fixing our environmental problems in the next few years. When was Kosovo a part of the US? Is it the 51st state? It is wrong for the government to spend more money on Kosovo than it does for many states. I bet the people of Wyoming are pleased that the citizens of Kosovo get more Wyoming taxpayer dollars than the people of Wyoming. If Kosovo wants our help, they better pay their share of the taxes. Whenever Americans need improvements or protection, Americans pay their government for those services. Why should another nation who uses our Governement to solve their problems be absolved from paying for the services that they used? Anyways, the *real* question is how much are *you* willing to have *your* taxes increase to fund all of your points?  If you are not willing to pay for it yourself, then it’s all just hot air.

no, I am willing to pay my taxes even with an increase, but the government should be efficient with the money it collects from taxpayers. It is not right for the government to spend billions of dollars on the problems of other nations while we have so many problems at home to solve. If the government is going to spend money on other nations, the government should demand payment for services rendered. I pay to fish by buying a license and that money is used to manage fisheries. My payment pays for the management services provided by my state. Why should the military be any different? If a country has a problem that has to be resolved by the military and they ask for our help, that US military aid should be paid for by the country that is asking for our help. What’s wrong with paying for services delivered? It’s ridiculous to let our tax dollars be spent without demanding compensation for what has been done. Spend the money on the salmon/steelhead, forests, waterways, educational system, infrastructure and technology instead of throwing money into a fire. Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -JonCook.

Response:

 #17-Outlaw all types of fishing in any of the river so reclamied. After all it’s about the fish …right? HM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… There are less Steelhead than ever, but if you want to work hard enough for them, they can still be found. Why do you think that is, Bill? I mean, why are there fewer steelhead than ever? — something bogus to avoid spam) I started fishing steelhead in the 60s in northern California. It was still pretty good fishing then, but the older guys really saw it in it’s ‘hay days’. I have fished with an old group of anglers that fished for them heavily from the end of W W II till just recently. Mostly, they are too old to wade and secondly in the last 10 years they have lost interest. We still have a pretty strong younger group that travel up and down the northwest coast of North America. I have listened to them tell the stories of fishing 50 years ago on the great un-damed rivers of North America. The mighty Russian, Eel, Trinity, Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua and on up through Oregon, Washington and the great rivers of British Columbia. It is a crime what we let happen to our great rivers. We mostly wipped out the wild steelhead in the 1900s. Bad logging, too many dams, de-watering and agriculture have lead to the loss of habitate for the might ‘Iron Head’. Commercial netting up north in BC is to blame also. If they could just start working on some of the good rivers that are left we could save some wild steelhead stocks. I have been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Take a few rivers and turn them back to wild rivers with no hatchery fish. Close them for 10 years and build back up a good population. No logging on the drainage. No dams. No more roads. Steelhead should all be wild and all be catch and release. If you have caught wild steelhead on a fly rod with a floating line and dry or unweighted steelhead fly, you can understand this kind of thinking. Hell, if you caught a wild steelhead on any kind of tackle you would understand. Rather than complain all the time, we should try to save what is left. I think the steelhead and salmon could come back to historic proportions if the following things were done: 1.) All remaining undammed rivers are allowed to flow freely for eternity. 2.) Cities built near spawning habitat should be forced stop all development    near the spawning habitat. 3.) Ban commercial fishing for coldwater fish in the sea or freshwater. Catch    and Release only for wild stocks and certain hatchery stocks should be    maintained to create fisheries for the average angler while saving the    wild fish with prudent management. Seafood farming (the planting and    raising of seafood)would be implemented instead of commercial fishing. 4.) Train and pay former commercial fishermen to help study and protect the         fish stocks.         5.) Create tree farms for necessary lumber and ban logging in pristine         forests. Hire loggers to log the tree farms and use their expertise to             assist in the reclaimation of logged forests. Train loggers to fight         forest fires, maintain national parks and use their forestry skills             /training to help wilderness areas. 6.) retrofit all amenable dams with fish ladders to allow fish migration. 7.) breach all dams that cannot be retrofitted to help the salmon/steelhead         migrations. 8.) All hatchery plantings be restricted to planting native river stocks only     and augmenting the hatchery stock by a yearly infusion of native river.    stocks. 9.) Ban all logging, development and restrict access in sensitive areas. 10.) Reward organizations and industrial firms by giving huge tax breaks to companies that actively seek to help the environment by complying with the environmental regulations. 11.) Punish (15,000% tax rate)all firms that show wanton disregard for the environment by heavy taxation. 12.) Punish firms that try to leave the US in effort to circumvent the rules with a 20,000% tax rate. 13.) Punish (100,000% tax rate) rogue firms that try to lay off workers to offset financial punishments due to environmental callousness and ineptitude. 14.) after implementation of rules 10-13, all firms will be in compliance as it will be unprofitable to intentionally pollute. 15.) Bill nations with an exorbitant military service fee for resolving their wars with our military. This huge windfall of trillions of dollars would fund the government. clean up the environment/save the wild fish and lower our taxes. 16.) With the 15 rules above, the salmon, steelhead and other wild stocks would be saved, fisheries for the average angler would exist, the environment would be cleaner, the old growth forest would remain, wars would cease, loggers would still be employed, development would be carefully controlled, taxes would be lower, the military would be superpowerful/well funded and we would have enough money to enhance America’s future and resolve many of our problems.

Response:

Question:

Call me stupid, but wasn’t the original idea for bastard fly rods to make rods normal guys could afford? Pete C

Response:

Call me stupid, but wasn’t the original idea for bastard fly rods to make rods normal guys could afford? Pete C

        reality comes to rofftown. wayno

Response:

Call me stupid, but wasn’t the original idea for bastard fly rods to make rods normal guys could afford? Pete C

_____ Absolutely Pete.  What is there about $300 dollars for a premium Tonkin Bastard Fly Rod that is every bit as nice as any $3,000 dollar bamboo fly rod that you don’t understand? Is this an inquiry by you for an order Pete?  What rod length Bastard Rod and line weight do you have in mind?  We’re serious, if . . . ‘you’re serious?’ Or do you wish to put in an order for two of them instead?  With or without extra tips Pete? Thank you very  much for in sincere interest in this great project. Your friend, George ‘the animal’ Gehrke —

Question:

Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee

Deanna, I didn’t see the original post, so this may knot be applicable if you’re into  freshwater trout: Being adverse to labor as I am, I install a loop (whip finnish) in the end of my fly lines. Or if a dealer installs it, I have had a short butt section attached by a nail not and loop the end of the butt. ( I don’t like the nail knot version much , experienced breakoffs on bigger fish.)  I assemble all my leaders with bimini twist (not an easy knot) end loops shortened by surgeons knots (easy knot) .  Anyway, this allows quick and easy loop to loop connections and fast leader changes. Get yourself a book on knots at the library. I found Lefty Krehs very handy. Best of luck, Gary C. "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once."  - Buckaroo Banzai

Response:

<< Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee I hate to be a spoil-sport, but wouldn’t it be easier for the lady to go to her nearest fly-shop and ask the nice gentleman (lady?) behind the counter.  A picture is worth ten thousand words. Dave L.

Spoil Sport! — Tight Threads,         Charley Renn         Corvallis, OR

Response:

That trouble maker Charley Renn writes: << << Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m  new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee I hate to be a spoil-sport, but wouldn’t it be easier for the lady to go to her nearest fly-shop and ask the nice gentleman (lady?) behind the counter.  A picture is worth ten thousand words. Dave L.

Spoil Sport! — Tight Threads,         Charley Renn         Corvallis, OR Dave L.

Response:

Hi R.A., that sounds like the knot I use, the Running Half Tangle? — Remove NOSPAM to send E-mail Ernie Harrison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee Hi Dee, I use a really simple knot…can’t remember its name…will try to describe how to tie it: 1.  Thread the tippet through the eye of your fly, so that around a foot of tippet is sticking out from the hook eye. 2.  Let go of the fly for now. 3.  form a loop with the tippett material, about 4 inches in diameter 4.  tie an "overhand knot" around the tippet.  You should now have a "slip knot" and a 4" loop in your tippett. 5.  reach through this loop with your thumb and forefinger, grasping the fly further down on your line, and pull the fly back through the loop. 6.  Using your fingers to hold back the hackle, snug down the knot, removing the loop, and trim the tag end. This knot is quite strong, and I use it for all dries/wets/and nymphs from size 10 to 22.  For streamers or larger flies, I use an improved clinch knot.   Hope you can decipher the instructions! Regards, R.A. Skehan

Response:

<< Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee

I hate to be a spoil-sport, but wouldn’t it be easier for the lady to go to her nearest fly-shop and ask the nice gentleman (lady?) behind the counter.  A picture is worth ten thousand words. Dave L.

Response:

Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee

Hi Dee, I use a really simple knot…can’t remember its name…will try to describe how to tie it: 1.  Thread the tippet through the eye of your fly, so that around a foot of tippet is sticking out from the hook eye. 2.  Let go of the fly for now. 3.  form a loop with the tippett material, about 4 inches in diameter 4.  tie an "overhand knot" around the tippet.  You should now have a "slip knot" and a 4" loop in your tippett. 5.  reach through this loop with your thumb and forefinger, grasping the fly further down on your line, and pull the fly back through the loop. 6.  Using your fingers to hold back the hackle, snug down the knot, removing the loop, and trim the tag end. This knot is quite strong, and I use it for all dries/wets/and nymphs from size 10 to 22.  For streamers or larger flies, I use an improved clinch knot.   Hope you can decipher the instructions! Regards, R.A. Skehan

Response:

Can anyone tell me the EASIEST way to tie my fly to the leader?  I’m new to the sport and have all thumbs!            Thanks,    Dee

Response:

Question:

I just returned from the Morro Bay area, and noticed many people fishing in the surf with light weight spinning tackle and hooking a decent number of surf perch of good size.  Can anybody tell me of patterns that can be used to fly fish this area of the coast from the surf? With minimal wind,what size rod and type of line should I use. Thanks for any information provided.

Response:

I just returned from the Morro Bay area, and noticed many people fishing in the surf with light weight spinning tackle and hooking a decent number of surf perch of good size.  Can anybody tell me of patterns that can be used to fly fish this area of the coast from the surf? With minimal wind,what size rod and type of line should I use. Thanks for any information provided.

Try a sinking line with a crab pattern.  A 7-8 wt setup seems to be the preferred setup. Wes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Question:

I am planning to be in the 1,000 islands area for the weekend of 9/28. What’s the flyfishing like there?  Where are the ‘good’ spots, and what flies are being used.  Also, I am not even sure what fish are available. Please help! Mac

Response:

I am planning to be in the 1,000 islands area for the weekend of 9/28. What’s the flyfishing like there?  Where are the ‘good’ spots, and what flies are being used.  Also, I am not even sure what fish are available.

1.  Fly fishing for bass usually ends rather suddenly in mid-September: but everything is late this year…. 2.  Muskellunge is the prized local species for fall fishing, and might be taken on fly, but no one tries.  (Everyone trolls.) 3.  Lake Ontario tributaries in NY state (south to Oswego) should then be full of chinook and coho salmon and some accompanying trout species too, which can mostly be caught on fly. You need good local information, however, for all these species.  You’d have the most fly fishing fun with #3, perhaps employing a guide. — |  Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Road, Carlsbad Springs,  | |        Ontario, Canada, K0A 1K0, tel. 613 822 0734         |

Response:

Question:

Try the Pennyslvania Fly Fishing Site under the Tidbits Button. http://www.easetech.com/pafish/ Dave Kile

Response:

Try the Pennyslvania Fly Fishing Site under the Tidbits Button. http://www.easetech.com/pafish/ Dave Kile

Thanks for the info!! Fax:    +1.201.894.4650                                   CIS: 70410,3541

Response:

Are there any fly hatch charts for the NY/NJ/PA area somewhere on the net? Thanks! — Fax:    +1.201.894.4650                                   CIS: 70410,3541

Response:

Question:

Can anyone suggest a repellent for wasps and bees. On Monday I was stung twice while training. I will be competing in IMC and apparently the wasps can be a problem when cycling through the fruit orchards. I don’t want to go through the discomfort again and wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go through it either. I did a swim /bike workout yesterday. After putting on my wetsuit I was stung in the right heel. there was no significant swelling which is a plus in my favor. then an hour later on the bike I was stung on the back of my neck. I don’t know what it was but it must have been a wasp or bee. If there is a repellent I will put it on my body and also my bike. I found that the wasps seemed to be attracted to the gatorade that had splashed on the bike frame and bottle. they were landing on both and ’sniffing’ around. Any suggestions would ‘bee’ appreciated!! TriFiend

Response:

The only thing I’ve found that actually works for wasps is lavender (the plant). The fishing clubs usually plant it along the river banks near where I live to keep the little bastards away. I don’t know whether there is a commerical product that does the same. Usually a  bit rubbed into the skin works ok, with the disadvantage that you smell like Joan Collins’ knickers for a while. Most bug repellants only seem to be directed toward mosquitos and midges and you sweat them off anyway. I had quite a lot of success with some tablets I got from a camping/climbing shop that made your sweat unattractive to them. Only problem was after a while I started turning yellow  (ha ha). I now find mosquitos and wasps the ideal motivation for impromptu fartlek sessions, in fact I did a 10K PB after being chased by a Horse fly last month…. really helps with the 5K kick ! tim

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Can anyone suggest a repellent for wasps and bees. On Monday I was stung twice while training. I will be competing in IMC and apparently the wasps can be a problem when cycling through the fruit orchards. I don’t want to go through the discomfort again and wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go through it either. I did a swim /bike workout yesterday. After putting on my wetsuit I was stung in the right heel. there was no significant swelling which is a plus in my favor. then an hour later on the bike I was stung on the back of my neck. I don’t know what it was but it must have been a wasp or bee. If there is a repellent I will put it on my body and also my bike. I found that the wasps seemed to be attracted to the gatorade that had splashed on the bike frame and bottle. they were landing on both and ’sniffing’ around. Any suggestions would ‘bee’ appreciated!! TriFiend

As far as I know, there is no repellent for wasps or bees.  Chances are better of getting stung by a wasp then a bee.  A bee dies after it stings something, so will only sting when bothered, just riding by on a bike will not make it sting you.  As far as wasps, they are natures best terrorists. The best prevention from them is to wear light colored clothing.  They seem to attack dark colored moving objects more that light colored. The reason you see them around the gatorade is because they love sugar. If you want to keep them away from your bike, just use water in the bottles.                                                 Brian

Response: