Question:

Do not learn to cast. Very bad. Too much like work. Learn to draw pretty pictures. ….take a deep breath, assume the lotus position and let your mind begin to wander and then to wonder…if necessary, use the ancient relics and the secret blend of herbs to attain a sated state of complete relaxation… While sitting…grasp the rod. Hold it. Feel it. Become one with it. …. Learn how to gently coax line from the tip. Learn to move the line to different places. Use as little motion as possible in order to not molest or in any way raise your pulse rate. Your breathing should become deeper and slower as you bond with your rod. Start off with small strokes. Gently teasing and calling….calling…. Learn, seek the way to keep the line in the air…..slowly….how to keep it in the air with the least energy expenditure…..can you make it straight.? Can you, with a flick of the wrist, a flex of your forearm, make the line go straight out in front of you?  Can you make it then go straight out in back of you? Can you keep the ess curves out of your line? Can you keep the line flat and straight, curving only to change from forwards to backwards?  Can you feel the line so softly and tenderly tugging and pulling – yearning to be free of the rod and thus of it’s master? repeat……this is my rod. There are many like it, but this one is mine…… john

Response:

asadi wrote… repeat……this is my rod. There are many like it, but this one is mine……

My rod is my best friend, it is my life.  I must master it as I must master my life.  Without me my rod is useless, without my rod I am useless.  I must cast my rod true.  I must cast better than my friend who is trying to outfish me.  I must catch fish before he outfishes me.  I will.   Before God I swear this creed.  My rod and myself are defenders of our rivers.  We are the masters of the trout.  We are the saviors of fish.   So be it.  Until there are no fishless days but catching.   Amen. — Warren (amazed at how memories from 10+ years ago can flood your mind as fresh as if the events just happened….) PS – This is my rod and this is my gun.  This is for fishing, this is for fun….. Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

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Do not learn to cast. Very bad. Too much like work. Learn to draw pretty pictures. …

        (etherial wisdom snipped) john

        i knew it would only be a matter of time before you got these techhies on the right path, john.         it must be tough being the only bodhisattva on roff. your friend in the old north state wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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… the secret blend of herbs to attain a sated state of complete relaxation…

Yeah, that’s the part I like about fishing with you, John. I just gotta remember to tie on the fly BEFORE I toke the secret herb. — Ken Fortenberry

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Hello asadi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do not learn to cast. Very bad. Too much like work. Learn to draw pretty pictures. ….take a deep breath, assume the lotus position and let your mind begin to wander and then to wonder…if necessary, use the ancient relics and the secret blend of herbs to attain a sated state of complete relaxation… While sitting…grasp the rod. Hold it. Feel it. Become one with it. …. Learn how to gently coax line from the tip. Learn to move the line to different places. Use as little motion as possible in order to not molest or in any way raise your pulse rate. Your breathing should become deeper and slower as you bond with your rod. Start off with small strokes. Gently teasing and calling….calling…. Learn, seek the way to keep the line in the air…..slowly….how to keep it in the air with the least energy expenditure…..can you make it straight.? Can you, with a flick of the wrist, a flex of your forearm, make the line go straight out in front of you?  Can you make it then go straight out in back of you? Can you keep the ess curves out of your line? Can you keep the line flat and straight, curving only to change from forwards to backwards?  Can you feel the line so softly and tenderly tugging and pulling – yearning to be free of the rod and thus of it’s master? repeat……this is my rod. There are many like it, but this one is mine…… john

Never had a dirty phone call and this is my first erotic newsgroup post……or did I just read it wrong <G May your Yin and Yang be in harmony always, and your Ch’i flow freely. — Don’t Worry, Be Happy! IRC Sandyb in #Rabble uk3.arcnet.vapor.com port:6667 Sandy (http://www.ftscotland.co.uk)   (Replace noway with sandy to email)

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asadi [held it in a *real* long time then] posted…. Learn, seek the way to keep the line in the air

yes…young grasshooker …..slowly….how to keep it in the air with the least energy

expenditure….. yes…i can see it now…master bong lit can you make it straight.?

yes…ho wang…but for the fleeting flap of a single gnats nad… Can you, with a flick of the wrist, a flex of your forearm, make the line go straight out in front of you?

yes…huk lo…but then it will stay there forever (sometimes even with a mighty samurai pull) Can you make it then go straight out in back of you?

yes…far flung…I think I am ready…can I try to snatch the splitshot from your palm ? Can you keep the ess curves out of your line?

yes…but I can’t keep the fuk ng knots from my 5x… — The Halfordian Golfer

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 Very bad. Too much like work. Some days it does feel that way.  Feel it. Become one with it. …. When I bring to mind my favorite places, most of them are places that for some reason or another, are more likely to give me one of those special days. On these days, "you" can get lost in the experience and all is right with the world. I’ve only had these sort of days when I was fishing alone. When I bring other people to these places, the trips are often disappointing because their "specialness" isn’t because of exceptional fish catching. Willi PS Before I once again get accused of not having a sense of humor, I DID see the humor in John’s post.

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Question:

I think that I’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of different models: Wilderness Systems The Ride Perception Swing I plan on using it in the bays around Long Island, NY I do not plan on too much use in the surf, but it may happen. I’m looking for a good Kayak…I am trying to keep down the length to under 14 feet or so. I notice that The Ride has a factory installed Rudder as an option. Would this be a good idea for my kind of use? Is the Swing more versatile than the Ride? How about stability??? Help a newbie out please!! -Tim Before you buy.

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I think that I’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of different models: Wilderness Systems The Ride Perception Swing

I have 2 Ride’s that I use in flat water rivers and inshore in saltwater (I live in Atlanta). I don’t have rudders and haven’t had problems with tracking, but I use mine primarily to fly fish from and not for any kind of touring. — Charlie…

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I grew up on Peconic and Shinnecock bays and wish I could paddle there during these interminable hot days down south. If I were you I would go for the Freedom by WS over the Ride. Both have a rudder option but the Freedom without rudder is as stable as any sot I have ever been in. It seems to sit lower in the water which means it gets less side push from winds, it is faster than Ride and the cost is comparable (Ride w rudder, Freedom w/o) The rudder is not to steer but to keep you on a more or less straight line when winds push against you. I doubt you will need a rudder on the Freedom, learn to control the boat by edging and adjusting your paddle stroke. I would invest the extra money in getting the optional back rest, it will be worth it to you in comfort. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think that I’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of different models: Wilderness Systems The Ride Perception Swing I plan on using it in the bays around Long Island, NY I do not plan on too much use in the surf, but it may happen. I’m looking for a good Kayak…I am trying to keep down the length to under 14 feet or so. I notice that The Ride has a factory installed Rudder as an option. Would this be a good idea for my kind of use? Is the Swing more versatile than the Ride? How about stability??? Help a newbie out please!! -Tim Before you buy.

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I was looking at the Freedom as well, but I elimintaed it due to it’s size….I thought it to be  too long.  I’ll take a closer look.  Anyone with any other thoughts??? Thanks, Tim I – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I grew up on Peconic and Shinnecock bays and wish I could paddle there during these interminable hot days down south. If I were you I would go for the Freedom by WS over the Ride. Both have a rudder option but the Freedom without rudder is as stable as any sot I have ever been in. It seems to sit lower in the water which means it gets less side push from winds, it is faster than Ride and the cost is comparable (Ride w rudder, Freedom w/o) The rudder is not to steer but to keep you on a more or less straight line when winds push against you. I doubt you will need a rudder on the Freedom, learn to control the boat by edging and adjusting your paddle stroke. I would invest the extra money in getting the optional back rest, it will be worth it to you in comfort. I think that I’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of different models: Wilderness Systems The Ride Perception Swing I plan on using it in the bays around Long Island, NY I do not plan on too much use in the surf, but it may happen. I’m looking for a good Kayak…I am trying to keep down the length to under 14 feet or so. I notice that The Ride has a factory installed Rudder as an option. Would this be a good idea for my kind of use? Is the Swing more versatile than the Ride? How about stability??? Help a newbie out please!! -Tim Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

Hi Tim, I’m relatively new to sea kayaking and I recently bought a used Scupper Pro (sot) that’s 14′9". I got it because it was in my price range and offered good sized hatches for gear and I found it easy to paddle. (One week this summer I paddled around Shelter Island, Peconic Bay and such.) I’m curious why you didn’t want something longer than 14 feet. In my limited experience, length of the kayak on the water hasn’t been an issue – what do I not know? I am thinking of investigating the rudder option for the Scupper – tracking in wind on the big bays around here (southern New Jersey) would be easier! Karenne

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Question:

I like mine. The scale is hard to read though. Capt. Gary S. Colecchio West Palm Beach "Lie ? Me ? Never!  No, no, no, the truth is far too much fun !" – Captain Hook

Response:

Personally, as a salmon and steelhead guide,  I’d say no way to the Boga Grip … any of the bigger fish species will slip their vertebrae being held vertically out of the water … imagine yourself being hung with all your weight by the lip … ‘nuf sed I’ll bet … — Bob Ball Bob’s Piscatorial Pursuits Alaska / Washington Salmon, Steelhead, and Halibut Fishing http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com "If it’s wild, let it go!"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – so i would never lift them by the lip, since tailing them usually works just fine. hope that helps, chris I would have thought that tailing them would remove more meniscus (there’s that word again)…where as a proper lip doesn’t bind or twist the jaw at all……I’ve never heard any pros or cons on this….will I

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Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) using the BogaGrip in flyfishing applications?  Obviously we like it (biased opinion), but we have heard very little about it in the flyfishing world. Would appreciate some comment. — Will West Lionheart Fishing Safari http://www.lionheartsafari.com

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Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) using the BogaGrip in flyfishing applications?  Obviously we like it (biased opinion), but we have heard very little about it in the flyfishing world. Would appreciate some comment.

i like mine alot for holding black rockfish and lingcod in the saltwater… they’re also great for holding fish while you cut their gills to bleed them.  for species like salmon and steelhead, i don’t like for them to even leave the water, so i would never lift them by the lip, since tailing them usually works just fine. hope that helps, chris

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so i would never lift them by the lip, since tailing them usually works just fine. hope that helps, chris

I would have thought that tailing them would remove more meniscus  (there’s that word again)…where as a proper lip doesn’t bind or twist the jaw at all……I’ve never heard any pros or cons on this….will I

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I bought my Boga Grip from Lion Heart Safari and am very very satisfied with it.  Although I do not flyfish but surfcast, all wading and the Boga Grip is underwater the whole time, it works flawlessly.  Just a rinse with freshwater after each trip and that’s all I do to it.  It is great for handling bluefish and striped bass. Richie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) using the BogaGrip in flyfishing applications?  Obviously we like it (biased opinion), but we have heard very little about it in the flyfishing world. Would appreciate some comment. — Will West Lionheart Fishing Safari http://www.lionheartsafari.com

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Question:

I’m fairly new to fly fishing and was wondering what is the most popular leader. I currently use a tapered leader but the braided leaders sure look good. Any suggestions? Is there a diffrence in how they turn over???

Response:

After a while the braided ones tend to get a wee bit floppy in transferring their power but it would be a toss-up. Usulaly the tapered ones are done by then too. They get "wind knots" my euphamism for tailing loops in my casting technique. They come out of the braided leaders more easily.   — Free Lake Fly Fishing On-Line Magazine Lake Fly Fishing CD’s, Videos, Books http://www.rural.escape.ca/angling_north/fishing/organz.htm

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I’m fairly new to fly fishing and was wondering what is the most popular leader. I currently use a tapered leader but the braided leaders sure look good. Any suggestions? Is there a diffrence in how they turn over???

I used to use braided leaders, and like a lot of folks, stopped because they picked up water and spooked fish with spray. Recently, I’ve started using Airflo poly leaders.  Much better turnover than tapered nylon, even better than braided, and no spray problem. They’re still relatively hard to find…check out http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfish/airfloleaders.html Michael — www.geocities.com/yosemite/falls/3363 Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

my partner and i are planning a trip to missoula this summer to see an old friend. unfortunately, he doesn’t fish, so there’s no immediate info on runnoff, snowpack, etc. we’re two wisconsin steelhead anglers who’ve soured on the notion of stampede fishing. we’d like to come to montana to escape the crowds. what’s that mean? we’re looking for a bit of info on runoff so we can avoid the crowds while still hitting a few nice dry-fly days. and we’re not necessarily looking for that "true" montana big water experience either. just a good trip, some challenges but more relaxing and just a general time to ease out. in our minds, brook trout caught in uncrowded waters are sometimes bigger than a brown in a crowd. hope this provides some info on what sort of trip we’re looking for a small glimpse on the sort of guys we are. *as a note, we’re interested in a few guided days, so any guides are encouraged to respond by email. thanks, jason

Response:

my partner and i are planning a trip to missoula

I’m not sure what exactly you’re looking for, or when you’re trip is planned.  I live outside Missoula.  I can tell you we have about average snowpack this year, so we’ll probably have an average run-off, which means forget all of May and most of June.  The last week or two of June might be all right.  But when run-off is running off, everything’s pretty blown out.  The nice thing is, different rivers go at different times.  Often Rock Creek will blow and clear while the Clark Fork is blowing.  The Blackfoot is usually a little later than the others.  That said, of course, depnding on how everything comes off, you could catch an amazing days or two on Rock Creek with the salmonfly hatch.  You’ll want a guide for that, and for my money the best guides are out of the Kingfisher fly shop, which I don’t have a phone number for, but they’re in information and they’re right off the interstate, first Missoula exit if you’re coming from the east.  Those guys hands down, no question, beyond a doubt have the best guides in town. From the last week in June through July and August you should have excellent fishing.  I would suggest hitting some of the Idaho panhandle streams (which I don’t want to post the names of, but ask around when you get here).  I’d also try the North Fork of the Blackfoot, way, way up, hike-in style, just because it’s a fantastic experience, and also often full of cutts and sometimes bull trout (which are endangered species so catching them is a no-no).  Upper upper Rock Creek can be nice, but the problem there is going to be crowds.  The Bitterroot is, well, see this month’s Fly Rod & Reel magazine.  The Clark Fork above Rock Creek is a waste of time, but from Rock Creek down all the way to St. Regis there’s very good water.  You’re going to find most of your fish up against the banks.  Depending on the time ofyear you’re here you could catch golden stonefly hatches, pmd hatches, really steady evening caddis blizzards, among other things (baetis, etc).    Missoula has very good fishing, very close, but it’s often overlooked for the more famous fisheries over by Bozeman.  I think you should hang around the Kingfisher, and call me if you want.  You should be in for some real treats.

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Question:

Hi Jeff, Marc, Fishtales – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – of regulars there from your area.  And, many of them flyfish. later, Jeff I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish. — Let’s Talk Fish! Big Fish! New Canadian Fishing Newsgroup Is Here! Jeff Goddard, Ottawa, Ont. Canada

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I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish.

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Try the newsgroup can.rec.fishing  if you don’t get answer there or can’t get to the group let me know. You may have to get your internet provider to place that group on their newsgroups listing. — <*))))< Paul Phillips Director of Operations Fintastic Fish Mounts http://www.fintastic.com/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish.

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of regulars there from your area.  And, many of them flyfish.         later,                 Jeff I’m new at fly fishing and have know idea where to go. if you do please let me know. The Canal is not full of to many fish.

– Let’s Talk Fish! Big Fish! New Canadian Fishing Newsgroup Is Here! Jeff Goddard, Ottawa, Ont. Canada

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Question:

Netscape has a spell check, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Huh? Pardon my ignorance, Far, but just who is this guy and what has he supposedly done? I’m a NH resident, and I’ve never heard of this guy or his organization.< Hi Dave, Well, I will join Farandfine’s bandwagon here.  I too am a New Hampshire resident. Bob Mitchel belongs to the New Hampshire Fly Fishers Association.  The are now a Federation of FLy Fishers group, but it wasn’t always that way.  The are based in Laconia, NH. Since you don’t know about them, let me give you  a one sided point of view. About three years ago, Dick Sturtavent, Bob Mitchell and a few of their cronies decided that the fishing in New Hampshire wasn’t good enoough for them.  They wanted to be assured that when they went out they would be able to fish over LARGE trout. Not in streams mind you, but in ponds.   So they formed the New Hampshire Fly Fishers Accociation, Inc.   But the biggest reason  for forming the group was that the local and state chapters of TU  would not go along with them in trying to get the ponds in the north country stoked to their liking. Once they had the NH Fly Fishers formed, they then formed the Cold Water Coalition, Inc. in an effort to bypass all the criticism and to put up a front of bringing all the TU chapters and the NH Fly Fishers together so they could persue their own agenda.  I don’t know about you, but there seenm to be a lot of Inc.’s popping up here in the fishing comunity, and any group that is for the fly fishers in the state that feels that they have to protect themselves legally from the very people they pretend to be working for is bogus in my book Some of the things that they have accomplised, is to have instituted the Slot Limints for 5 ponds.  Namely, Upper Hallls, Sky, Profile Lake, Cole and Shawtown.  All fish between 12 and 16 inches must now be released and only one fish over 16 inches may be kept, with a two fish limit.  There was little debate over this and little public input.  Secret meetings were held with the Cold Water Coalition and members of the Fish and Game last year, in Portsmouth.  A nice out of the way place that assured them that even if these meetings were made public, not many people would make the drive.   After the Cold Water Coalition met, one public hearing was held at the Fish and Game in Concord, where they said they were going to take the matter under advisment.  Lo and behold, this year, guess what?  The regs are changed. Now, I am an advocate of catch and release, (go ahead Tim, I had to say it) but I think that the states (our) money could be better spent trying to manage a few fisheries for wild trout instead of continually stocking every mud puddle from here to Colebrook.  If you check your fish and game digest, you will see that NH does not have one managed Wild Trout fishery, and only one pure catch and release area.  Vermont on the other hand has 7 wild trout fisheries, and Mass has several C&R areas.  That’s beef number one for many of us. Number two, why wasn’t Whittamore, or some other pond or lake in the southern part of the state choosen?  Why not Stonehouse Pond in Barrington?  There is a simple answer to that one.  The NH Fly Fishers are based in Laconia.  Why travel 2 hours south when you have ponds 30 minutes from you that your buddies in the Fish and Game will stock just the way you want then too. Number three, and this one really makes my blood boil.  In NH if you are going to have a fishing derby or a tounament, you have to get a permit from the town, as well as the fish and game, and it is very regulated.  The NH Fly Fishers on the other hand have found a way around this.  They have "outings"  where 30 or 40 of them show up on a piece of Public water and just take the place over. Sewells Falls in Concord is a great example.  Their annual Atlantic Slamon Outing ruins any chance the rest of us have of fishing there that weekend. Rotational fishing?  Not with these guys.  You are either with them or you don’t fish.  Then there is the pilgrmage to Profile Lake.  Another weekend outing where they just take over an area.  And the Fish and Game just looks the other way.  No, that’s not true, last year, they stocked Profile Lake the Friday prior to the NH Fly FIhsers outing there.  It’s funny that these guys never have an outing on a river for trout.  Hence the drag free float line by Far I assume. It has gotten so out of hand, that the fish surveys, which used to be done by TU are now being done by the NH Fly Fishers at the above listed ponds.  Our local TU Chapters weren’t even contacted about then this year.  This is a lot like the fox guarding the hen house.  The people doing the surveys have a personal interest it their outcome, and the findings will  have to be questioned. There are other areas worth dicussing, but that is the NH Fly Fishers in a bit more than a nut shell, from my point of view.   As you saw in the post by Farandfnie, I am not alone in my criticism of this group. At any rate, tight lines and good fishing… Al Manchester, NH

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Looking for some worthwhile Fly Fishing spots in the Keene NH area.   Rivers , Streams , Fly Fishing only Ponds.  Any Suggestions Appreciated.

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Looking for some worthwhile Fly Fishing spots in the Keene NH area.   Rivers,

Streams , Fly Fishing only Ponds.  Any Suggestions Appreciated. My GOD – Is this the same Bob Mitchell  - Sgt At Arm of the New Hampshire Fly Fishers? I thought you people knew EVERYTHING about fly fishing in New Hampshire?  After all, you knew what was good for all of us when it came to Upper Halls, Sky, Profile and a couple of other ponds here in NH.   Since you have the Fish and Game in your back pocket anyway, why not just go ask them?  What’s the matter, out of cash? No way I would ever tell you about any quality water in New Hampshire.  You morons would just have an "outing" where 30 or 40 of you come on a weekend and screw it up for the rest of us. Then next thing you know it’s on your own personal agenda.  You would write it up in Hawkeye (they dont pay for articles so he isnt that good group) and then every Orvis clad yuppie within 100 miles would be on the stream I told you about. Sorry Bob – go get your float tube and load up on those #10 Pheasant Tails a full sinking line and go troll Profile Lake. Leave the fly fishing to those of us who know how to get a drag free float over good fish. Far

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Looking for some worthwhile Fly Fishing spots in the Keene NH area.   Rivers, Streams , Fly Fishing only Ponds.  Any Suggestions Appreciated. My GOD – Is this the same Bob Mitchell  - Sgt At Arm of the New Hampshire Fly Fishers? I thought you people knew EVERYTHING about fly fishing in New Hampshire?  After all, you knew what was good for all of us when it came to Upper Halls, Sky, Profile and a couple of other ponds here in NH.   Since you have the Fish and Game in your back pocket anyway, why not just go ask them?  What’s the matter, out of cash?

Huh? Pardon my ignorance, Far, but just who is this guy and what has he supposedly done? I’m a NH resident, and I’ve never heard of this guy or his organization. No way I would ever tell you about any quality water in New Hampshire.  You morons would just have an "outing" where 30 or 40 of you come on a weekend and screw it up for the rest of us.

I can’t understand why he’s asking in the first place, since it’s hard to swing a dead trout in the Keene area without hitting some decent water. NO! WAIT! I’m mistaken. *Ahem* There are no trout in NH. Yes, that’s it. None. Mass. has ALL the trout. Woe is us. We are poor, pitiful Cow Hampshirites, without any trout. Not a one. Yep, that’s the ticket. Then next thing you know it’s on your own personal agenda.  You would write it up in Hawkeye (they dont pay for articles so he isnt that good group) and then every Orvis clad yuppie within 100 miles would be on the stream I told you about.

Well, could be, but in my experience any organization large enough to require a sgt. at arms is usually too cumbersome to stalk its own bunghole, much less our non-existent NH trout. Granted, though, a Cherokee hatch is an unsightly nuisance, but probably only temporary. Still, I can’t blame you for not giving away your spots in this increasingly crowded state. I’m sure not giving mine away (not that there are any fish there, mind you). Sorry Bob – go get your float tube and load up on those #10 Pheasant Tails a full sinking line and go troll Profile Lake. Leave the fly fishing to those of us who know how to get a drag free float over good fish.

Ooooo. Ouch. That might be even more painful if there were any "good fish" to catch here in NH, but there aren’t. None. Nope. Zilch. Salvelinus Nonexistus. Salmo Nada. This is all true! Really! Dave

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Huh? Pardon my ignorance, Far, but just who is this guy and what has he

supposedly done? I’m a NH resident, and I’ve never heard of this guy or his organization.< Hi Dave, Well, I will join Farandfine’s bandwagon here.  I too am a New Hampshire resident. Bob Mitchel belongs to the New Hampshire Fly Fishers Association.  The are now a Federation of FLy Fishers group, but it wasn’t always that way.  The are based in Laconia, NH. Since you don’t know about them, let me give you  a one sided point of view. About three years ago, Dick Sturtavent, Bob Mitchell and a few of their cronies decided that the fishing in New Hampshire wasn’t good enoough for them.  They wanted to be assured that when they went out they would be able to fish over LARGE trout. Not in streams mind you, but in ponds.   So they formed the New Hampshire Fly Fishers Accociation, Inc.   But the biggest reason  for forming the group was that the local and state chapters of TU  would not go along with them in trying to get the ponds in the north country stoked to their liking. Once they had the NH Fly Fishers formed, they then formed the Cold Water Coalition, Inc. in an effort to bypass all the criticism and to put up a front of bringing all the TU chapters and the NH Fly Fishers together so they could persue their own agenda.  I don’t know about you, but there seenm to be a lot of Inc.’s popping up here in the fishing comunity, and any group that is for the fly fishers in the state that feels that they have to protect themselves legally from the very people they pretend to be working for is bogus in my book Some of the things that they have accomplised, is to have instituted the Slot Limints for 5 ponds.  Namely, Upper Hallls, Sky, Profile Lake, Cole and Shawtown.  All fish between 12 and 16 inches must now be released and only one fish over 16 inches may be kept, with a two fish limit.  There was little debate over this and little public input.  Secret meetings were held with the Cold Water Coalition and members of the Fish and Game last year, in Portsmouth.  A nice out of the way place that assured them that even if these meetings were made public, not many people would make the drive.   After the Cold Water Coalition met, one public hearing was held at the Fish and Game in Concord, where they said they were going to take the matter under advisment.  Lo and behold, this year, guess what?  The regs are changed. Now, I am an advocate of catch and release, (go ahead Tim, I had to say it) but I think that the states (our) money could be better spent trying to manage a few fisheries for wild trout instead of continually stocking every mud puddle from here to Colebrook.  If you check your fish and game digest, you will see that NH does not have one managed Wild Trout fishery, and only one pure catch and release area.  Vermont on the other hand has 7 wild trout fisheries, and Mass has several C&R areas.  That’s beef number one for many of us. Number two, why wasn’t Whittamore, or some other pond or lake in the southern part of the state choosen?  Why not Stonehouse Pond in Barrington?  There is a simple answer to that one.  The NH Fly Fishers are based in Laconia.  Why travel 2 hours south when you have ponds 30 minutes from you that your buddies in the Fish and Game will stock just the way you want then too. Number three, and this one really makes my blood boil.  In NH if you are going to have a fishing derby or a tounament, you have to get a permit from the town, as well as the fish and game, and it is very regulated.  The NH Fly Fishers on the other hand have found a way around this.  They have "outings"  where 30 or 40 of them show up on a piece of Public water and just take the place over. Sewells Falls in Concord is a great example.  Their annual Atlantic Slamon Outing ruins any chance the rest of us have of fishing there that weekend. Rotational fishing?  Not with these guys.  You are either with them or you don’t fish.  Then there is the pilgrmage to Profile Lake.  Another weekend outing where they just take over an area.  And the Fish and Game just looks the other way.  No, that’s not true, last year, they stocked Profile Lake the Friday prior to the NH Fly FIhsers outing there.  It’s funny that these guys never have an outing on a river for trout.  Hence the drag free float line by Far I assume. It has gotten so out of hand, that the fish surveys, which used to be done by TU are now being done by the NH Fly Fishers at the above listed ponds.  Our local TU Chapters weren’t even contacted about then this year.  This is a lot like the fox guarding the hen house.  The people doing the surveys have a personal interest it their outcome, and the findings will  have to be questioned. There are other areas worth dicussing, but that is the NH Fly Fishers in a bit more than a nut shell, from my point of view.   As you saw in the post by Farandfnie, I am not alone in my criticism of this group. At any rate, tight lines and good fishing… Al Manchester, NH

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Hi, Nice to meet your group, I hope you can give me some ideas as most posts seem to be from the US (strange, isn’t it?) I am visiting NY for a very short trip and will be staying  near Milford, in New Jersey. I’ll be staying a very short time and if someone could me give me a few names and adresses of shops selling fly fishing equipment (rods), it would be of great help. (no US yellow pages where I live). My one and only rod has been "parting company" with me during a transit at Paris airport. I am rather angry. Luckily the fishing season is over in Ireland, well for most. Any reccomendation for a favourite retailer will be welcome. Thanks Remy

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I am visiting NY for a very short trip and will be staying  near Milford, in New Jersey.

Remy, I live in southern NJ. I get up to that area about once a year to visit the flyfishing show in Somerset. If your visit will be toward the end of January that would be the place to go. Most of the major manufacturers and many fly shops are represented. There are also a couple of casting ponds so you can cast and compare any rods you are interested in. Somerset is within 25 miles of Milford. If your visit doesn’t coincide with the show you could try Effinger’s in Bound Brook on Rt.22 about half way between  Milford and New York City. They have a good selection of rods.I’m sure there are several shops in N.Y.C., the Urban Angler comes to mind, I can’t find thier catalog right now buy if your interested I can get back to you with thier address. Enjoy your stay.          Jim

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Hi Group It seems like everytime I leave for a while my email gets messed up.  If any of you have tried to contact me in the last week, please do so again. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 catalog)

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Hi Al — welcome home In light of some of the posts recently i have to start this with THIS IS A JOKE… but maybe nobody wanted to talk to you!!!!  ;) jg

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Question:

Could someone explain to me what is meant by a slow, medium or fast action fly rod and the advantages and disadvantages of the different actions? Thanks!

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: Could someone explain to me what is meant by a slow, medium or fast action : fly rod and the advantages and disadvantages of the different actions? I own three rods: one very soft (slow) 8 wt. home build, one medium 7-8 wt. Ron Thomson and one very fast Orvis Steelhead 7-8 wt. All of them are app. 9′ long, and I grab the Orvis almost any time. The slow rod is much too lame for the windy danish conditions. It can hardly cast a 7 wt DT line, and the WF8 line needed for most of my fishing is almost too heavy for it. It might bee good for light DT lines at short distances such as danish stream fishing — which I’ve never tried. The medium one is good for fishing in no wind. Fighting smaller fish (2-4 pounds) is a pleasure, but if a wind rises it can’t stand the distance. The Orvis rod is not only fast — it’s ultra fast and thows a 9 wt. WF line easily. I use it with an WF8 line and it’s a pleasure. the problem is that small fish is no big thrill on this rod. Big ones ar easily tired, but small ones you just wheel home. But the advantages are too big for me to choose another rod; long effortless casting even in the heaviest wind. I fish with this rod at the danish coastes all year round under all conditions and it’s a blessing. I would like to get a similar fast rod in a lower class like 6-7, for fishing under calmer conditions, and I will probably never again buy or build a slow rod — not to mention a bamboo one. Ofcourse your choice depends on your temper and your fishing, but try the fast ones too. Only one disadvantage; they’re expensive CU Martin Joergensen, Copehagen, Denmark

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: Could someone explain to me what is meant by a slow, medium or fast action : fly rod and the advantages and disadvantages of the different actions?

A fly rod is a delicately ballanced casting tool, not a broomstick with which to whip a fly onto the water.  Different people prefer the tool calibrated or tuned to different specs.  You will find those who prefer slow rods, and those who prefer fast.  It is really a matter of personal taste.  The finest, most expensive rods you can buy are extremely slow while the fastest rods tend to be the most popular today.  I generally prefer slow to medium rods, but you have to go to a show or shop and try a few out to find out for your self.         When you cast, you toss the line back and wait for the weight of the line to load the spring of the rod.  Then you possition the rod foreward and let the rod unload it’s force.  With a slow rod, you must let the rod do it’s thing.  You cannot force the cast, or all you get is a dropped line and a hook in the back of your head.  The advantage here is that the rod does all the work.  Casting can become extremely relaxing.  Many old timers really enjoy the graceful relaxation of casting a slow action split bamboo rod.  The problem is that you cannot get any more power than the rod was built with, no matter how tough you are.  Also, you are forced to cast with the rythm of the rod.  Those same slow graceful loading and unloadings can be a real pain if you can’t match their timing.         With a fast rod, you can actually force the cast.  In fact, with a really fast rod, you can ignore the rythm of the rod and just whip the line back and forth and push it out.  This means that you can add a lot of your own strength to the rods power to really punch out a cast.  It also means that you don’t have to learn to cast to start fishing, you can get away with just muscleing your way through it.         As fly fishing has gone from a graceful relaxing hobby of older men and women to a bastion of young, fit yuppies seeking outdoor thrills the general preference in rods has gone from slow to fast action rods.  I often taunt guys who prefer fast rods as impatient broomstick whippers.  Technically this is not fair.  Their are some advantages to those really fast rods.  My point is that you should not be intimidated into buying a fast rod because it’s popular, or a slow cane rod because it’s expensive.  Bottom line is that you need to find your own preference.   . Good luck . Lenny Bloksberg . . .

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   With a fast rod, you can actually force the cast.  In fact, with a really fast rod, you can ignore the rythm of the rod and just whip the line back and forth and push it out.  This means that you can add a lot of your own strength to the rods power to really punch out a cast.  It also means that you don’t have to learn to cast to start fishing, you can get away with just muscleing your way through it.

I don’t find that to be completely true. It’s true that you have the possibilty to add a lot of force to the cast when using a fast rod. This is not possible with a softer, slower rod or at least completely useless. But using extra force in the cast isn’t going to get you anywhere in my opninion — not even whith the fast rod. Even a fast rod is dependent of your rythm for a good performance, and my experience — using a fast rod for almost all my fishing — is that the best casts come when you follow the rods natural rythm — like when using a slower, softer rod. If you want distance or genlte presentation, never force the cast — not even using the newest, ultra fastest rod. It’s useless at best and destructive for your casting at the worst — and a waste of enegery anyhow. and women to a bastion of young, fit yuppies seeking outdoor thrills the general preference in rods has gone from slow to fast action rods.  I often taunt guys who prefer fast rods as impatient broomstick whippers.  Technically this is not fair.  Their are some advantages to those really fast rods.  My

If I did’nt use a fast rod for my coastal fishing under windy conditions in Denmark, I wouldn’t get a fly very far out, and probably wouldn’t catch many fish. And I’m no thrill-seaking yuppie BTW ;=) it’s popular, or a slow cane rod because it’s expensive.  Bottom line is that you need to find your own preference.  

Exactly my words Regards Martin Joergensen Copenhagen, Denmark

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Could someone explain to me what is meant by a slow, medium or fast action fly rod and the advantages and disadvantages of the different actions? Thanks! For graphite (I’m not familiar with bamboo), its a function of the rod taper and the type of graphite used. A good way to check the action of the rod is to lay the first half of the rod on the floor (away from feet, and all pieces of the rod assembled) and gently apply pressure until the middle ferral touches the floor. The more the whole rod bends throughout the entire blank the better the chance its a slow or medium action rod. Faster rods typically have stiffer butt sections and/or stiffer tip sections.

Try this instead: Slow rod = Bends in the Butt Med. rod = Bends in the mid-section Fast rod = Bends at the tip Another way to think about this is to consider how much the rod (for a given weight) would bend under a given load. Action is synonymous with the rods stiffness. Most decent graphite rods now have a progressive action, meaning that as load is increased the rod bends further down towards the butt rather than simply bending more in one spot. Typically fast action rods are nice in wind and distance situations because the rod allows for faster line speed (ie. it recovers faster, the loop in the line is smaller). The slower rods usually produce wider loops when casting and can be a problem in the wind.

Sorry, but I don’t agree. Line speed has nothing directly to do with rod action. Line speed is a function of the casting loop, and a soft rod is just as capable of casting a tight loop as a stiff rod. The smaller the loop, the faster the line. The cast is a wave, and like other waves, the smaller the frequency the faster the forward speed. In casting, the size of that wave (casting loop) is determined by the distance between the tip of the rod at the beginning of the forward cast and the tip of the rod at the end of the cast. Slow and fast rods can produce the same size loop by varying the length of the casting stroke. Fast rods require shorter strokes, while slow rods require long strokes. I think the misconception comes from the fact that slow rods are more easily overpowered and are more sensitive to power being applied too early. They do require a more deft touch, but they can produce the same effects on the line, but with a different casting style. Mr. Bloksberg said it quite eloquently in his post. Its not that one type is better or worse, but find the right rod for your particular casting style. What’s right for the guy down stream may not be what’s right for you. For now, as what I would consider an intermeadiate caster, I’m going to stick with my medium action rod. I do get more casting loops than I would like, but in the end I think I’ll be a better caster (if not fisherman ) for it. C. Abbott

-Dave Opincarne

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I don’t want to get nit-picky on the issue but you have to admit that given the same angler for two different rod actions; one slow and the other fast. That an angler who is not an experienced caster can after a sereral casting lessons throw a tighter loop ` with a stiff, fast rod than limber, slow rod. This is lure of that technology. I know that loop tightness is a function of line speed, but most people entering the sport are incapible of producing it with slower rods. The new rod actions are some times a crutch in this regard. Also, notice the language I used, "usually", "most of the time", I was talking more to the generalities than the absolute science of rod actions. I believe I also wrote that the person who asked the question go out and cast a few rods and not worry about techno aspects. Pardon my inarticulations, Chuck Abbott.

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