Question:

The principal of my elementary school was named Lyman Edward Angel. Had a daughter that was a little older than me that was friends with my sis, but I can’t remember her name. Small world. That’s my wife’s aunt. Drew

Hit me just now. Her name is Dawn. That the one? — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. I’m in Lenoir which is pronounced:  "len-war"–like that fellas name that painted out of focus pictures, Renoir– at least  to us sofisticated folk. Actually grew-up and live in the Raleigh–name after the cigerette brand– area most my life, but don’t ever expect to move back.

Not as long as I live here, anyway.

Response:

charles, i reside in the sunny community of foscoe… –waldo Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. I’m in Reidsville. Just north of Greensboro. I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are, and thought I’d start out close to home. Thanks. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

– Tight Lines, –Walt Fly Fishing NC & more… http://www.ezflyfish.com http://www.wilsoncreekoutfitters.com

Response:

charles, i reside in the sunny community of foscoe… –waldo

That’s near Morganton, right? — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

charles, i reside in the sunny community of foscoe… –waldo That’s near Morganton, right? —

actually, near boone. the store is in morganton. –walt

Response:

actually, near boone. the store is in morganton. –walt

Gotcha. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

Hit me just now. Her name is Dawn. That the one?

That’s the one. Drew

Response:

……I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are…..

Uh oh. Wolfgang somewhere in stanley.

Response:

greenville, with a plot of ground on england branch in graham county… jeff Noted. —

uh oh. Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

UH OH! Wolfgang

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – greenville, with a plot of ground on england branch in graham county… jeff Noted. — uh oh. Charles Davis   K4SWB <I’m The NRA UH OH! Wolfgang

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are.

I’m in Atlanta, but it’s the source of most of the folks fishing the Nantahala. <g — Charlie…

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here.

I’m in Lenoir which is pronounced:  "len-war"–like that fellas name that painted out of focus pictures, Renoir– at least  to us sofisticated folk. Actually grew-up and live in the Raleigh–name after the cigerette brand– area most my life, but don’t ever expect to move back. Mark  –aka Opie, Op, asshole, shit-maggot–

Response:

The principal of my elementary school was named Lyman Edward Angel. Had a daughter that was a little older than me that was friends with my sis, but I can’t remember her name.

Small world. That’s my wife’s aunt. Drew

Response:

. I’m in Lenoir which is pronounced:  "len-war"–like that fellas name that painted out of focus pictures, Renoir– at least  to us sofisticated folk.

I’ve never heard it pronounced that way, but then I know few sofisticates. Actually grew-up and live in the Raleigh–name after the cigerette brand– area most my life, but don’t ever expect to move back.

I went there once, and that was enough. Mark  –aka Opie, Op, asshole, shit-maggot–

Sounds like we might be kin. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

greenville, with a plot of ground on england branch in graham county… jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. I’m in Reidsville. Just north of Greensboro. I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are, and thought I’d start out close to home. Thanks.

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. I’m in Reidsville. Just north of Greensboro.

        sweet baby jesus–rockingham county.  where do you keep your trailer? I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are, and thought I’d start out close to home. Thanks.

        now charles, this here ain’t one of them 1984 big brother deals, is it?         just kiddin, of course.  some of my best friends live in rockingham county. wayno 1519 whilden place greensboro  27408

Response:

says… I’m in Charlotte. Grew up in Asheville with time spent in Watauga County. You familiar with any Angels or Trents up that way? Matter of fact I’ll be up there on the 9th for a wedding. Drew Patterson

The principal of my elementary school was named Lyman Edward Angel. Had a daughter that was a little older than me that was friends with my sis, but I can’t remember her name. Betty Sue Trent ran the record store, and I went to school with some Trents, but that was loooooong ago, and in another galaxy, it seems. Got some neighbors named Patterson. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

greenville, with a plot of ground on england branch in graham county… jeff

Noted. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

says…    sweet baby jesus–rockingham county.  where do you keep your trailer?

I should be so lucky. Still living in the truck, ‘cept when Shirley needs it to get to work at the beauty saloon.    now charles, this here ain’t one of them 1984 big brother deals, is it?

Nah. Just curious. What started me thinking was that it seems that whenever you all have a clave, they make the NC boys get off by themselves.    just kiddin, of course.  some of my best friends live in rockingham county.

I stayed in G’boro for a while, till she tossed me out. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

On the assumption that displaced Tarheels count, I’m just outside St Louis. Born in Murphy (Cherokee county) and grew up in Henderson county. I figger Missouri appreciates the cultural benefit provided by North Carolinians so much that they just won’t let me go. Still go to Murphy several times a year and have to go to Charlotte occasionally. I do have an annual NC non-resident fishing license. Bob Patton

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. I’m in Reidsville. Just north of Greensboro. I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are, and thought I’d start out close to home. Thanks. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

says… On the assumption that displaced Tarheels count, I’m just outside St Louis. Born in Murphy (Cherokee county) and grew up in Henderson county. I figger Missouri appreciates the cultural benefit provided by North Carolinians so much that they just won’t let me go. Still go to Murphy several times a year and have to go to Charlotte occasionally. I do have an annual NC non-resident fishing license. Bob Patton

Everyone counts. I’ve just started a list so I can put people and places together. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are.

Rah-leigh.

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. Rah-leigh.

Thankee. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. I’m in Reidsville. Just north of Greensboro. I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are, and thought I’d start out close to home. Thanks. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

I’m in Charlotte. Grew up in Asheville with time spent in Watauga County. You familiar with any Angels or Trents up that way? Matter of fact I’ll be up there on the 9th for a wedding. Drew Patterson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Seems like there are a lot of NC boys here. If you feel like it, tell me where in NC you are. I’m in Reidsville. Just north of Greensboro. I’m gonna make me a list of who is here, and where each of you are, and thought I’d start out close to home. Thanks. — Charles Davis    K4SWB <I’m The NRA

Response:

Question:

I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

The West Branch is fairly big water.  To cover your bases here I think a good multi-piece 5 wt. in 9 ft. length would cover you.  For flys, match the size of the bugs on the water.  SIZE MATTERS! — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I mean to fish the Delaware, and maybe Esopus and Beaverkill if I can find time and space. There are supposed to be decent fly fishing waters in Dutchess Cty., NY and eastern CT. If so, what type of rod, line wgt, and so forth would be a good starting point. In the early season should I stay with smaller flies or bugs? -Ray

Response:

Question:

Yo Dave, I’m with you. And I know this guy is probably going to beat me up for getting out of line here, but I couldn’t help imagining Pat’s voice as Eddie G Robinson’s." See, I use only braided line, see. You use that mono and the fish is going to rub you out, see. N’yeah" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "PAT" But I take it as an insult when you tell me I don’t have a clue. Look pards, I don’t know where you’re from, and don’t care really. ok lemme explain… i didnt mean to insult you i just thought it funny that you are telling a new jig man to forget the $150 curado he just bought and upgrade to 80 lb test.. he surely doesnt need that… you must agree that a new jig man who obviously isnt fishing for millions in prize money wouldnt need to go buy a $300 dollar set up with 80 lb test.. if he misses one fish a day who cares? Thats why its called fishing not catching! On to the next comment.. You misunderstood or misread what i wrote.. as it is quoted above i said that the name tuna should have been the first clue.. i said nothing about you being clueless.. yo might be a great fisherman but seems to me that you dispense tournament advice to an amatuer who is gettin interested in a type of fishing.. My last point.. the name "pards" might actually be taken as offensive.. i had nothing in my letter to you that was meant to be taken as a direct insult to you.. yet you reply to my email seems to not hold as much charecter!!! End of discussion. Dave

Response:

Amen, AJH.  They should have to put labels about Jigs being addictive.  :-) After you start sticking those big beauties on the jig-n-chunk, your hooked for life.  I used to only use a jig for a short time at the end of the winter season, but then I learned to catch bass on the jig-n-pig (usually zoom super chunks).  Now I use them all year through.  Swimming them through shoreline weeds is almost as much fun as top water fishing. Bassman

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I fish a jig and pig just like a plastic worm. I use a 3/16 or 1/4 oz black and blue jig (Strike King Bitsy Bug) with a Zoom swimmin chunk Sapphire blue trailer. Right now I am using 14lb hi vis mono, I have ordered 30lb test Berkley Fireline in the hi vis green. I too feel it’s very important to watch the line when fishing jig and pig and worms. I am trying the Fireline in hope of improving my hook set and maybe it will allow me to feel the bass bite. Once you catch a few bass on the jig and pig you become obsessed with it. Anybody want to buy 1200 powerworms. Also I remove about half of the fibers in the weed guard, I think it allows a better hook set. I have caught at least 12 bass on the swimmin chunk I have on now and it still looks good so you can one advantage it has over the worm. Stick with it you will get hooked

Response:

"PAT" But I take it as an insult when you tell me I don’t have a clue. Look pards, I don’t know where you’re from, and don’t care really.

ok lemme explain… i didnt mean to insult you i just thought it funny that you are telling a new jig man to forget the $150 curado he just bought and upgrade to 80 lb test.. he surely doesnt need that… you must agree that a new jig man who obviously isnt fishing for millions in prize money wouldnt need to go buy a $300 dollar set up with 80 lb test.. if he misses one fish a day who cares? Thats why its called fishing not catching!   On to the next comment.. You misunderstood or misread what i wrote.. as it is quoted above i said that the name tuna should have been the first clue.. i said nothing about you being clueless.. yo might be a great fisherman but seems to me that you dispense tournament advice to an amatuer who is gettin interested in a type of fishing.. My last point.. the name "pards" might actually be taken as offensive.. i had nothing in my letter to you that was meant to be taken as a direct insult to you.. yet you reply to my email seems to not hold as much charecter!!! End of discussion.

Dave

Response:

Me too. — Why is it called ‘Tourist Season’ if we can’t shoot them ?     Shawn

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’d like to hear more. We routinely fish with 1oz. jigs in less than 3′ of water.   I’ll explain later if anyone’s interested. What your car says about you – Ford Crown Victoria – "I enjoy having people slow to 55mph and change lanes when I pull up behind them" — Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

holy smokes…..thanks for the input. Keep em’ comin’ I had luck w/ one fish so far. 3 pounder. As soon as the thing hit the water BOOM had a 4" green tube as a trailer. That was it for the rest of the day….I guess i’m gonna keep on fishin’ keeping a open mind. Brian

Response:

"Dave" Adjusted his Orvis fly fishing cap, put on his topsiders, laid down his Harvard business journal and decided the world needed to hear this: The name , tuna blank, of your "Heavy" setup should have been the first clue that you are not correctly set-up for bassin’ Dave

Look pards, I don’t know where you’re from, and don’t care really. I fish for money.  I described my tournament setups.  Why?  Lemme s’plain. First off, you gotta realise, we’re not throwing that jig on some rocky bank.   Three scenarios that I’ll explain, and maybe you’ll understand. 20′ deep matted hydrilla.  Use a minimum of a 1oz. jig.  Usually a 11/2 oz. when it’s really thick.  When that fish hits, if he moves laterally two feet, he’s gone. Lost, never to be seen again.  You must get him off the bottom and up through the matted grass instantly.  It ain’t gonna happen with 12 pound mono.  Period. Falcon lake, pitching into flooded mesquite trees.  VERY large, very strong fish.  They will stay in the thickest, nastiest part of the cover.  We used to use 30#mono, but you’d still get two a day lost by sawing off in the cover.   Skipping a jig under boat houses and docks.  Nasty place, lot’s of things to rub mono off on.  The braid ended the problem. Look Skippy, everyone goes fishing for a different reason.  If you think it’s more "sporting" to use light line, hey that’s just fine.  I’ve caught 120lb. Tarpon on fifteen pound line too.  It’s a different deal.  In a bass tournament, one lost fish is worth thousands of dollars. Literally.  If I can eliminate that from ever happening, then that’s what I’m gonna do.  But I take it as an insult when you tell me I don’t have a clue.  You spend one day on the lake with me, and you use your 6lb. mono.  Then let’s compare sacks at the end of the day.   End of discussion. Pat Goff

Response:

Hi Brian: Brain: "This is what i understand to date. You try to get it in the water next to or right in the cover making the least amount of noise you can. right?" Reply: Yes & No.  When flipping or pitching, you try and get as close as you can to your target without spooking the fish.  Often this will depend on water clarity and depth.  Depending on how close you are to your target depends on if you are flipping (0-15ft.) or pitching (15-40ft.).  Flipping is easy. Pitching on the other hand requires a lot of skill and practice.  The longer the rod the easier it is to perform both of these techniques. Your 6′6" rod is the minimum length you want to use for this technique.  A 7′6" or 8′ flipping (heavy) is the best rod for this technique.  But with 6′6" you should be able to pitch up to 25′ comfortably and quietly. Brian: "Here’s a scenario of a river we fish often. The edges of the river have thick weeds and brush back about 25 feet all seeming to be in 1-3 feet of water. NOW do i throw the jig into the brush? how far back do i throw it? OR do I just try to work the edges?" Reply: When I am fishing a weedbed, I first flip or pitch to the shade side of weed points, cuts, and holes (1′ to 3′ in) along the edge.  I position the boat parallel to the weedbed but 15′ to 20′ off the weedbed itself and work the entire edge.  Then I would slowly and quietly move my boat so that it was just touch the weeds and then flip or pitch to the holes that are further in the weeds and thoroughly fish the weedbed out. Brian: "When should i use different colors or weights of jigs?" Reply: As for color you need to know what the fish are feeding on.  If the primary forage is crawfish, then I would use black, brown, pumpkin, or watermelon. If the primary forage is shad then I would use black, white, or black/white blend or gray/black/white blend.  Clear water (crawfish) I use brown/black (jig skirt/trailer), pumpkin/green or pumpkin/orange, watermelon/brown, pumpkin/brown, pumpkin/black.  Clear water (shad) white/black (jig skirt/trailer), black/white, white/white, black&gray/white. As far as weight, I use small 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 ounce jigs for smallmouth around rock and gravel bottom (0-8 ft of water)and #101 or #11 pork trailers, or 5/16 ounce for deeper water #11 trailer.  I use 5/16 & 3/8 ounce jigs for largemouth along weedbeds, brush piles, etc.  I use 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ounce jigs for thick weeds or fishing deep structures.  But I believe we can all learn from Woo’s Classic victory.  So you can count on me trying 3/16 & 1/4 jigs on 8 pound test with #11 trailers in deeper water. Brian: "Do you flip it in there, let it sit for a while? bounce it off the bottom? swim it? Or are there any rules at all? Does the same things apply here the same as in all other tackle? Or is it just a convoy mission to get in there, scare the crap out of the fish, so he’ll bite and then bring him on home?" Reply: Tough question.  I personally start with flipping or pitching a jig into the cover and let it settle to the bottom.  Then I hop it a couple of times in place (1" to 3"), then a couple more moving hops (6"-12") and then I swim it out.  Remember to stop it just before the jig gets to the top and let it drop a second and then pull it.  Once I get a strike or two, I know what they want and I drop the other movements. Brain: "If somebody could be kind enough to explain the point of Jig-n-a pig. It would make me(i bet a bunch of other people too!) understand it better." Reply: There are many types of jigs, all for different types of cover and presentations.  Jigs can represent many different types of forage.  A simple hair jig looks more like a fish or larvae.  A larger hair jig with a bigger pork trailer can represent a mouse or small animal.  While rubber skirted jigs look more like crawfish.  Silicone skirted jigs can represent both fish and crawfish depending on color.  Let’s start with "Hair" jigs.  These are the oldest type and are super effective in clear water or when there is little cover.  The hair moves with the water action (waves) and applied action looks more alive (in my opinion) then do silicone skirts.  They are excellent in colder water situations.  Rubber and silicone skirted jigs and all the possible colors can be customized to match the forage in your area. I always custom blend my skirts to closely match the crawfish or forage fish in the lake I am fishing.  Example.  The crawfish in my home lake are light brown and have black and light orange patches.  So I start with a pumpkin colored skirt and add a strain or two of black and orange.  Then I put on a brown or orange trailer.  On the orange trailer I use a black permanent marker and dye it so that it looks mostly black with orange spots. The jig can be presented in a lot of ways to match the conditions you are fishing.  A light jig (1/8, 3/16, 1/4 ounce) with a #101 can represent a small fish or crawfish.  On clam water this setup will have a medium fall rate (about 1 to 1.5 seconds per foot)  The same jig with a #11 pork trailer will fall much slower (1.5 to 2 second a foot), and look like a bigger fish or crawfish.  The same jig with a #1 trailer will fall real slow (2 to 3 seconds a foot) and an even larger fish and crawfish. Brian: When jig hits the water does it really matter if it’s quiet or not?" Reply: Most of the time you want to flip or pitch this type of lure into the water as quietly as possible.  But there are times when splashing the jig can be beneficial (like in muddy water or at night or when casting the jig on top of thick matted weeds). Hopes this helps. — Craig Baugher

Response:

I’d like to hear more. We routinely fish with 1oz. jigs in less than 3′ of water.   I’ll explain later if anyone’s interested.

What your car says about you – Ford Crown Victoria – "I enjoy having people slow to 55mph and change lanes when I pull up behind them" — Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

Mobees, also some ‘good’ reading on the subject here: http://www.bassdozer.com/articles.shtml What your car says about you – Ford Crown Victoria – "I enjoy having people slow to 55mph and change lanes when I pull up behind them" — Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

 My "light" duty setup is a Quantum flipping rod 7′6" with 50lb. Oldham’s braid.  My "heavy" setup is a Waterloo double wall tuna blank-8′ with 80lb. Oldham’s braid. 50lb. Oldham’s braid. 80lb. Oldham’s braid.

I have caught 100+ pound sharks..the meanest fighter pound for pound.. on 20 lb test around very sharp coral heads..much sharper than logs…I understand needing heavy equipment but heavy in the bass world is 20lb test… if you need 50 or 80 pound test for a 10 pound bass what would you use for a real fish? When i am land locked as i am now i use 6 or maybe 12 pound test and have done very well with bass.  It seems funny to me that you need heavier test than i have ever fished in the ocean with to catch bass… maybe you could email me and explain to me why the overly strong choice in test line?  The name , tuna blank, of your "Heavy" setup should have been the first clue that you are not correctly set-up for bassin’ Dave

Response:

I fish a jig and pig just like a plastic worm. I use a 3/16 or 1/4 oz black and blue jig (Strike King Bitsy Bug) with a Zoom swimmin chunk Sapphire blue trailer. Right now I am using 14lb hi vis mono, I have ordered 30lb test Berkley Fireline in the hi vis green. I too feel it’s very important to watch the line when fishing jig and pig and worms. I am trying the Fireline in hope of improving my hook set and maybe it will allow me to feel the bass bite. Once you catch a few bass on the jig and pig you become obsessed with it. Anybody want to buy 1200 powerworms. Also I remove about half of the fibers in the weed guard, I think it allows a better hook set. I have caught at least 12 bass on the swimmin chunk I have on now and it still looks good so you can one advantage it has over the worm. Stick with it you will get hooked

Response:

Mobees drank two pots of coffee, kicked the dogs off the porch, ran the kids off on the yard, sat down and decided the world needed to hear: When should i use differnet colors or weights of jigs? do you flip it in there, let it sit for a while? bounce it off the bottom? swim it? Or are there any rules at all?

Ok, I’m going to get probably ripped for what I’m going to tell you, that’s fine, if they’ve caught half the fish we’ve caught on a jig, I’ll listen to ‘em. There are no "rules"  I’ll tell you that right now. The only rule is figure out what’s working right now. Don’t ever be afraid to experiment with colors, weight, trailers, and combinations. Ok, I’ll give you a few things I’ve learned, and discovered. 1. Use a heavier jig when the water’s hot.  When the water’s warm, the metabolism of the bass is way high, so you need to match the speed of you lure to the fish’s aggressiveness.  We routinely fish with 1oz. jigs in less than 3′ of water.   I’ll explain later if anyone’s interested. 2.  Cast it into the MIDDLE of the cover.  That’s where they live. 3.  Don’t be afraid to experiment.  We use solid white, purple, chartuese, and other goofy looking colors.  Try lot’s of different trailers.  We’ll use an entire 8" lizard on the back of a jig with much success.   4.  Don’t be afraid to vary your presentation.  Somedays they just aren’t on the bottom.  Someday’s they want it fast, someday’s slow, they’ll tell you when you figure it out. 5.  Be a sniper.  You need to learn to put that jig into places you wouldn’t send your rabbit hound.   6.  Upgrade your equipment.  This isn’t a slam on your new rod&reel pards, but that’s what I’d fish an open rock bank with.  My "light" duty setup is a Quantum flipping rod 7′6" with 50lb. Oldham’s braid.  My "heavy" setup is a Waterloo double wall tuna blank-8′ with 80lb. Oldham’s braid. 7. Upgrade your jigs.  Anything you buy with an American made hook is second rate.  Anyone who’s ever used one would agree the Oldham’s eye-max is the finest jig made.  512-847-9202   There is much more to fishing the most effective quality bass lure made, and we’ll continue this discussion if anyone’s interested. Pat Goff

Response:

Brain, I will try to answer some of your questions, and I’m sure there are other here that can tell you more than I can.  You will find that certain presentations produce more bass than others.  It depends on the weather, water conditions, mood of the fish (which is affected by everything), and also on what you feel comfortable with. Often times bass will hit a jig/pig combo on the initial drop.  These are the blessed times when you can ease along a bank, pitching or flipping a jig to cover and set the hook as soon as the bait starts to fall.  But they don’t always do that.  Sometimes they will not touch it jig if you are moving it.  They prefer for it to just lay there wriggling on its own, then the move in a pick it up.  You just have to try it one way and if it doesn’t work change.  I have noticed that on high pressure days, or in extremely clear water, the bass seem to prefer that the lure remain motionless, at least as far as your input to the motion is concerned.  I have also done well in these conditions by using a heavy jig head and getting the reaction strikes as the bait rips past them on the way to the bottom.  In murky water or flowing water bass seem to like to hit the jig on the initial fall. But, as I mentioned before… sometimes it’s just trial and error. Some things that you should follow as basic rules will help you increase your catch on jig and pigs combos.  Always watch your line.  Try to allow your bait to fall straight down on a simi-tight line; not so tight that the lure can’t fall straight down, but tight enough to remain in contact with the lure as it falls.  Always watch your line.  Place the lure into the water as quietly as possible, especially in shallow or clear water conditions.  Always watch your line.  Put you lure as close to cover as possible.  The clearer the water or higher the barometric pressure, the closer and deeper in cover they tend to be.  Set the hook fast upon detecting a strike, whether by site or feel, don’t pause at all like you might do with soft plastic lures.  And, always watch your line. I don’t know if this gives you a detailed enough outline of how to fish the jig-n-pig, but just as with any other lure, it’s always up to the bass to dictate how they will bite, we just have to figure it out. Good luck and always watch your line, Bassman Duane Knight

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everybody. I wanted to figure out how to fish jig n a pig style w/ 20 pound test on a heavier pole w/ a baitcasting reel. So i went out and bought a Shimano Curado and a lightning rod med/heavy 6′6" rod. thru on a 3/8 jig w/ a matching pork trailer…great. that’s the easy part….Now, I’m practicing how to flip it different ways etc…Okay…thats about as far as i got.    This is what i understand to date. You try to get it in the water next to or right in the cover making the least amount of noise you can. right? Sounds easy enough.     Here’s a scenario of a river we fish often. The edges of the river have thick weeds and brush back about 25 feet all seeming to be in 1-3 feet of water. NOW do i throw the jig into the brush? how far back do i throw it? OR do i just try to work the edges? I know i should just get out there and use it,use it and use it some more, but i like to understand things, before i go out and fish. When should i use differnet colors or weights of jigs? do you flip it in there, let it sit for a while? bounce it off the bottom? swim it? Or are there any rules at all? Does the same things apply here the same as in all other tackle? Or is it just a convoy mission to get in there, scare the crap out of the fish, so he’ll bite and then bring him on home??? I need help w/ this. If somebody could be kind enough to explain the point of Jig-n-a pig. It would make me(i bet a bunch of other people too!) understand it better. When jig hits the water does it really matter if it’s quiet or not? So many ?’s…..Anyway thanks in advance for any info you can provide me! Brian

Response:

Hi everybody. I wanted to figure out how to fish jig n a pig style w/ 20 pound test on a heavier pole w/ a baitcasting reel. So i went out and bought a Shimano Curado and a lightning rod med/heavy 6′6" rod. thru on a 3/8 jig w/ a matching pork trailer…great. that’s the easy part….Now, I’m practicing how to flip it different ways etc…Okay…thats about as far as i got.    This is what i understand to date. You try to get it in the water next to or right in the cover making the least amount of noise you can. right? Sounds easy enough.     Here’s a scenario of a river we fish often. The edges of the river have thick weeds and brush back about 25 feet all seeming to be in 1-3 feet of water. NOW do i throw the jig into the brush? how far back do i throw it? OR do i just try to work the edges? I know i should just get out there and use it,use it and use it some more, but i like to understand things, before i go out and fish. When should i use differnet colors or weights of jigs? do you flip it in there, let it sit for a while? bounce it off the bottom? swim it? Or are there any rules at all? Does the same things apply here the same as in all other tackle? Or is it just a convoy mission to get in there, scare the crap out of the fish, so he’ll bite and then bring him on home??? I need help w/ this. If somebody could be kind enough to explain the point of Jig-n-a pig. It would make me(i bet a bunch of other people too!) understand it better. When jig hits the water does it really matter if it’s quiet or not? So many ?’s…..Anyway thanks in advance for any info you can provide me! Brian

Response:

Question:

I too had a similar experience.   Was fishing a new rod and after a while, noticed I wasn’t able to shoot any line out.   Must’ve made a few more casts before realizing the guides were frozen solid. My advice?  If you’re fishing a small lake, try pouring some prestone in it. Keeps it from freezing.   It’s hopeless in a river as the current carries it all downstream and it makes for a very expensive outting. No serious replies please… i was just kidding. Ken. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ahh, ROFF the beautiful… I was in Utah all this week and at the last minute decided not to take a fly rod. That was a mistake because the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. By Wednesday all of the snow had melted and it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall. Anyway, although I checked in on ROFF from time to time while I was away, it took me quite a while to get caught up. Some truly hilarious stuff this week, indeed. Went fishing yesterday afternoon. Who’d a thunk it would be colder in Raleigh than in Utah? The wind finally died down and I took a quick trip over to the pond. A couple of disinterested takes but nothing landed. I started noticing this really odd scraping sound during my forward cast after I’d been fishing for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It kept getting louder and louder. The water wasn’t overly murky so it couldn’t be pond scum–maybe the guides are bent, I thought, or perhaps I missed a guide when I threaded up the rod. Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Response:

it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall.

I say a pray to St. Peter, light a candle, we get beautiful weather, a nice midge hatch in the afternoon and your not there For your eyelet’s and ice, try dabbing them with a little RainX – it works. bc. — ROFF is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea — massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind-boggling amounts of excrement when you least expect it."

Response:

Happened to me today — and the reel froze solid. Beautiful day though, and I discovered some new water (for me anyway). -Palmer

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ahh, ROFF the beautiful… I was in Utah all this week and at the last minute decided not to take a fly rod. That was a mistake because the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. By Wednesday all of the snow had melted and it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall. Anyway, although I checked in on ROFF from time to time while I was away, it took me quite a while to get caught up. Some truly hilarious stuff this week, indeed. Went fishing yesterday afternoon. Who’d a thunk it would be colder in Raleigh than in Utah? The wind finally died down and I took a quick trip over to the pond. A couple of disinterested takes but nothing landed. I started noticing this really odd scraping sound during my forward cast after I’d been fishing for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It kept getting louder and louder. The water wasn’t overly murky so it couldn’t be pond scum–maybe the guides are bent, I thought, or perhaps I missed a guide when I threaded up the rod. Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Response:

Ahh, ROFF the beautiful… I was in Utah all this week and at the last minute decided not to take a fly rod. That was a mistake because the weather kept getting warmer and warmer. By Wednesday all of the snow had melted and it was downright warm. Bummer. Guess I shoulda packed along a rod and called bc afterall. Anyway, although I checked in on ROFF from time to time while I was away, it took me quite a while to get caught up. Some truly hilarious stuff this week, indeed. Went fishing yesterday afternoon. Who’d a thunk it would be colder in Raleigh than in Utah? The wind finally died down and I took a quick trip over to the pond. A couple of disinterested takes but nothing landed. I started noticing this really odd scraping sound during my forward cast after I’d been fishing for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It kept getting louder and louder. The water wasn’t overly murky so it couldn’t be pond scum–maybe the guides are bent, I thought, or perhaps I missed a guide when I threaded up the rod. Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Response:

<snipped Duh. Turns out there was ice on the guides!  I had to keep breaking little ice chunks off the guides and line as it kept getting colder and colder. Somehow I thought I was going to be able to fish un-interrupted all year round. Hmm. –Steve Zimmerman

Geeze Steve, That sounds like a mirror image of what happened to me on my last local pond trip! Definitely no fishing for a while until this cold snap (Ha!) buggers off. It’s kinda good that we’re almost through January. Only two more months before it get’s reasonable again! Who hoo! — Michael Era

Question:

Carl, These boats differ in their performance.  The Delta, Acadia, Bayou, Keowee and Swifty are all "recreational boats".  The Delta and the Bayou are very similar in performance but one is longer than the other and tracks better. They both have flat hulls and are very good with initial stability but not very good secondary stability.  These boats will track better and be a bit faster than the Swifty and Keowee. The Swifty and Keowee are just knock around boats.  They don’t track well but do maneuver easily.  The Acadia is at the extreme low end of "touring kayaks"  It’s has a little more rocker on it but is made to get out into the easy ocean if desired.  It has good initial and secondary stability.  All of these boats will do flat water, easy class I/II rapids and paddle in bays well.  The Acadia, you can take a step further out in the easy ocean.

I’ve seen Swiftys and Keowees on class II, and I don’t think I’d say that they do it well.  Certainly people have fun in them, but…well, it depends on the class II, I guess.  I think that the more technical the river is, the less fun these boats will be.  Also, I’ve never seen anyone wear a skirt with these — it could be a pretty damp experience.   — ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::         "I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart                 for the joys of the multitude"

Response:

Yes it does depend on the river.  The Chattahoochee in Atlanta would be fine but something that is more technical would not.  That’s why I said easy class I/II rapids.  People have the option of purchasing a skirt with these boats.  The companies make skirts that fit each one.  If a person tells me they want to run some easy class I/II as well as flat water, I tell them they may want to purchase a skirt with it to keep the water out.  On the other hand if they just want to do flat water, there’s no need for a skirt unless they want to get a mini-skirt for splash or paddle drip. Courtney Rapid Adventures – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve seen Swiftys and Keowees on class II, and I don’t think I’d say that they do it well.  Certainly people have fun in them, but…well, it depends on the class II, I guess.  I think that the more technical the river is, the less fun these boats will be.  Also, I’ve never seen anyone wear a skirt with these — it could be a pretty damp experience.

Response:

You can get into a Swifty and yes it will float but it will sit lower in the water and be sluggish.  The Delta would be a better boat for doing what you are wanting to do and be more in your weight range.  If you really liked it, go for it.  It’s a great boat and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Courtney Rapid Adventures – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Courtney WOW- what a great reply…..thanks SO VERY MUCH!!!! As a follow-up- being 6-01/245- will the Swiftie float ??  If so, I think it would be an ideal 1st boat for me…..going to the kids later (if I like it enough to spend more $$$$$)  All I want to do at this point is paddle out a little, or paddle upstream a little (slow river) and flyfish for Bass/Panfish on the way back. I do have to admit though- out of the Delta and Bayou- I liked the Delta MUCH better.  The Bayou just seemed a little squirley compared to the Delta.  I even sat back and pulled my legs out and dangled them in the water in the Delta. A nice way to float down stream .  Couldn’t do that in the Bayou. I guess the thing that keeps me fluctuating towards Perception is their cool web site- maybe their boats are as cool??  Haven’t seen one though- other than on the web . Thanks again!! Carl

Response:

Dear Courtney WOW- what a great reply…..thanks SO VERY MUCH!!!! As a follow-up- being 6-01/245- will the Swiftie float ??  If so, I think it would be an ideal 1st boat for me…..going to the kids later (if I like it enough to spend more $$$$$)  All I want to do at this point is paddle out a little, or paddle upstream a little (slow river) and flyfish for Bass/Panfish on the way back. I do have to admit though- out of the Delta and Bayou- I liked the Delta MUCH better.  The Bayou just seemed a little squirley compared to the Delta.  I even sat back and pulled my legs out and dangled them in the water in the Delta.  A nice way to float down stream .  Couldn’t do that in the Bayou. I guess the thing that keeps me fluctuating towards Perception is their cool web site- maybe their boats are as cool??  Haven’t seen one though- other than on the web . Thanks again!! Carl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Carl, These boats differ in their performance.  The Delta, Acadia, Bayou, Keowee and Swifty are all "recreational boats".  The Delta and the Bayou are very similar in performance but one is longer than the other and tracks better. They both have flat hulls and are very good with initial stability but not very good secondary stability.  These boats will track better and be a bit faster than the Swifty and Keowee. The Swifty and Keowee are just knock around boats.  They don’t track well but do maneuver easily.  The Acadia is at the extreme low end of "touring kayaks"  It’s has a little more rocker on it but is made to get out into the easy ocean if desired.  It has good initial and secondary stability.  All of these boats will do flat water, easy class I/II rapids and paddle in bays well.  The Acadia, you can take a step further out in the easy ocean. As for the Carolina and Chinook, they are both Touring (sea) kayaks.  They track very well but are harder to turn.  Normally they will come with a rudder to help you with this.  They are both much faster than the above mentioned kayaks.  They have very good initial and secondary stability and both perform beautiful on flat water, easy class I/II rivers, bays and out in the ocean.  Their intended purpose is for actual sea kayaking, flat water and easy rivers. Both companies hold a good warranty (I think 3 years).  Dagger plastic is made of Excel polyethylene whereas Perception is made of Linear. Technically Excel is stronger but both plastics are very good.  Wilderness Systems material is made up of Crosslink.  This is the strongest of materials but a little heavier. Since you tried the Delta and liked it but didn’t like the Bayou, you may also check out the Wilderness Systems Manteo.  You may find you like it a whole lot better than the Pungo.  The hull on these boats are called a tri-hull.  They have excellent initial and secondary stability and track very well.  I have known several people to take them on all the above mentioned waters but they did get a bit nervous when out in the ocean and the waves got big or choppy. If you’re looking at a used boat, take a look to see that the top of the boat is the same color as the bottom of the boat.  People store their kayaks outside allot and the UV rays break down the plastic over time.  If stored indoors the plastic condition should be fine.  Also look for oil canning (where the boat has a bow in it somewhere on the hull, usually under the seat).  I little bow is o.k. but if it looks really wavy, the plastic is getting warn and doesn’t have too much time left before it cracks.   Look for deep gouges as well.  There will always be scratches on a boat and that’s fine but DEEP gouges can be a sign of trouble on the horizon depending on where these gouges are.  For instance, under the seat would be a bad place. Out of all of these boats, I would focus on the Delta, Acadia and Manteo if not planning on really getting out into the ocean.  The Manteo does great in waves and flat water, the Acadia the same but less initial stability and the Delta does better in flat water due to the good initial stability but not that much secondary and is not as wave friendly. If planning on going into the ocean, either the Carolina or Chinook would be good.  I personally like the Carolina the best because of it’s stability and performance. Hope this helped and sorry it’s so long.  I work in a boat store and sell these boats every day and it’s hard to narrow it down to two sentences. Courtney Rapid Adventures Hi: I’m a long time paddler (canoe) that’s brand new to kayaks…..but I’m hooked Tested the Delta today and loved it….haven’t seen the Acadia or Carolina, however from the web the Acadia seems almost exactly like the Delta.  What are your thoughts….which is a better company (product, fit and finish, warranty, support etc) and which is a better boat?  To complicate matters another shop has a used Perception Chinook for the same price as these new boats……. Also, I’m 6′01" and 245lbs…..any large kayakers try the Keowee or even the Swiftie?  I did paddle the WS Pongo and the Dagger Bayou and did not like either (for different reasons). I know this is a long message, but I do hop there are some out there that will have the time to respond…..I’m hopelessly confused Carl

Response:

Carl – Did you try also posting your message to the following newsgroup? rec.boats.paddle.touring You might reach more users who could help you out there. Good luck! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I wanted to thank the two newsgroup members above- they were the only replies to my post.  For the rest of you, PLEASE help me with opinions.  I have no kayak background and thought that this would be the perfect forum to get experienced responses.  My original post is below:- (My sole (current) ambition is to paddle a mile or so upstream and fly-fish downstream)) Hi: I’m a long time paddler (canoe) that’s brand new to kayaks…..but I’m hooked Tested the Delta today and loved it….haven’t seen the Acadia or Carolina, however from the web the Acadia seems almost exactly like the Delta.  What are your thoughts….which is a better company (product, fit and finish, warranty, support etc) and which is a better boat?  To complicate matters another shop has a used Perception Chinook for the same price as these new boats……. Also, I’m 6′01" and 245lbs…..any large kayakers try the Keowee or even the Swiftie?  I did paddle the WS Pongo and the Dagger Bayou and did not like either (for different reasons). I know this is a long message, but I do hop there are some out there that will have the time to respond…..I’m hopelessly confused Carl

Sue

Response:

Carl, These boats differ in their performance.  The Delta, Acadia, Bayou, Keowee and Swifty are all "recreational boats".  The Delta and the Bayou are very similar in performance but one is longer than the other and tracks better. They both have flat hulls and are very good with initial stability but not very good secondary stability.  These boats will track better and be a bit faster than the Swifty and Keowee. The Swifty and Keowee are just knock around boats.  They don’t track well but do maneuver easily.  The Acadia is at the extreme low end of "touring kayaks"  It’s has a little more rocker on it but is made to get out into the easy ocean if desired.  It has good initial and secondary stability.  All of these boats will do flat water, easy class I/II rapids and paddle in bays well.  The Acadia, you can take a step further out in the easy ocean. As for the Carolina and Chinook, they are both Touring (sea) kayaks.  They track very well but are harder to turn.  Normally they will come with a rudder to help you with this.  They are both much faster than the above mentioned kayaks.  They have very good initial and secondary stability and both perform beautiful on flat water, easy class I/II rivers, bays and out in the ocean.  Their intended purpose is for actual sea kayaking, flat water and easy rivers. Both companies hold a good warranty (I think 3 years).  Dagger plastic is made of Excel polyethylene whereas Perception is made of Linear. Technically Excel is stronger but both plastics are very good.  Wilderness Systems material is made up of Crosslink.  This is the strongest of materials but a little heavier. Since you tried the Delta and liked it but didn’t like the Bayou, you may also check out the Wilderness Systems Manteo.  You may find you like it a whole lot better than the Pungo.  The hull on these boats are called a tri-hull.  They have excellent initial and secondary stability and track very well.  I have known several people to take them on all the above mentioned waters but they did get a bit nervous when out in the ocean and the waves got big or choppy. If you’re looking at a used boat, take a look to see that the top of the boat is the same color as the bottom of the boat.  People store their kayaks outside allot and the UV rays break down the plastic over time.  If stored indoors the plastic condition should be fine.  Also look for oil canning (where the boat has a bow in it somewhere on the hull, usually under the seat).  I little bow is o.k. but if it looks really wavy, the plastic is getting warn and doesn’t have too much time left before it cracks.   Look for deep gouges as well.  There will always be scratches on a boat and that’s fine but DEEP gouges can be a sign of trouble on the horizon depending on where these gouges are.  For instance, under the seat would be a bad place. Out of all of these boats, I would focus on the Delta, Acadia and Manteo if not planning on really getting out into the ocean.  The Manteo does great in waves and flat water, the Acadia the same but less initial stability and the Delta does better in flat water due to the good initial stability but not that much secondary and is not as wave friendly. If planning on going into the ocean, either the Carolina or Chinook would be good.  I personally like the Carolina the best because of it’s stability and performance. Hope this helped and sorry it’s so long.  I work in a boat store and sell these boats every day and it’s hard to narrow it down to two sentences. Courtney Rapid Adventures – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: I’m a long time paddler (canoe) that’s brand new to kayaks…..but I’m hooked Tested the Delta today and loved it….haven’t seen the Acadia or Carolina, however from the web the Acadia seems almost exactly like the Delta.  What are your thoughts….which is a better company (product, fit and finish, warranty, support etc) and which is a better boat?  To complicate matters another shop has a used Perception Chinook for the same price as these new boats……. Also, I’m 6′01" and 245lbs…..any large kayakers try the Keowee or even the Swiftie?  I did paddle the WS Pongo and the Dagger Bayou and did not like either (for different reasons). I know this is a long message, but I do hop there are some out there that will have the time to respond…..I’m hopelessly confused Carl

Response:

I wanted to thank the two newsgroup members above- they were the only replies to my post.  For the rest of you, PLEASE help me with opinions.  I have no kayak background and thought that this would be the perfect forum to get experienced responses.  My original post is below:- (My sole (current) ambition is to paddle a mile or so upstream and fly-fish downstream)) Hi: I’m a long time paddler (canoe) that’s brand new to kayaks…..but I’m hooked Tested the Delta today and loved it….haven’t seen the Acadia or Carolina, however from the web the Acadia seems almost exactly like the Delta.  What are your thoughts….which is a better company (product, fit and finish, warranty, support etc) and which is a better boat?  To complicate matters another shop has a used Perception Chinook for the same price as these new boats……. Also, I’m 6′01" and 245lbs…..any large kayakers try the Keowee or even the Swiftie?  I did paddle the WS Pongo and the Dagger Bayou and did not like either (for different reasons). I know this is a long message, but I do hop there are some out there that will have the time to respond…..I’m hopelessly confused Carl

Response:

Hi: I’m a long time paddler (canoe) that’s brand new to kayaks…..but I’m hooked Tested the Delta today and loved it….haven’t seen the Acadia or Carolina, however from the web the Acadia seems almost exactly like the Delta.  What are your thoughts….which is a better company (product, fit and finish, warranty, support etc) and which is a better boat?  To complicate matters another shop has a used Perception Chinook for the same price as these new boats……. Also, I’m 6′01" and 245lbs…..any large kayakers try the Keowee or even the Swiftie?  I did paddle the WS Pongo and the Dagger Bayou and did not like either (for different reasons). I know this is a long message, but I do hop there are some out there that will have the time to respond…..I’m hopelessly confused Carl

Response:

paddled the Carolina in a Basic Sea Kayaking course and was pleased with it. It was my first time kayaking and I had no problems.  It is 25 1/4 inches wide so it will be more tippy than the Delta I believe.  I would be reluctant to paddle a kayak with out some instruction.  Oh, I almost forgot, I am 6′ 2" and found the Carolina a little too scrunched up for my legs.  I rented a Current Designs Storm (17′ l  24"w) today and the leg room was better and it was fast, but it was extremely heavy.  Hope this helps some.

Response:

I have had two Dagger white water boats and have had no complaints about their fit or finish. Are you pretty much decided on a day-tripping boat? There are a number of choices out there, in a number of lengths, and it is easy to get "analysis paralysis". Check out the paddling shops in your area and find out about rentals and demo days. Get hooked up with a paddling club or two and you can get exposure to a number of different boats and opinions. Many folks have more than one and might be willing to help you compare. Don’t worry about making the choice. You’re really just buying your *first* kayak, anyway . (ps- one of the boats I have is a Wilderness Systems Seacret, which is plenty wide (I’m 6′1" and weigh 205) and has lots of foot room, and was surprisingly maneuverable and quick… I bought it to serve as a fishing photo platform, but really like it generally. Check and see when the outfitters in your area are selling used equipment…worked for me, and I got it half price! Good luck! — paddlrat living proof that rats can swim! Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Question:

Will be going to Boulder in May and June for some training.  Any suggestions for fly fishing in the area.  (Hopefully, I will be able to get away from the class room long enough to go fishing) Thanks, T. Bell

Response:

Lots of fishing around Boulder, however, May and June are generally runoff months and the local streams could be running mud. There are numerous small alpine lakes within a fairly short drive. Some you can drive to, the better ones require a hike. E-mail me before you arrive and I can get you some current info. Willi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Will be going to Boulder in May and June for some training.  Any suggestions for fly fishing in the area.  (Hopefully, I will be able to get away from the class room long enough to go fishing) Thanks, T. Bell

Response:

Depending on runoff conditions, you could just walk over to Boulder Creek right in town. For famous tailwaters the South Platte, Blue and Frying Pan are only 2-3 hours driving from Boulder. If you are here at peak runoff (which will be short this year unless we get some more snow) try higher streams in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour away if you don’t drive the canyon roads like I do.  ;-) Feel free to drop me a note when you get closer to fishing time for more current conditions. In May and June spring runoff is perhaps the greatest factor in choosing a place to fish, and conditions can change from day to day. Ken Clark Ft. Lupton, CO – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Will be going to Boulder in May and June for some training.  Any suggestions for fly fishing in the area.  (Hopefully, I will be able to get away from the class room long enough to go fishing) Thanks, T. Bell

Response:

Will be going to Boulder in May and June for some training.  Any suggestions for fly fishing in the area.  (Hopefully, I will be able to get away from the class room long enough to go fishing)

    South Boulder Creek, below Gross Reservoir.  Get a map – hike down the hill. You’ll be glad you did,  it’s worth finding. JE

Response:

Question:

Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)   Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod. So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN. that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease? Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times. Later, Pete

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Peter, Sorry to say, but yes you are hooked. It’s a slow, painful, yet incredibly enjoyable death and the support groups are a blast!!! Welcome to the ring and Fish On Fly Boy!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)   Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod. So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN. that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease? Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times. Later, Pete

David726 E-mail for further assistance to:

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: Do I have a disease? Oh poor poor Pete!  My pitty goes out to you, and I understand because the same thing has happened to me in the last year. I have it so bad that the other day my wife said I should just go to Alaska for 6 months fishing and get it all out of my system.  Her thought was that then I could come back and be cured of my angling, and recently fly fishing disease. I explained to her that would be equivelant to sending a cocaine addict to Columbia expecting him to come back clean. Does anybody know what the fish in Alaska will be hitting on over the next 6 months.  ;-) — Kevin W. Tharp http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/4351

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Hello all- I want to relate the experience I had my first time……flyfishing. (You were expecting something else?)  

Well sort of.  We get a lot of these, and I was hoping beyond hope that maybe it was in fact something else.  Oh well. Last winter I ran across a Martin 6/7wt rod & reel at Target. It’s not my first choice for a place to buy fishing gear, but at $20 on clearance I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I upgraded the reel to a Martin 63SS (also on clearance for $10), and then, after much consideration, fitted it w/ an Air-cell WF line.  I already had a float tube and have been enjoying that using my spinning rod.

Well you could go wrong, but what the hell! So finally, The Long Winter was over, the staircase I promised my wife for Christmas 3 yrs ago was built, and I hit the water last Sunday (5/18). There’s a small, maybe 80 acre, spring fed lake near my home in East Central MN.

Whoa! Kewl!  Where in Mn pray tell? that I like to go to….full of Bass, crappie, sunnies, and a few northerns. Just before I was about to take off a wind kicked up out of the N/NE about 15-20 mph, which I figured wouldn’t bode well for a novice, so I went with the idea of probably just practicing casting, maybe staying for an hour or so.

Sounds just like MN. ……Four or five hours later, I figured I better quit because my hand was starting to cramp up. I haven’t had that much fun in a LONG time! I think I might be an addict…..I didn’t catch but three fish, none of them wighing much more than the fly, or wooly bugger, or whatever it was I had tied on, but the freedom of the tube along with the lightness of the tackle is, I believe, my kind of sport. I’m already thinking of upgrading again.  Do I have a disease?

Yes.  Most likely.  Some doofus around here might make some lame reference to Traver’s Trout Madness, but not me.  It probably has something to do with minnesota.  Long, round vowels.  Ending sentences with prepositions.  Inclination towards bland foodstuffs. Polka Music (God I hope you don’t live near Sturgeon Lake:-)).  Mosquitos. Calling creeks cricks.  Grain Belt.  The Vikings. Letting an NHL hockey team go like that.  It’s a disease all right, and you have it.   And don’t think that FFing is going to save from it – nope you’re f__king doomed pal. One thing will help, and that doesnt include NEVER GOING TO THE WHITE RIVER NEAR IRON RIVER WISC.  That won’t help you one iota.  So don’t bother going there.  Stay away.  Tell your friends so they go and leave all the good water to you. Thanks for listening.  Just thought I’d share my good times.

Always up for that. </chaz

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Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

There is.. a fish ..upon a dish.. They call the rising trout… it’s often seen by those who are keen.. but not by those who shout… — Colin J. McPherson B.Eng. Design and Structures Group, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath,Bath,U.K.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer There is.. a fish ..upon a dish.. They call the rising trout… it’s often seen by those who are keen.. but not by those who shout…

"…hey !" Now you got the toes tapping…we could be in some serious trouble by friday… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Sorry if this has been repeated, It was April the 41st, being a quadruple leapyear, I was driving in downtown Atlantis.  My Barracuda was in the shop, so, I was in a rented Stingray, and it was overheating.  So I pulled into a Shell station, they said I’d blown a seal.  I said:  "Fix the damn thing and leave my private life out of it, okay pal?"  While they were doing that I walked over to a place called the Oyster Bar.  A real dive. But I knew the owner, he used to play for the dolphins.  I said "Hi Gill!", you have to yell, he’s hard of herring.   Gill was also down on his luck, fact is he was barely keeping his head below water.  I bellied up to the sandbar, he poured the usual:  Rusty snail, hold the grunion, shaken, not stirred, with a peanut butter and jelly-fish sandwich on the side, heavy on the mako.  I slipped him a finn, on porpoise.  I was feelin’ good.  I even dropped a sand-dollar in the box for Jerry’s Squids, for the halibut.  Well, the place was crowded.  We were packed in like sardines, they were all there to listen to the big band sounds of Tommy Dorsal.  What sole!  Tommy was rockin the place with a very popular tuna:  "Salmon Chanted Evening", and the stage was surrounded by screaming groupers.  Probably there to see the bass player.  One of them, she was this cute little yellowtail.  And she’s givin’ me the eye.  So I figure this is my chance for a little fun, you know, a piece of pisces.  But she said things I just couldn’t fathom.  She was too deep.  Seemed to be under a lot of pressure.  Boy, could she drink.  She drank like a… er, she drank a lot!  I said: "What’s your sign?"  She said: "Aquarian"  I said "great, let’s get tanked".   I invited her up to my place for a little midnight bait.  I said come on baby you wanna, it’ll only take a few minnows.  She threw me that same old line:  "Not tonight, I got a haddock"  And she wasn’t kiddin either cause, in came the biggest, meanest looking haddock I’d ever seen come down the pike.  He was covered with Mussels.  He came over to me and he said:  "Listen Shrimp, Don’t you come trolling around here."  What a crab.  This guy was steamed.  I could see the anchor in his eyes.  I turned to him and said "ah, baloney, you’re just being shellfish."  Well, I know there was going to be trouble, and so did Gil, cause he was already on the phone to the cods.  The haddock hits me with a sucker punch.  I catch him with a left hook.  He eels over.  It was a fluke.  But there he was, lying on the deck, flat as a mackerel.  Kelpless.  I said:  "Forget the cods Gil, this guy’s gonna  need a sturgeon."  Well, the yellowtail was impressed with the way I landed her boyfriend.  She came over to me and she said "Hey bigboy","you’re really a game fish, what’s your name?"  I said "Marlin."   Well, from then on, we had a whale of a time.  I took her to dinner, I took her to dance.  I bought her a bouquet of flounders.  And then I went home with her.  And what did I get for my trouble:  A case of the clams.  

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Like a Sturgeon.. oh oh… Hooked for the very first time… Like a stur-ur-ur-urgeon… I feel its heartbeat… through my line… I’ll stop now… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

Fish the headwaters of the North Platte on over ten miles of private streams leased by Little Grizzly Creek Ranch.  Outstanding accommodations, gourmet meals guides, hosted bar.  Limited to twelve persons.  Accommodations and environment so nice that even the non-fishing wife has a good time.  Eighteen miles East of Steamboat Springs. Ideal for fishingcouples.  Fishing from July 1 through  Oct. 10th. Browns, brookies, rainbows, cutthroats, cutbows.  All small stream,  walk/wade.  For free brochure, e-mailregular address to

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Fish the headwaters of the North Platte on over ten miles of private streams leased by Little Grizzly Creek Ranch.  Outstanding accommodations, gourmet meals guides, hosted bar.  Limited to twelve persons.  Accommodations and environment so nice that even the non-fishing wife has a good time.  Eighteen miles East of Steamboat Springs. Ideal for fishingcouples.  Fishing from July 1 through Oct. 10th. Browns, brookies, rainbows, cutthroats, cutbows.  All small stream, walk/wade.  For free brochure, e-mailregular address to

      Don’t tell Tim bet he will think its a kill’em all and let  God sort’em out kind of place.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fish the headwaters of the North Platte on over ten miles of private streams leased by Little Grizzly Creek Ranch.  Outstanding accommodations, gourmet meals guides, hosted bar.  Limited to twelve persons.  Accommodations and environment so nice that even the non-fishing wife has a good time.  Eighteen miles East of Steamboat Springs. Ideal for fishingcouples.  Fishing from July 1 through Oct. 10th. Browns, brookies, rainbows, cutthroats, cutbows.  All small stream, walk/wade.  For free brochure, e-mailregular address to       Don’t tell Tim bet he will think its a kill’em all and let  God sort’em out kind of place.

No, but it has taken a great deal of restraint not to call a Spam a Spam. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

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Question:

I’ ll be in Cancun in early Dec. with some nonfishing friends and would like to get two days of bonefishing in if possible.  I was wondering if anyone was familiar with any guides or fishing areas within a short distance from Cancun. I’ve fished at Ascension Bay Bonefish club in the past and its unfortunately much to far to go for a day trip. Any help would be appreciated.

You can fish for 10 to30# tarpon in Dec. north of Cancun with a good guide servise we use. If you go out to the island of Cozumel you can get a guide for bonefish year round. Call us at 800/4000FLY for more info. You can rent a car and drive south down to the Boca Paila bridge for some wading for bonefish and permit. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY

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I’ ll be in Cancun in early Dec. with some nonfishing friends and would like to get two days of bonefishing in if possible.  I was wondering if anyone was familiar with any guides or fishing areas within a short distance from Cancun. I’ve fished at Ascension Bay Bonefish club in the past and its unfortunately much to far to go for a day trip. Any help would be appreciated.

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Question:

Does anybody have any information on fly fishing in the Linville Falls community area. I have been camping near there in the past and looked like a nice place to go. I have never been Fly fishing before, but would like to try since someone gave me some gear. Thanks for any info. Chris

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I forgot to put that is Linville Falls community in N.C.

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