Question:

Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey?

Well to be serious for a moment, I do not carry a handgun. I do, however, carry a size 6 weighted wooly bugger and I would feel no remorse whatsoever if I ripped some GDA’s nose off with it. I have not done this to date, but not for lack of trying. You all Europeans can become one with universe, hum mantras and tsk, tsk at the uncivilized North Americans if you wish, but <assume John Wayne accent sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

 Hollow points tend not to pass through and kill an innocent bystander. Especially if you are using subsonic rounds. —  Don Thompson  Zoomie(BushBug)  ACA#3460  TLCB#335  Any Time, Any Place  Pull the chocks, lets get this kite in the air.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But necessary or overkill?

Response:

You have no idea how impressive a size 6/0 pikestreamer can be when adequately stripped.. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm <ad infinitum Herman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey? Well to be serious for a moment, I do not carry a handgun. I do, however, carry a size 6 weighted wooly bugger and I would feel no remorse whatsoever if I ripped some GDA’s nose off with it. I have not done this to date, but not for lack of trying. You all Europeans can become one with universe, hum mantras and tsk, tsk at the uncivilized North Americans if you wish, but <assume John Wayne accent sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. — Ken Fortenberry

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

It was not malicious.  I must admit that I prefer to know the correct names of the people with whom I am communicating, and see no particularly good reasons for aliases here normally .  But it is like many things, purely a matter of personal choice. I never for a moment thought it was malicious.  As for the name..I’ve been using it for about 7 years now and use it for everything online. Just what I started with  so it’s a habit.

Using an alias online is an excellent idea that I recommend to everyone. I’m speaking from a truly harrowing personal experience that I’ve related in this newsgroup. I don’t mind most people knowing my real name, which is Stephen Barnard, but I don’t want it continually plastered all over Usenet. So I compromise. I use an alias, but I reveal my name occasionally so at least the regulars know whom they’re talking to. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Mike Connor  AKA Upstream Spider

How do we know that your name is really Mike Connor? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

snip their own sense of etiquette. Bad temper, and bad manners can end up in a feedback loop that only makes things worse. And it seems more likely the more of us there are sharing the water. I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But or overkill?

My math isn’t very good but I come up with: more fishermen * same streams = more fishermen per stream (and most of them pissed off) The only variable I see there is the fishermen. They must change in either attitude or numbers. Nothing else will. Please advise where, when & if you plan to thin the standing crop of anglers. Thanks Kiyu

Response:

My math isn’t very good but I come up with: more fishermen * same streams = more fishermen per stream (and most of them pissed off) Kiyu

You’re right, it isn’t.  That should be Fisherman / streams = fishermen per stream Kevin  

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip their own sense of etiquette. Bad temper, and bad manners can end up in a feedback loop that only makes things worse. And it seems more likely the more of us there are sharing the water. I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But or overkill? My math isn’t very good but I come up with: more fishermen * same streams = more fishermen per stream (and most of them pissed off) The only variable I see there is the fishermen. They must change in either attitude or numbers. Nothing else will. Please advise where, when & if you plan to thin the standing crop of anglers.

The situation is actually somewhat more complicated than what you describe.  In nearly fifty years on this planet I have met thousands of divorced persons, male and female.  Surprisingly, and in apparent defiance of immutable natural laws, in each case I have met the aggrieved party; NEVER the asshole.  The same sort of peculiarity marks my contacts with fishermen.  I never meet (in a social setting) the ill bred yuppie prick or the inbred bubba dipshit; only the well mannered and considerate gentlemen.  Anyone who doubts the possibility of something like this occurring need only read these pages for a few weeks.  All any of us asks is that we be allowed unlimited time in our favorite fishing spots unencumbered by the presence of any other human being within 12,000 miles or so.  What could be more reasonable and selfless?  Now, since we are ALL entirely void of the deplorable characteristics displayed by the lummoxen of whom we complain, it stands to reason that fishing assholes, like divorced assholes, are the residents of a parallel universe who somehow manage to cross over at odd intervals just to wreak havoc on our own blameless lives.  And since we have no reason to believe that the laws of nature behave differently in parallel universes it follows that simply shooting the bastards will never solve the problem because there are in all likelihood just as many of them as there are of us and from what I here they breed like rats anyway.  As well attack the tides with wooden lance! Wolfgang Oh WHY can’t everyone just be more like me?!

Response:

snip one brookie but it was loads of fun on that lovely little rod.  Definitely a keeper.

I wouldn’t sell your stock in Sage just yet. I haven’t tossed a line with an RPL+ but from what I have read here they are nice rods and it is good to switch back and forth from time to time to appreciate what each rod can do for your fishing as your fishing & casting style will change over time. On another note and to revisit the GD I just will never get used to dealing with such incredibly inconsiderate, self consumed jerks.

As our streams become more crowded we will encounter and endure more "self consumed jerks" ….. and beginners who get mistaken for them. Sure streamside courtesy needs to be understood by all but I would doubt that hostile displays do much more than make the other angler think the messenger is a jerk.<G Beginners are usually (if they attended a class) taught in flocks and their early streamside habits often reflect this. Time & observation usually cures their crowding tendencies. A lot of seemingly inconsiderate behavior by experienced fishermen is because different streams develop their own codes of behavior and this gets carried over from stream to stream. I can almost guarantee that someone who regularly fishes a no-holds-barred, fight-for-your-space stream will seem to be a real jerk on a stream that has plenty of angling space and a different stream culture until he gets in sync with his surroundings. I have been on both ends of this. Most people don’t want to interfere with another’s fishing. If I feel someone has encroached upon what I deem to be my fishing space and I want to make a statement about it I quickly reel in without a word & leave for another spot. It is an obvious gesture, is very clear and often gets an apology (unless the person actually is a jerk in which case he will probably not understand any gesture except the single fingered one – and that could get dangerous for all parites). As well, I have sought out anglers to apologize to who have responded similarly to my own chowderheaded but inadvertent encroachments. Works for me – may not work for you. Kiyu

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey? Herman Ah, well, there is something to be said about etiquette. … Within 5 minutes, here he is, right in front of me. So I move downstream. This little game goes on for the next hour.  … Well, nobody owns the stream, we must learn to cope with whomever else shares it with us. Phooey, this is why god invented handguns. — Ken Fortenberry — Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

sharing at all.  One doesn’t share reverie or tranquility.  It is a selfish thing we all need.  Some people need to  get away from even looking or seeing another human being.  Fly fishing is one place where that is possible.  Disturbing a man’s reverie is about the biggest sin anyone can do to another fly fisherman.  Reverie is so precious to some that to disturb it is to replace it with rage, which is reverie’s opposite.   Normally, there are other humans about fishing but it then comes down to a zone of several hundred yards or just a hundred yards but no less than that. It can mean, don’t dog my trail and don’t follow me around. Fly fishing is more a state of mind as anything else.  It doesnot need to be catching anything at all.  It can just be a place not to be shared or seen by others.  It can be just the knowledge that someone walks well around and away who is smart enough not to even say "hello."  One doesn’t go fly fishing to hear ‘hello’ from others, believe it or not.  All this sounds cruel, but ’some individuals’ need a piece of heaven on earth that is undisturbed.  This is a feature in the outdoors that is becoming rarer as each year goes by. As Mel Levin said one time, "Don’t say hello to that guy!  Before you know it, you’ll be exchanging flies, business cards and when you get home you will either get a telephone call or a love letter!  NEVER, say hello astream!" Finally, there is that burning question we all get, or at least the ones that are catching trout.  Suddenly!  From behind comes this rude invasion of privacy.  "What fly are you using?" I always answer, "The one found in "Matching the Hatch!"  Why do you ask? — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote…  … Well, nobody owns the stream, we must learn to cope with whomever else shares it with us. Phooey, this is why god invented handguns.

Ok, I’m relatively new to the sport of fly fishing. I mean, I’ve fished about 100 days in the last year, but almost always by myself on a private pond. So although I try to be a good sport and show etiquette, I can envision that somebody might infringe on someone else out of naivete rather than ill-will. I hope that if I were to–out of a lack of knowledge–infringe on what someone else considered to be their fishing "space" that the other party would be willing correct me politely and only shoot if I did it a second time. I’m assuming as well that we’re talking about infringement by strangers and not necessarily situations where you’re fishing with someone you know, right? –Steve (so call me an idiot, at least I’m trying to learn)

Response:

Last year, I was fishing Mt. Vernon creek, a small popular spot not too far from Madison, WI. My buddy and I were treated to a streamside invective (a litany, really) directed by a fellow fisherman at the injustice of having arrived to find the stream full of other fisherman when he had been fishing that water for 20 years. Didn’t get a lot of sympathy from me, as I’ve been fishing it a good 5 years longer. But I *could* understand the frustration he must have felt as he watched the crowds grow over the years. For ourselves, we had already begun to leave work early in order to beat others to the stream. I suspect this guy has learned the same trick, or begun driving further. I wonder if some of the increased inconsiderate behavior we’ve had to bear over the years resulted from bad tempers caused by other, usually thoughtful people who had experienced boorishness just one too many times, and lost their own sense of etiquette. Bad temper, and bad manners can end up in a feedback loop that only makes things worse. And it seems more likely the more of us there are sharing the water. I try to hold my temper and sense of proportion in check. But or overkill?

Response:

Yeah right… somebody’s in my way, so kill him. Land of the free, hey? Herman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ah, well, there is something to be said about etiquette. … Within 5 minutes, here he is, right in front of me. So I move downstream. This little game goes on for the next hour.  … Well, nobody owns the stream, we must learn to cope with whomever else shares it with us. Phooey, this is why god invented handguns. — Ken Fortenberry

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

Set out this morning in a fine, misty rain eager to fish a new 2 wt. I picked up yesterday afternoon (Orvis, Silver Label 792) to determine if it was a keeper or not.  Suffice is to say, I love the new rod.  I had used a Sage RPL+ in the past and didn’t like it at all…..it was very fast, felt like a darn pool cue.  After 15 minutes or so getting used to casting the full flex action rod it was turning over a size 18 furry black ant beautifully, laying it down on the water as though it had fallen from an overhanging tree limb (actually did manage to snag a tree).  Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse and the light mist turned into a steady rain within the hour.  During that time I managed only one brookie but it was loads of fun on that lovely little rod.  Definitely a keeper. On another note and to revisit the GD Ahole thread…….I had been on the stream for about 30 minutes and was working my way upstream when this jerk comes tromping into the water about 20 yards upstream from me and begins dead drifting some sort of wet fly downstream in my direction all the while chatting with his buddy who was sitting up on the bank, obviously perturbed that I had the nerve to get there before them!  Good thing I didn’t have a gun, I may have just been pissed enough to use it . Anyway, I fished (more like just spent the time false casting the new 2 wt as close to him as I could) a little while longer and since the weather wasn’t great I just tromped and splashed as loudly and clumsily as I could upstream, right past him  and exited about 30 yards past the two interlopers. I just will never get used to dealing with such incredibly inconsiderate, self consumed jerks.  My 4 year old son has the brains and common sense consideration to know better than to do what they did.  When I was leaving I noticed their truck had out of state tags…I guess they figured since they traveled to get there they weren’t going to let anything stop them from wetting a line. Natty

Response:

My 4 year old son has the brains and common sense consideration to know better than to do what they did.

Well that’s probably because your son has a better father than those 2 guys. Don’t get angry with them – feel sorry for them. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Two wrongs don

Question:

Last fall I had the good fortune of meeting a gentleman at a local craft fair in NH who had a 6′x6′ display of pictures of some amazing size fish that he had caught. I guessed he was a hunter and fisherman of some sort, but it turned out that he was a Bush Pilot for many years, taking people in and out of remote areas in Canada. He had pictures and pictures of 10+ pound brook trout and deer with simply huge racks. I was amazed. He said he had gone where few people ever get a chance to go in a lifetime, and he was bursting with excitement and pride when he told his stories. He had since stopped bush piloting, due to health concerns, but his dream is to once again get back into a plane, or at the very least help some people who need information about adverturing into these remote spots. The amazing pictures he showed me, reminded me of my childhood days when I used to go hiking and fishing in the remote mountain streams of Vermont and catch some wonderful spring brook trout myself. I understood why he was so excited to tell his stories. At the time, my girlfriend and I were putting together a website to sell Vermont products, and even though he is from NH, we agreed to help him promote his book, Adventures of a Bush Pilot, through our site. If anyone is interested in Bush Piloting information or perhaps Mr. Laporte’s book, Adventures of a Bush Pilot, you can send us an email, or visit our website. The book is accessible through a link on our site’s left sidebar. Mr. Laporte would be glad to share his bush piloting advice as well. Thanks, Rick and Susan Vermonters at heart! http://www.piecesofvermont.com Before you buy.

Response:

Based on the topic, I’m going to share an experience I heard of a bush pilot. A friend and co-worker of mine was born and raised in Alaska.  He has his ASEL certificate and was constantly flying into hard to reach areas to do some serious hunting and fishing.  On one occasion, he landed on a sandbar in a nearly dried up river bed in order to hunt along the waterline.  Well, it so happens that the FAA somehow witnessed him landing there and cited him for not having the proper certificate to fly the model plane.  In other words, because he landed a river bed, the FAA cited him for flying a sea-plane without being certified for airplane, single engine sea.  But, the plane has was flying had wheels and was normally considered a "land plane." (I wish I could remember the actual plane.)  What are your impressions about being cited for operating a plane that you are certified to operate? Remember, it was a "land" plane and he landed on the dried river bed, not the water. — Sometimes opportunity pounds. Open the door; Link Below. http://www.rexall.com/nonprescriptionfortune Independent Business Owner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last fall I had the good fortune of meeting a gentleman at a local craft fair in NH who had a 6′x6′ display of pictures of some amazing size fish that he had caught. I guessed he was a hunter and fisherman of some sort, but it turned out that he was a Bush Pilot for many years, taking people in and out of remote areas in Canada. He had pictures and pictures of 10+ pound brook trout and deer with simply huge racks. I was amazed. He said he had gone where few people ever get a chance to go in a lifetime, and he was bursting with excitement and pride when he told his stories. He had since stopped bush piloting, due to health concerns, but his dream is to once again get back into a plane, or at the very least help some people who need information about adverturing into these remote spots. The amazing pictures he showed me, reminded me of my childhood days when I used to go hiking and fishing in the remote mountain streams of Vermont and catch some wonderful spring brook trout myself. I understood why he was so excited to tell his stories. At the time, my girlfriend and I were putting together a website to sell Vermont products, and even though he is from NH, we agreed to help him promote his book, Adventures of a Bush Pilot, through our site. If anyone is interested in Bush Piloting information or perhaps Mr. Laporte’s book, Adventures of a Bush Pilot, you can send us an email, or visit our website. The book is accessible through a link on our site’s left sidebar. Mr. Laporte would be glad to share his bush piloting advice as well. Thanks, Rick and Susan Vermonters at heart! http://www.piecesofvermont.com Before you buy.

Response:

He never told me who actually spotted him landing, but Alaska does have alternating regulations on when you can take your game depending on the time of year. For example:  When bear hunting, most of the time after the kill, the hunter must skin, gut, and package the bear meat, but not take it with on the first day.  But, during spawning season, the bears eat so much fish that the meat tastes fishy, so you can take the meat the same day it was killed.  I’ve never hunted in Alaska, so I can’t get more specific than restating stories that my friend has told me. I’ll email him and see if I can get him into this newsgroup. — Sometimes opportunity pounds. Open the door; Link Below. http://www.rexall.com/nonprescriptionfortune Independent Business Owner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You’re kidding right?  The rating says nothing about where you land, only what equipment you can fly. Now, if it was Fish and Game that watched him and he took game "same day airborne" he could be in "a heap of trouble". — Dale L. Falk Cessna 182A N5912B http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

Response:

You’re kidding right?  The rating says nothing about where you land, only what equipment you can fly. Now, if it was Fish and Game that watched him and he took game "same day airborne" he could be in "a heap of trouble". – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Based on the topic, I’m going to share an experience I heard of a bush pilot. A friend and co-worker of mine was born and raised in Alaska.  He has his ASEL certificate and was constantly flying into hard to reach areas to do some serious hunting and fishing.  On one occasion, he landed on a sandbar in a nearly dried up river bed in order to hunt along the waterline.  Well, it so happens that the FAA somehow witnessed him landing there and cited him for not having the proper certificate to fly the model plane.  In other words, because he landed a river bed, the FAA cited him for flying a sea-plane without being certified for airplane, single engine sea.  But, the plane has was flying had wheels and was normally considered a "land plane." (I wish I could remember the actual plane.)  What are your impressions about being cited for operating a plane that you are certified to operate? Remember, it was a "land" plane and he landed on the dried river bed, not the water.

– Dale L. Falk Cessna 182A N5912B http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

Response:

Question:

Call the Blacktail Ranch near Wolf Creek Montana.

Or Dick Klick up at Augusta.  Don’t remember the name of the place, but it’s up against the Bob.  You’ll not find more beautiful country, the cutts in the Sun river are multitudinous and "unsophisticated," horse back and hot springs are at your disposal and the further you’re willing to go into the wilderness, the bigger and better the fish.  Plus you won’t have the hordes you’ll have down in the Madison/Paradise Vallies.

Response:

Call the Blacktail Ranch near Wolf Creek Montana.  It is a working cattle ranch with excellent fishing in a small stream and in a series of beaver ponds with big trout.  You can choose a camping option that is very reasonable.  If you want to fish big water you can go to the Missouri and hire a guide to fish down from Hardy Bridge.  It is my favorite part of Montana. Ted Lannan

Response:

Here’s a wide open question: I have the opportunity to go fishing with two old friends in July or August pretty much anywhere out West.  I have fly fished for quite a while but my two friends have never done it at all.  I have the idea that a lodge with guides etc which has some "easy" water nearby (a casting pond with trout) as well as some more challenging rivers nearby would be ideal. We’re in good shape and can hike a bit I have looked through Sports Afield’s Guide to Fishing Lodges, the Orvis catalog, done web searched etc and I am totally bewildered by the sheer number of lodges. I am interested in comments/recommendations on lodges – as well as any other ideas (e.g. float trips).  Our budget is not huge, but we can spend some money this one time. Thanks for the help, Patrick Keith-Hynes

Response:

Question:

Hi: I may get a chance to go south to the San Mateo Fly Fishing show in early February.  What types of fishing opportunities are there along the coast?  We will try to come back along US101.  Any striper fishing then? Also, any comments on previous San Mateo shows?  I am interested in some of bamboo fly rod presentations that are supposed to be there. If I get there, I’ll also be helping with the Oregon council FFF booth, so stop by and say hi. Don DD Chen             Standard disclaimers USDA-ARS             always apply NFSPRC 3450 SW Campus Way Corvallis, OR 97331 541-750-8741

Response:

Not to answer a question with a question, but… What is the show? when is it? I might be interested in attending. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: I may get a chance to go south to the San Mateo Fly Fishing show in early February.  What types of fishing opportunities are there along the coast?  We will try to come back along US101.  Any striper fishing then? Also, any comments on previous San Mateo shows?  I am interested in some of bamboo fly rod presentations that are supposed to be there. If I get there, I’ll also be helping with the Oregon council FFF booth, so stop by and say hi. Don DD Chen             Standard disclaimers USDA-ARS             always apply NFSPRC 3450 SW Campus Way Corvallis, OR 97331 541-750-8741

Response:

The show is great.  I believe it is 2/5 -2/8 at the San Mateo Exposition Center.  All the major, and many minor manufacturers attend.  You can try out all the different fly rods.  There is a casting competition as well as flytying and casting exhibitions and instruction by people like Dave Whitlock, Andre Puyans, Ralph Cutter, Lefty Kreh, etc.  I’ve attended for the past 8 years.  There is also a hunting hall, dog training and exhibitions, a place for kids to catch fish, shoot arrows and b.b. guns, and learn about conservation.     As for things to do on the way down the coast – try some steelheading on the Smith, Eel, Mattole, Mad, and Klamath Rivers.  There are some trout ponds and lakes in the Klamath River area, Mendicino area and Marin County.  Check out Tom Steinstra’s compendium book "California Fishing" which contains an exhaustive list of waters, tactics and species by area of California. I also recommend that you check with the Eureka Fly Shop, and some of the other Northern California shops.  A good place to get information is through the links listed for California at http://www.davisbrown.com/ffgeo.htm under "United States" and then, "California" Have a safe trip and tight lines. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not to answer a question with a question, but… What is the show? when is it? I might be interested in attending. Hi: I may get a chance to go south to the San Mateo Fly Fishing show in early February.  What types of fishing opportunities are there along the coast?  We will try to come back along US101.  Any striper fishing then? Also, any comments on previous San Mateo shows?  I am interested in some of bamboo fly rod presentations that are supposed to be there. If I get there, I’ll also be helping with the Oregon council FFF booth, so stop by and say hi. Don DD Chen             Standard disclaimers USDA-ARS             always apply NFSPRC 3450 SW Campus Way Corvallis, OR 97331 541-750-8741

Response:

Given a little sunlight, the striper bite in the delta should be wide open about the time of the Ed Rice Show. You can rent boats at Bethel Island, Chuck’s Bait, on the water at Russo’s Marina. Rental of a boat with buddy two and trolling motor is about $70 per day. You don’t have more than a quarter mile before you’re into fish. — Jerry Al and Jerry’s Excellent Adventures http://www.softcom.net/users/dorado Al and Jerry’s Fishing Forum http://pluto.beseen.com/boardroom/m/19629

Response:

Question:

A few years ago, I was using a Herlihy (sp.?) knot, but I lost fish like crazy on that knot.  I know that I wasn’t doing something right.  So, I went back to the old improved clinch knot, which I at least feel I can tie correctly.  But still, I snap off decent fish every time I get one.

try a trilene knot. recently I had similar experiences with good size fish. I’d gone for a trip brought what I thought was a few days worth of flies and lost 6 or 7 in a morning – using an improved clinch! The trilene is known to be stronger so I switched to that – and the next few days I didn’t loose a fly till the last morning. the trilene is exactly like a clinch except you go through the eye of the hook 2x and put the tag through both loops formed at the eye then pull it tight. It gives you double the strength at the hook eye. Ralph H

Response:

Yesterday, it happened again.  I was fishing the Russian River here in Alaska, and I lost another big fish.  I’ve been flyfishing on and off for 20 years now, and I gave up spinfishing completely about ten years ago.  In all that time, I have never managed to land a big trout – say anything over 18" or so. The reds are finally disappearing from the Russian, and there are only a few silvers coming through.  With a good pair of glasses, you can see lots of big (20"-30") fish, a mixture of rainbows and Dollies. I had caught one decent Dolly (I did take a 20" Dolly down there two weeks ago), when I spotted two fish in the 20"-24" range. I came up from below them, and fished them with my small pink single egg pattern for about 10 minutes.  No interest at all.  So I moved up a bit, upstream from the fish, and a few casts later, a cast ended up down where those two fish were sitting.  The larger fish grabbed the egg, and I was thrilled. The fish took me under two rocks, and I was in the middle of the river, trying to get my line out from under rocks.  I could feel the fish fighting, but by the time I got the line free from the second rock, the line was snapped. It would have easily been the biggest rainbow I’ve ever caught. This is a recurrent theme with me.  I snap off flies all the time, and feel I must be doing something wrong.  Yesterday, I wanted to apply more pressure, to keep the fish from going under the rocks, but I was afraid to do so.  I must admit that after fly-fishing for salmon all summer with an 8 wt, that my 5 wt feels a bit funny to me, and I was hesitant to use pressure, remembering that the tippet I was using yesterday is not the 14 lb. test leader that I use for reds and silvers. A few years ago, I was using a Herlihy (sp.?) knot, but I lost fish like crazy on that knot.  I know that I wasn’t doing something right.  So, I went back to the old improved clinch knot, which I at least feel I can tie correctly.  But still, I snap off decent fish every time I get one.  It gets expensive, replacing flies all the time, even the ones I tie myself.  And, at times, I end up running out of flies on the water.  Two weeks ago, when Dollies were slamming flesh flies, I ran out. Then I ran out of crystal flash leeches when the silvers stole them all from me.  Yesterday, I ran out of small single pink eggs, and I didn’t get another bite the rest of the day.  Even worse, I feel terrible thinking about the fish that I injure, leaving them with a fly in their body. I try to be very patient with fish, not applying too much pressure, but that seems to give the fish time to get to cover.  If I try to apply pressure, I seem to snap them off.  I’m sure that this is all a matter of practice, practice, practice, but I end up feeling like a complete fishing failure when I lose these fish every chance I get. Any advice?  It’s almost winter up here, and I want to get down there once or twice more before the snows move in.  I know that there’s still a big rainbow down there with my name on it. As an aside, for those who come to Alaska to fish in the summer, I’d suggest trying September sometime instead.  The Russian is full of big fish right now, there are still silvers to be had, the Kenai is producing large rainbows and Dollies, and the crowds are gone.  I think I saw four or five other fishermen on the Russian yesterday in about five hours of fishing. This is a time of year when you can get to big fish by just driving from Anchorage rather than flying, see beautiful fall scenery, and fish uncrowded streams, because everyone else is out moose hunting. Thanks. Damon

Response:

This is pretty elementary, so I hesitate to mention it to someone with so much experience, but are you lubricating your knots with spit?  – something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – try a trilene knot. recently I had similar experiences with good size fish. I’d gone for a trip brought what I thought was a few days worth of flies and lost 6 or 7 in a morning – using an improved clinch! The trilene is known to be stronger so I switched to that – and the next few days I didn’t loose a fly till the last morning. the trilene is exactly like a clinch except you go through the eye of the hook 2x and put the tag through both loops formed at the eye then pull it tight. It gives you double the strength at the hook eye. Ralph H

Yes, Ralph, that’s the knot.  I sent Damon an email trying to describe it, but you just did it better. Mark Faulkner

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=====SNIP====== Any advice?  It’s almost winter up here, and I want to get down there once or twice more before the snows move in.  I know that there’s still a big rainbow down there with my name on it.

Assuming that you use the proper tip-diameter & that the fly indeed breaks off at the tip I would advice the "Palomar"-knot: – bring the tip forth & back through the eye of the hook, thus forming a loop. – make a single overhand knot in the double section, sothat the fly comes down hanging in the knot. – take the fly through the loop. – now SPIT ON IT!!!! This really helps to win more than half of your knotstrenght. – Sl

Question:

The "mandrel" is made of steel with multiple tapers on it.  The tapers on the mandrels are used to arrive at the ID.  The ID in combination with the graphite thickness drives the OD which, in combination with the graphite modulus, give the black its action.  Many amndrels today have upwards of six taper changes on the tip. Dwight Talon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

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In answer to your question, yes mandrels are tapered steel rods which do to some degree determine the charistics of the rod by determining the degree of taper.  After a particular mandrel is chosen,dependant on the type of rod, a piece of resin impregnated graphite cloth is cut according to a pattern ( either compound or progressive taper ) and wraped very tightly around the mandrel under extreme pressure to cause the resin to bond and hold the cloth together and then the rod and mandrel are suspended tip down in an oven where they are subjected to extreme heat and pressure. Then the rods are removed and seperated from the mandrels and sanded, painted, and /or clear coated.  

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info – Stainless steel, I guess. It’s not left in the rod blank (as implied by your wording above). Think of a mandrel as an internal mold (form). The graphite material is wrapped around the mandrel and then they are both put into an oven for a heat cured. The mandrel is then withdrawn from the blank and reused, over and over. Unless you want to become a manufacturer of rod blanks, knowledge of mandrel shape is of little importance to an average custom rod builder (rod wrapper), except providing one of many needed bits of knowledge about a blank’s expected action. I’d expect the mandrel’s shape would be a closely-held trade secret of the mfg. company. Don Burns

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?  

Hi Mark, Graphite comes as a cloth which is layed out on a table and cut to a pattern.  This is simply done placing a pattern over the cloth and then cutting the graphite cloth with a box knife (razor).  How the pattern is shaped will determine the wall thickness of the blank.  Graphite cut into a pattern is called a flag. The flags are then taken to the rolling machine.   Inside the rolling machine has been placed the correct mandrel for the section of the rod being manufactured.  Seperate mandrels are used for each piece of the rod.  The mandrel is a tapered steel rod that determines the inside diameter of the blank and the shape of the blank.  The combination of the cut of the pattern of the flag and the tapered shape of the mandrel determines the "taper" of the blank. A small heat iron is rubbed along the edge of the flag which makes it tacky and the tacky edge is slipped into the machine next to the mandrel. The tacky part of the flag adheres to the mandrel and th machine then rolls the graphite flag around the mandrel.  Heat shrink tape is then wrapped around the outside of the graphite and the mandrel with the shrink wrapped is removed from the rolling machine and hung up inside a walk-in oven.  The blank is then baked.  The heat activates the epoxies and resins in the graphite flag and the heat shrink tape compresses squeezing the graphite onto the  mandrel. When the gaphite is done cooking, it is removed from the oven and the blank is pulled off of the mandrel and the mandrel is used to make another rod.  The heat shrink tape leaves the ridges in the graphite that you see in many rods and the blank is finished at this point.  If the rod uses an external or internal ferrule (as opposed to the integral ferrule which is actually designed into the mandrel), it is attached at this point. Another step may ensue for cosmetic reasons and that is sanding off the ridges (scars from the heat shrink tape) and then coating the blank with an epoxy or varnish.  This last step is what allows rods to be made in different colors and have a smooth shiny surface instead of the dark gray color of the graphite itself. After the blank is constructed the rod is sypically splined and finished with guides, handle, reel seat, etc. This process commonly called rolling a rod.                          Hope this helps,                                Dan Dan Gracia                                                               Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools If you kill that big fish you can’t catch ‘em again.  So what if they eat other fish?  If you kill the big ones there will only be little ones left (funny how that works!).

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

Stainless steel, I guess. It’s not left in the rod blank (as implied by your wording above). Think of a mandrel as an internal mold (form). The graphite material is wrapped around the mandrel and then they are both put into an oven for a heat cured. The mandrel is then withdrawn from the blank and reused, over and over. Unless you want to become a manufacturer of rod blanks, knowledge of mandrel shape is of little importance to an average custom rod builder (rod wrapper), except providing one of many needed bits of knowledge about a blank’s expected action. I’d expect the mandrel’s shape would be a closely-held trade secret of the mfg. company. Don Burns

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of? Thanks for the info – Stainless steel, I guess. It’s not left in the rod blank (as implied by your wording above). Think of a mandrel as an internal mold (form).

Barbless Mandrel ?   ;0 TimW

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?

Stainless Steel Phil Koenig Manhattan Custom Tackle Ltd. http://fishdoc.com./ "I’m the boss, so WHATEVER I say is OK"

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Can anyone give me a education on the making of a graphite fly rod.  I understand that graphite fibers are wound around a mandrel.  What is this mandrel ( inner core of a rod? ) made of?   Thanks for the info –

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Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve never done it before, but I have decided to try for freshwater prawns. These live in the streams on the Big Island of Hawaii. Maybe someone could share some pointers on fishing techniques. I’ve heard of people using crab nets.  They seem too fast for wading in with scooping nets.  Are there traps that one can build? -thanx -dan Are you talking about crawfish? or commonly called crawdads. If so, you can catch them with a baited trap or at night in the shallows with a light. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

Here is info from an expert:         As a former 10 year resident of Kauai this is how all the locals trap prawns.         They get the standard wire mesh with 1/4 inch square spaces. Bend the mesh until you have made a tube about 18 inches long open at both ends. Close off one end flat with the left over mesh. You then suspend half of a coconut shell with the coconut meat still in the shell in the back of the tube where you have closed it off with the meat facing the open end. You then take a piece of the same wire mesh and form a cone with the small end roughly about the size of a tennis ball depending on the size of the prawns in the pond you are looking to harvest. Insert the cone in the open end of the tube and affix to tube (this prevents them from leaving the trap). Tie a string to the end and leave over night and the next morning you should have a nice breakfast waiting for you.         If you have never seen a prawn they look almost exactly like crawdads but their pinchers are about ten times as long and their bodies can be as long as 12 to 14 inches. A true Hawaiian delicacy! Aloha, Shane — Roller Hockey International Grass Valley League Office 13070 Fawn Hill Dr. Grass Valley, CA  95945 ph: 916-272-7825        FAX: 916-272-7858         Standings/Statistics    http://www.oro.net/~rhiglo/

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I’ve never done it before, but I have decided to try for freshwater prawns. These live in the streams on the Big Island of Hawaii.   Maybe someone could share some pointers on fishing techniques. I’ve heard of people using crab nets.  They seem too fast for wading in with scooping nets.  Are there traps that one can build? -thanx -dan

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I’ve never done it before, but I have decided to try for freshwater prawns. These live in the streams on the Big Island of Hawaii.   Maybe someone could share some pointers on fishing techniques. I’ve heard of people using crab nets.  They seem too fast for wading in with scooping nets.  Are there traps that one can build? -thanx -dan

Are you talking about crawfish? or commonly called crawdads. If so, you can catch them with a baited trap or at night in the shallows with a light. William Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA

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Question:

I am going on a fly in late June with a Co. Called North of Sixty. Aybody have anything to  report, good fishing?, good experience? etc? Jerry

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I am going on a fly in late June with a Co. Called North of Sixty. Aybody have anything to  report, good fishing?, good experience? etc? Jerry

I have not fished with North of Sixty myself because I have run into dissatisfied fishermen in the airport returning from their trips. Check references and if you hear of a problem, discuss it with the guy from whom you booked the trip. Kasba Lake Lodge has a good reputation and is in the general area that North of Sixty fishes.  I have fished with Nueltin Lake Lodge and Outposts, Scott Lake Lodge and Athabasca Lake Lodge and Outposts in that area.  I’ll be fishing with Nueltin again in June. Good luck on your trip.  E-mail if you want to trade tips on fishing in the NWT. Bruce

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Question:

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

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

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

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

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Question:

FFers, Anyone know if it is possible to catch charr on fly gear? Here in Scotland we have large populations of char in many of the large, nutrient poor, highland lochs. Charr are the major food of the large piscivorous Ferox trout. Of course the Loch Ness Monster eats charr too Pete Marrow work: http://ui.nmh.ac.uk/gsrg.html play: http://www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/scottish_ff_faq.htm

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Anyone know if it is possible to catch charr on fly gear? Here in Scotland we have large populations of char in many of the large, nutrient poor, highland lochs. Charr are the major food of the large piscivorous Ferox trout.

In 1910, P.D. Malloch wrote about fly fishing for charr in Scotland.  The largest he saw was a 2-1/2 pound fish from Loch Ericht.  "At one time Loch Leven contained char of a large size, many of them weighing 2 to 3 lbs., but they are no longer found there… Altogether it is a very beautiful fish…The best time to fish for char is on quiet evenings, when they can sometimes be seen rising to small flies.  The angler’s flies should be allowed to sink and then drawn quietly along." – P.D. Malloch, _Life History and Habits of the Salmon, Sea-trout and Other Freshwater Fish_, A.&C. Black, London, 1910 and 1912 editions. I have fished for landlocked Arctic charr in similar, nutrient-poor lakes in northern Alaska.  The biggest one I caught, a male, measured 19 inches. Fish of ten to twelve inches in length were more typical.  They could be caught on dry flies, particularly during a caddis hatch, but soft-hackled wet flies, nymphs and very small streamers or bucktails often worked better. Woods Hole, MA   USA

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Pete, In Alaska we routinely catch Char on flies in the Northern part of the state.  I have taken them on streamers and nymphs with good success.  Since they are like a large Dolly Varden, I fish them in the same fashion. — Gene Dobrzynski, Eagle River, Alaska

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – FFers, Anyone know if it is possible to catch charr on fly gear? Here in Scotland we have large populations of char in many of the large, nutrient poor, highland lochs. Charr are the major food of the large piscivorous Ferox trout. Of course the Loch Ness Monster eats charr too Pete Marrow work: http://ui.nmh.ac.uk/gsrg.html play: http://www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/scottish_ff_faq.htm

In "Fly Rod and Reel" april 1994, there is a fantastic article on Char and Flies.  If you can’t find it, I have a copy, and could pr= obably send you a copt in exchange for a fly.

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Artic Char in rivers are exceedingly easy to catch on a fly rod..  Use small #6 to #8 streamers with a silver body and blue and white top dressing and the Char usually go nuts..I have done this in Alaska, Tree River NWT, and an unnamed river flowing into Hudson Bay.   Are You sure your Char are not land locked Dollie Vqarden Trout….?    It takes a

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