Question:

The point is that when I type a string of ASCII characters, I expected (up until now) that my recipients would see that string of ASCII characters (font differences notwithstanding), and not some browser developer’s interpretation of it. Is it even possible to type accurately the character string "colon, hyphen, closing parenthesis" without the newfangled browser defaults converting it to a grinning jack-o-lantern?

Errr, you’re missing the big picture.  The display of emoticons as graphics is in *your* software.  Us text-only types still see them as the text they are (well, to be more accurate for the literal minded, as the standard text representation of the bit patterns they are).  You don’t send big yellow smileys, you only see them.  If you turn off the setting Willi mentioned, you will then see the same reality we all do. –Stan

Response:

Errr, you’re missing the big picture.  The display of emoticons as graphics is in *your* software.  Us text-only types still see them as the text they are (well, to be more accurate for the literal minded, as the standard text representation of the bit patterns they are).  You don’t send big yellow smileys, you only see them.  If you turn off the setting Willi mentioned, you will then see the same reality we all do.

Stupid me! Of course! Why didn’t I see that the first time?! Thanks for clearing that up, Stan! — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

<SNIP Errr, you’re missing the big picture.  The display of emoticons as graphics is in *your* software.  Us text-only types still see them as the text they are (well, to be more accurate for the literal minded, as the standard text representation of the bit patterns they are).  You don’t send big yellow smileys, you only see them.  If you turn off the setting Willi mentioned, you will then see the same reality we all do. –Stan

"A big yellow smiley, came and confused my old man". TL MC

Response:

When we had our discussion about "whining", I did a search and found a couple groups that also used "whining" in the same way you do. (I disagree with them too!)

Makes the score 3 to 1. This is turning out to be a good day after all What was interesting to me is that they had the same attitude toward the use of emoticons as they did to whining.

Will you be handing down *your* unique pronouncement on that issue in the near future, or do we have to use our imagination? /daytripper (This is getting…a bit weird….)

Response:

[artwork snipped] Looks like Betty Boop after a shark attack…

Response:

[artwork snipped] Looks like Betty Boop after a shark attack…

Naw, she was probably just….changed… ) …hmm…I wonder what rw’s program will do with this

Response:

Gee what happen went from a nice trip report to slamming smilies go figure only on ROFF                    Handyman Mike           Standing in a river waving a stick

Response:

After recently upgrading my browser I noticed something right away. Smileys no longer appear as strings of ASCII symbols. They appear as bright yellow images of maniacally smiling or frowning smiley creatures. They STAND OUT! This is a dramatic change. I’ve always thought of smileys as cover-your-ass devices — protection from literal-minded pedants with no sense of humor, but otherwise harmless cliches that all reasonable people ignored. Now they’re in my face. Two or three of the new, improved smileys distract from the actual content of the post.

Tough nuggies, just ‘cuz you’ve gone over to the Dark Mozilla Side I ain’t throwing away my winky dudes! /daytripper (Fix it or get over it! )

Response:

You can change them back to ASCII ynder preferences/mail and newsgroups/message display.

Sure, but them I’ll have to get everyone else to change them, too. The point is that when I type a string of ASCII characters, I expected (up until now) that my recipients would see that string of ASCII characters (font differences notwithstanding), and not some browser developer’s interpretation of it. Is it even possible to type accurately the character string "colon, hyphen, closing parenthesis" without the newfangled browser defaults converting it to a grinning jack-o-lantern? — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Tough nuggies, just ‘cuz you’ve gone over to the Dark Mozilla Side I ain’t throwing away my winky dudes! /daytripper (Fix it or get over it! )

When we had our discussion about "whining", I did a search and found a couple groups that also used "whining" in the same way you do. (I disagree with them too!) What was interesting to me is that they had the same attitude toward the use of emoticons as they did to whining. Willi

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After recently upgrading my browser I noticed something right away. Smileys no longer appear as strings of ASCII symbols. They appear as bright yellow images of maniacally smiling or frowning smiley creatures. They STAND OUT! This is a dramatic change. I’ve always thought of smileys as cover-your-ass devices — protection from literal-minded pedants with no sense of humor, but otherwise harmless cliches that all reasonable people ignored. Now they’re in my face. Two or three of the new, improved smileys distract from the actual content of the post. Tough nuggies, just ‘cuz you’ve gone over to the Dark Mozilla Side I ain’t throwing away my winky dudes! /daytripper (Fix it or get over it! )

Hmm…I wonder what this’ll do to it…                       .                                :::::::….                `::                           .::::::::::::::::::..::::::::::::::.                    .:  .::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                   ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                   `:::::::::::::::“::::::::::: `::::::::::::::::::                    ::::::::::’zc$$$b`:’,cc,`:::’ :”“,c=`:::::::::::’                                `"""???$PFFF""    """"""""                         $$$$$P  `$.::::::::::::::::::         `"".$$$$$c               z$$$$$$"           .::::::::::::::::..:3$$$$P L               `?$$$"            ::::::::::::::::::::.?::: . $    .,,,,ccc$L ? ""             :::::::::::::::::::::::::::.c%  :$$ ?=?P$$$%                 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                              `:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                               ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                          :   :::::::::::::::::““,,,,zcc`””`                          :::::::::::’zc,,,,,cd$$ `???""""                               J$$$$$$"      $$$$$$F                               $$$$$P        ?$$$$$                              d$$$$F         <$$$$F                              $$$P"           $$$P                             J$$P            <$$$’                            .$$P             $$$$                           .$$$             `$$$L                          z$$$F            / "$$$                         $$$$%/           ( ;. "?.                        ;"?""            “  `.                          .- `                   `–’ ;-}…oops…<G…. R

Response:

After recently upgrading my browser I noticed something right away. Smileys no longer appear as strings of ASCII symbols. They appear as bright yellow images of maniacally smiling or frowning smiley creatures. They STAND OUT! This is a dramatic change. I’ve always thought of smileys as cover-your-ass devices — protection from literal-minded pedants with no sense of humor, but otherwise harmless cliches that all reasonable people ignored. Now they’re in my face. Two or three of the new, improved smileys distract from the actual content of the post. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After recently upgrading my browser I noticed something right away. Smileys no longer appear as strings of ASCII symbols. They appear as bright yellow images of maniacally smiling or frowning smiley creatures. They STAND OUT! This is a dramatic change. I’ve always thought of smileys as cover-your-ass devices — protection from literal-minded pedants with no sense of humor, but otherwise harmless cliches that all reasonable people ignored. Now they’re in my face. Two or three of the new, improved smileys distract from the actual content of the post.

You can change them back to ASCII ynder preferences/mail and newsgroups/message display. Willi

Response:

        Had a *real* need to fish today.  So, I decided to swing up the valley and hit the river just below the Upper Souris refuge dam.  Had heard some of the small panfish were hitting. Sounded like just what the doctor ordered.         Now is where the folly starts — I have an 8′ 4 wt. in the car for when the urge to sneak off hits.  Listen to the weather report, and they say wind gusting to 30 mph.  Oh well, I figure, I can perhaps set up on a sheltered section, out of the wind, and still be able to cast in a halfways alright manner.  Get out of the car and string up.  Wind is channeling quite efficiently down the river.  Walk to the bank anyhow, and proceed to flail away…         Ugh.  Head is not screwed on straight.  Attempt to muscle the 4 wt.  Leader system is also too long, and can’t even turn the weighted #10 scud over with a roll cast.   Situation heading downhill rapidly.  Pick up and head to the small fishing pier to attempt to jig the scud from on high.  This works, after a fashion, unless one is exposed to the wind or a gust comes along and lifts the whole assembly out of the water, to hover several feet above it.         Decide to proceed upstream to a point area where I think I can cast downwind.  Oh yeah, the forward cast is downwind, but backcasts are problematic.  Gusts collapse the loop going back.  Wind dies a bit, and I proceed to muscle the thing again.  Not paying a lot of attention to my backcast either.  Can feel the line almost straightening behind me, and give it a quick snap forward, just as a gust kicks up.         Snap is the operative phrase, as I hear the line crack behind me.  Line goes forward and falls nicely on the water, but I figure the scud went flying when I cracked the whip.  Strip in, and find that not only is the scud gone, but the leader, braided loop, and about 6-8" of my fly line as well.         Reel up in disgust with myself.  As I’m packing the rod back up, hear something across the bank from me, and see a nice whitetail buck looking at me.  He gives a snort and bounds off into the thick brush.  Sit down on the bank and look around.  See a female Bittern fishing down the far bank.  She has no luck either, and flies off.  Look upstream and see a Pellican floating my way. Watch it sail on by.    None of the preceeding folly seems to matter all that much.  Would be quite content to sit there for awhile, just taking it all in.  See a small fish take something off the top with a splashing rise.  Think it was a perch, but it really doesn’t matter.  Life is good when one is on the water.  Unfortunately, it was time for me to head back home.         Fixed the business end of my fly line when I got home, and am ready to go again.  Forecast says much less wind tomorrow, so perhaps I will head back in the afternoon for awhile.  Lots of grasshoppers about.  If the wind will allow me to unleash the 4 wt. again, I might try some dry fly fishing with a suitable hopper tie.  Will throw the 7 wt. in the car in case the breeze is too stiff.  And if it’s blowing a gale again, I might just sit on the bank and watch the world go by. Todd

Response:

Question:

Check with Fish First Fly shop in Chico. 167 E 3rd St. Chico CA 95928 Tel (530) 343-8300 Fax (530) 343-8934 Their web site is www.fishfirst.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just resently moved to Chico and I love to flyu fish.  I’m don’t know where any good local fishing spots are near by.  If anyone could help me with some streams to fish and some flys to use here in Butte County I would appreciate it Thank you.

Response:

I just resently moved to Chico and I love to flyu fish.  I’m don’t know where any good local fishing spots are near by.  If anyone could help me with some streams to fish and some flys to use here in Butte County I would appreciate it Thank you.

Response:

Question:

I have noticed today that there are  some personal items of Gary LaFontaine up for auction. I know he is struggling with ALS (I believe) but I really hope that his family isn’t having to sell his personal possessions to meet medical costs associated with his illness. I don’t want to start a bitch session about HMOs and the like, but if this is the case it’s pretty bloody awful.

Response:

I have noticed today that there are  some personal items of Gary LaFontaine up for auction. I know he is struggling with ALS (I believe) but I really hope that his family isn’t having to sell his personal possessions to meet medical costs associated with his illness. I don’t want to start a bitch session about HMOs and the like, but if this is the case it’s pretty bloody awful.

This is sad. There’s no cure for ALS and it’s a terrible, painful way to die. I recently read Gary’s book about fishing the high country lakes. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it highly. One thing that came across in the book was how much he loved the extreme physical exertion of that kind of fishing. I’d be honored to give one of Gary’s legendary fishing dogs a home, if it needs one. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

I read in the letters column of Flyfishing and Tying Journal that one of the publishers was hosting a fund for Gary.  I’ll try to pick up the address Scott

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have noticed today that there are  some personal items of Gary LaFontaine up for auction. I know he is struggling with ALS (I believe) but I really hope that his family isn’t having to sell his personal possessions to meet medical costs associated with his illness. I don’t want to start a bitch session about HMOs and the like, but if this is the case it’s pretty bloody awful. This is sad. There’s no cure for ALS and it’s a terrible, painful way to die. I recently read Gary’s book about fishing the high country lakes. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it highly. One thing that came across in the book was how much he loved the extreme physical exertion of that kind of fishing. I’d be honored to give one of Gary’s legendary fishing dogs a home, if it needs one. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Question:

With the wife in Vail, Coloradol for a week the last week of Oct…….any info on fly fishing in that area, guides, spots, fly school and such would be most thankful……am a surf fisherman in Texas and havent been fly fishing in some years……we have a Bass Pro Shop here in Dallas Ft Worth area to get gear and such that I havent visited yet or may I say I was busy in other departments……thanks for any help….

Here are parts of a conversation that I had with someone earlier. We also fished a river up from Vail.  You go west on I-70 from Vail then turn south on the highway to Mintern (or Leadville), you’ll parallel a stream way below you in the canyon.  At about Red Cliff the stream reaches the highway and mellows out.  There’s a little picnic area we parked at and fished upstream

This stretch of water (the Eagle) was fantastic on 8/2-6, when I had the good fortune to be fishing it with a couple of friends. I used to live in Aspen and had fished the Roaring Fork and over in Frying Pan, but the fishing was never as good as the 5 days we had around Vail. I guess it helped that my freind had been guiding in the valley for about five years. I was told to pick up some emerging caddis at the local outfitter, and hardly took them off (except to do some nymphing). Caught my first cut on the Eagle just below the rod and gun club’s property off of highway 6. Anyway, I had to make a comment when I heard that I almost you on the river.

Response:

With the wife in Vail, Coloradol for a week the last week of Oct…….any info on fly fishing in that area, guides, spots, fly school and such would be most thankful……am a surf fisherman in Texas and havent been fly fishing in some years……we have a Bass Pro Shop here in Dallas Ft Worth area to get gear and such that I havent visited yet or may I say I was busy in other departments……thanks for any help….

Response:

Question:

As a beginner with the fly, and a resident of Scotland, I get confused about the different styles between USA and UK fly fishing. It seems that USA rods are much shorter (8 to 10 feet?) than UK rods (10 to 14 feet?) Is this just a matter of fashion or is there a good reason for it? Plus, I need to know what weight of line / rod to go for- I will be fishing for brown trout of around 0.75 to 1 pound, plus sea trout of up to around 3 pounds, the odd Arctic Charr of up to 2 pounds, plus the (rarer) chance of a salmon- I guess I’m talking about two rods, aren’t I? The fishing will be on small rivers (say 10m wide), streams (3m-5m wide) and hill lochs, big and small, shore and boat. What weight should I go for? * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

As a beginner with the fly, and a resident of Scotland, I get confused about the different styles between USA and UK fly fishing. It seems that USA rods are much shorter (8 to 10 feet?) than UK rods (10 to 14 feet?) Is this just a matter of fashion or is there a good reason for it? Plus, I need to know what weight of line / rod to go for- I will be fishing for brown trout of around 0.75 to 1 pound, plus sea trout of up to around 3 pounds, the odd Arctic Charr of up to 2 pounds, plus the (rarer) chance of a salmon- I guess I’m talking about two rods, aren’t I? The fishing will be on small rivers (say 10m wide), streams (3m-5m wide) and hill lochs, big and small, shore and boat. What weight should I go for?

Hi Paul,  in the USA much shorter rods are used for nearly all fishing. For general fly-fishing in Scotland I would go for an 8 foot 6inch 5 weight, or a nine foot five weight if you fish lochs regularly.  This will handle all the fish you mention, cover nearly all situations adequately, allow reasonable boat fishing, and is not too heavy for delicate fishing.  Very short rods are only advantageous on small over grown streams. If you hook a salmon on this rod you may still be able to land it, but it would be folly to use such a rod deliberately for salmon. For the Salmon you really need another rod. Tight lines ! Mike Connor

Response:

As a beginner with the fly, and a resident of Scotland, I get confused about the different styles between USA and UK fly fishing. It seems that USA rods are much shorter (8 to 10 feet?) than UK rods (10 to 14 feet?)

Hi Paul, If you’re fly fishing in Scotland, mostly for trout. I would start with a 9 to 9.5 foot rod, rated for a 6 or 7 weight line. Even if your tastes develop such that you eventually want other rods (believe me, you probably will!), you will always find plenty of uses for such a rod in your armoury. Daiwa makes decent rods to this spec; so does Reddington if you want to spend a bit more and get a worthwhile guarantee. A nine foot 6/7 weight is light enough for river dry fly and wet fly fishing, yet has enough steam to throw a team of flies on a windy loch, or a longshank sea trout lure (streamer). Nine foot gives enough length to control the line and flies properly in a number of techniques, while not being so long that it will tire you. Above ten feet and the leverage starts to be noticeable. Traditionally, Americans have tended to use shorter rods than we do in the British Isles. With modern carbon fibre, there is not much case for rods of under eight feet, unless for fishing under overhanging trees (even then, the case is often overstated or spurious). The advantages of carbon fly rods in the nine to ten foot range are manifest and worthwhile. Americans have retained a sentimental affection for split cane (bamboo) fly rods. Cane rods are more labour intensive to make than modern carbon rods and are generally considerably more expensive. The material is heavier and ’slower’ than modern carbon fibre. A cane rod gets pretty ponderous if it is much OVER eight feet long. Forget cane as a first fly rod. Fly rods of over 12 feet are almost always double handed salmon rods, used for the various Spey casts, etc. They are not suitable for general trout fly fishing. You might be interested to look at the NG: uk.rec.fishing.game Tight Lines, Tony Deacon

Response:

Question:

I was in Orlando on business a couple of months ago. I looked in the Yellow Pages for fishing guides and was just overwhelmed. There were so many that I just couldn’t pick one. Orlando is such a tourist trap that I felt my chances of picking a loser at random were too great. My only other trip to Orlando was about 45 years ago when I was a child. I recall it as a sleepy little place, but it’s sure changed, and much for the worse. If there’s anything in Orlando that isn’t a Disney-like fake I never found it. Their convention center is so big you’d better take a bicycle or roller skates. What’s happened to much of Florida is sad. Do we really need umpteen billion people on the planet? All the good places are being trashed, one after the other. Pretty soon you’ll have to be a billionare to enjoy anything decent. Rant mode off. — something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Florida has many sites on the net.  Check out Florida in the Unitred States section at http://www.davisbrown.com/ffgeo.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am going to Orlando, Florida the 30 of January and I am going to stay there for 6 weeks. I am considering to bring my flyrod, if the flyfishing are good. I’m also looking for a good flyshop with a wide range. If you can help me, I would appreciate it. Tight lines. Jon Arne

Response:

Stick with the Fly Fisherman.  That is unless your in the market for expensive clothing, then by all means Downeast. Regards, David – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By all means bring the rods, there are some great places to FF within an hour or two of orlando.Both fresh and saltwater.Try these: The Fly Fisherman Inc. 1213 N. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32804 (407) 898 1989 and Downeast 538 Park Avenue South Orlando-Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 645 5100 — Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish, goes home through the alley. Anonymous http://fish-n-net.com/

Response:

I am going to Orlando, Florida the 30 of January and I am going to stay there for 6 weeks. I am considering to bring my flyrod, if the flyfishing are good. I’m also looking for a good flyshop with a wide range. If you can help me, I would appreciate it. Tight lines. Jon Arne

Response:

By all means bring the rods, there are some great places to FF within an hour or two of orlando.Both fresh and saltwater.Try these: The Fly Fisherman Inc. 1213 N. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32804 (407) 898 1989 and Downeast 538 Park Avenue South Orlando-Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 645 5100 — Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish, goes home through the alley. Anonymous http://fish-n-net.com/

Response:

I am going to Orlando, Florida the 30 of January and I am going to stay there for 6 weeks. I am considering to bring my flyrod, if the flyfishing are good. I’m also looking for a good flyshop with a wide range. If you can help me, I would appreciate it. Tight lines. Jon Arne

   !’st off, the Orlando area is comprised of other towns nestled together. Being north of Orlando proper 2 shops come to mind, an Orvis (small shop) in Winter Park, there is a larger shop just north of the junction of 434 and 17/92 and I also believe there is a shop in one of the Disney villages. Have no idea from your post as to the type fishing you are interested in. From Orlando you have the choice of the space coast flats on the east coast to bass and panfish in the St.Johns to the north to the Gulf coast to the west. Orlando also has an extensive group of lakes in it’s area ranging from small 1 acre to 20 or more acres, lake info is available from the Fl. game and fish commision on thier site under the heading "fish orlando". Also lake Okachoby (headwaters of the glades(biiiig bass) isn’t all that far. That time span is rather early in the season for fresh but you never know. Good luck.                                                            John Popp                                                         in Sanford Fl.

Response:

Question:

Anyone have info on fly fishing at Lake Casitas and/or along the beach in Ventura/Santa Barbara area?  Looking to do some fishing closer to home. Thanks Jeff M.

Response:

Check with Jandd Mountaineering in Santa Barbara 882-1195.  They have a fly shop and might be able to help you.  If not there is a new shop in Santa Barbara called "MacDuff’s" in the 1000 or 1100 block of State St. that should be able to help.  Surf Perch fishing is pretty good with crab patterns along the Ventura beach area. Wes along the beach – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -in Ventura/Santa Barbara area?  Looking to do some fishing closer to home. Thanks Jeff M.

Response:

Question:

Hi everybody, As promised on our web site, you can now have a look on the report about the Fly Fishing World Championship which occured in Jackson hole in september. http://www.infonie.com/public_html/rccb/index.htm

Response:

Hi everybody, As promised on our web site, you can now have a look on the report about the Fly Fishing World Championship which occured in Jackson hole in september. http://www.infonie.com/public_html/rccb/index.htm

Response:

Question:

My step-dad and I are going to Weaverville on Saturday for some steelhead fishing.  Any advice from recent visitors?  Lures, places, approaches? Thanks in advance.  Dave in Anderson, CA

Response:

This is probably late advice, but I’d stay home.   The river is muddy and fishing is slow. Instead of the Trinity, I’d go over to Lewiston Lake and flyfish that area.  Or…take a drive over to the Smith River as it’s still clear enough to fish and, I understand, that the salmon and steelhead are being cooperative.  Four good updated info on the Trinity, I’d call the Eureka Fly Shop at 444-2000 or the Redding Fly Shop (I don’t have their number). Barry Brown – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My step-dad and I are going to Weaverville on Saturday for some steelhead fishing.  Any advice from recent visitors?  Lures, places, approaches? Thanks in advance.  Dave in Anderson, CA

Response:

Question:

Try fishing Daniels Park on the Chagrin. It has a Dam which is the end of the line for the fish, unless the water is very high. There is a good holding pool below the dam and a few runs downstream could hold winter Steelhead. Since it is a public park, it does tend to get pressure during Salmon and Trout runs. Good luck, and release them. Tom Steele

Response:

Has anyone had any success flyfishing for steelhead around the Cleveland area? Grand River, Chagrin, ect. I know the rain should have brought in a few fish over the last few days. Thanks in advanceI just came to this group looking for the same info.  There is a shopcalled Grand river Tackle shopwho usually has the skinny on cleveland area steelies.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO POST "Grand River Tackle" (’s) address and/or phone number,  please. George Gehrke/Mr. Gink

Response:

Don’t tell anyone else, but the Plain Dealer had a "kiss and tell" article about how awesome the steelhead fishing is in the Grand, Conneat and Chagrin. Seems the Little Manistee River fingerlings that were stocked a while back have made it all happen. Oh, I guess all the rain we had over the last week pumped up the rivers to allow the silver bullets to pass through the gate. As we speak, I am tying egg sucking leaches and garish colored woolly worms. Guess you can tell what I will be doing this weekend. (Plus there are NO soccer games this weekend!!) Mark Rupp

Response:

Has anyone had any success flyfishing for steelhead around the Cleveland area? Grand River, Chagrin, ect. I know the rain should have brought in a few fish over the last few days. Thanks in advanceI just came to this group looking for the same info.  There is a

shopcalled Grand river Tackle shopwho usually has the skinny on   cleveland area steelies.

Response:

Has anyone had any success flyfishing for steelhead around the Cleveland area? Grand River, Chagrin, ect.       I know the rain should have brought in a few fish over the last few days. Thanks in advance

Response: