Question:

I love fly fishing, Also love to fish for fluke i am wondering if anyone might have a few tips on fly patterns and the best way that has a chance in hooking up into a few fluke. I mostly fish from a boat of the Ct. shore. Thanks, Nat

Response:

I read an article once about some guy in the northwest flyfishing for halibut.  He used a heavy rod and sinking line.  The fly was a streamer pattern.  For the life of me I can’t remember which mag but it was either Fly Rod and Reel, Flyfisherman, or American Angler. It might work for fluke.  Maybe with big sculpin that mimics a creek chub? My brother and I used to trap chubs off the dock at Giant’s Neck Beach and then drift them on fluke rigs off of Rocky Neck SP.  I haven’t done that in a long, long time….. Let me know how you do…..  And thanks for bringing back a few pleasant memories —

| I love fly fishing, Also love to fish for fluke i am wondering if anyone | might have a few tips on fly patterns and the best way that has a chance | in hooking up into a few fluke. | I mostly fish from a boat of the Ct. shore. | Thanks, Nat |

Response:

Question:

I was looking at those before everyone suggested that stocking foot was the way to go.. Any second thoughts from you guys?

Only one. For the coldest conditions (winter tailwater fishing, goose hunting in a blizzard, etc.) you can’t beat the warmth of a pair of 5 mm neoprene bootfoot waders. But for anything else, I’d go with a pair of stocking foot waders with a good pair of wading boots. How cold is it where/when you plan to use them? — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyoming

Response:

Lou, Like somebody else mentioned, it all depends on where you plan to fish. As for myself, fishing on freestone creeks and doing a good bit of walking, I am a big fan of stockingfoot waders and good wading boots. Reducing the risk of a sprained ankle far outweighs the extra five minutes or so it takes to put them on. Bob

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greg I was looking at those before everyone suggested that stocking foot was the way to go.. Any second thoughts from you guys? Lou FWIW: Cabelas has a lace up bootfoot model this year too.   I see that they’re a heck of a lot cheaper,  and the boots (from the small photo) look  like they might provide better ankle support.

Response:

Wayne & Others Wet wading, even in late summer is not much of a option here in Michigan’s Western UP. The streams and rivers run cold. The trout seem to like it but a guy can freeze his ass off in these waters…..

Granted, it may not be for everyone, but I’ve often waded wet in the various branches of the Ontonagon, Cook’s Run, Big and Little Carps, the Paint, the Fence, both Brules, the Firesteel, several of the Irons, the Sturgeon, and a host of others in the western UP. You get used to it after a while.     Wolfgang numb nu…….well, never mind.

Response:

Wolfgang You R tougher than me.   I’ve tried fishing the SalmonTrout river in nylon windpants and  rubber sandals. Goddddd that water is cold. I need waders! BTW,,you were less than an hour from my home so if you wander this way again send me a E mail first. If you do I’ll buy you a beer and maybe we could consider fishing together. Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wayne & Others Wet wading, even in late summer is not much of a option here in Michigan’s Western UP. The streams and rivers run cold. The trout seem to like it but a guy can freeze his ass off in these waters….. Granted, it may not be for everyone, but I’ve often waded wet in the various branches of the Ontonagon, Cook’s Run, Big and Little Carps, the Paint, the Fence, both Brules, the Firesteel, several of the Irons, the Sturgeon, and a host of others in the western UP. You get used to it after a while.     Wolfgang numb nu…….well, never mind.

Response:

Greg Over the past year I often loaded  Cabelas Dry Plus bought waders, a chest pack, change of cloths, and some pop into a mid size pack. I’d catty a old wicker creel over one shoulder and carry my rod in a case. I don’t think the whole thing weighted 30 pounds and was no big deal to hike in with. I want to thank everyone here for their advice but I noticed that Cabelas had my old Dry Plus Breathable bought on sale for $100. I probably went fishing 100 + times last year and sure got my money’s worth and liked my old waders. I guess habit/ low price over comes good sense so I bought another pair today.. Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was looking at those before everyone suggested that stocking foot was the way to go.. Any second thoughts from you guys?  I spend at least half of my fishing time in water  under 50 degrees or on beaches.   The laced  bootfoots have worked out quite well for that.  They are also easier to deal with: one piece  instead of the 3-5 (counting guards) that I would  be sure to forget one or more of.  The max distance that I have hiked in one day  is probably no more than 4-5 miles.  If I were  going to do some serious off-road hiking to get  to fishing water, I’m pretty sure that I would opt  to carry the waders in, since it would be inevitable  that I would destroy them otherwise (but first I  would have to have some serious work done on  one knee…).  The one disadvantage I  have in using bootfoots is  that I can’t switch between felt and studded soles.  So I used corkers for a while, which I couldn’t stand.  More recently I bought a pair of what looks like old-  fashioned galoshes with studs and a drawstring that  I slip on over the bootfeet (I think that Dan Bailey  distributes them).   They’re much more comfortable  and easy to slog through water in than corkers, but  I don’t believe that they work as well – too much metal  on the bottom so weight isn’t concentrated as well –  and the metal is quite soft, so it is abrading rather  quickly.  I’m pretty sure that I am going to buy another pair  of laced bootfoot waders soon and outfit one pair  with studs.

Response:

HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou

Response:

HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why?

Stockingfoot allows you to wear a custom boot that has the best fit (including laces), and also to change boots.

Response:

HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou

Stocking foot are best all around for convenience and comfort.Boot foot are best for cold water winter fishing and for fishing the beach.Why choose, it’s best to have both. Regards,  Flypaint(Shawn)

Response:

Hi Lou, I have sold/fitted waders to anglers and hunters for 37 years now, but we specialize in waders for fly fishers now. Today in California we sell 100% stocking foot chest high breathable waders for fly fishing. A few years ago we sold only stocking foot neoprene waders and light weight non-breathable stocking foot waders. Boot foot waders are faster and easier to put on, but you don’t get the ankle support that you get with a lace up boot on a stocking foot wader  for walking long distances in trout streams. Also, it is hard to really fit people well with boot foot waders because you need to get the chest/body size right first, then the right inseam length and then the right boot size. We use to sell neoprene boot foot waders a little, but had them "custom" fitted. If you could order boot foot waders with your body size, inseam length and then a good boot fit, they are great for those fast situation where you don’ walk a lot. The story on hip boots is that everyone I know that has fished with me over the years has gone in over the top during a day of fly fishing in Northern California. It is either chest high stocking foot breathable waders or wade wet in northern California in the summer. We sell a few waist high waders a year now but with the onset of breathables it is not as necessary as it was with non-breathables. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou

Response:

HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou

        stockingfoot.  because we wade wet down here after mid april, and thus need protection from the ankle up very infrequently.  if you ever hiked up to the middle falls on snowbird in late july, in even "breathable" chest high waders, you’d fully understand. wayno – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou stockingfoot.  because we wade wet down here after mid april, and thus need protection from the ankle up very infrequently.  if you ever hiked up to the middle falls on snowbird in late july, in even "breathable" chest high waders, you’d fully understand.

Quick word of caution…walking in shorts through briars and scrub that scratch the legs…then standing in biota rich pond water is a recipe for some interesting rash and infection…the notion of keeping alcohol pads back at the truck is a good one. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

Response:

Guys Thanks to all of you who offered advice. I trust  the wisdom of this NG and will invest in some stocking foot waders and boots. BTW..I live in the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, my old 5mm cold weather/ ice in the  river  waders are still in good shape but my summer ones are shot. I very often pack in my gear including waders on my back and them get organized streamside. Thanks again.. Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou stockingfoot.  because we wade wet down here after mid april, and thus need protection from the ankle up very infrequently.  if you ever hiked up to the middle falls on snowbird in late july, in even "breathable" chest high waders, you’d fully understand. Quick word of caution…walking in shorts through briars and scrub that scratch the legs…then standing in biota rich pond water is a recipe for some interesting rash and infection…the notion of keeping alcohol pads back at the truck is a good one. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

Response:

Quick word of caution…walking in shorts through briars and scrub that scratch the legs…then standing in biota rich pond water is a recipe for some interesting rash and infection…the notion of keeping alcohol pads back at the truck is a good one. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

Taking a bottle of alcohol along to the stream has proved more popular it seems. TL MC

Response:

Quick word of caution…walking in shorts through briars and scrub that scratch the legs…then standing in biota rich pond water is a recipe for some interesting rash and infection…the notion of keeping alcohol pads back at the truck is a good one. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer Taking a bottle of alcohol along to the stream has proved more popular it seems.

I was refering to the ‘optional’ variety. — TBone Walker The Halfordian Golfer

Response:

FWIW: Cabelas has a lace up bootfoot model this year too.

I was looking at those before everyone suggested that stocking foot was the way to go.. Any second thoughts from you guys?

I don’t have a second thought – I still prefer stocking foot.  For all the reasons previously mentioned, plus the EEEE show size I need<g. –Stan

Response:

For what it is worth, the latest cabela’s catalog has laceup boot foots as well. Chris Richer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wet wading, even in late summer is not much of a option here in Michigan’s Western UP. The streams and rivers run cold.  Same in western NY and Ontario. The trout seem to like it but a guy can freeze his ass off in these waters. Going to take all the good advice and set up with stocking foot + boots.  Before you do you might want to take a quick look  at Orvis’s breathables with lace-up boot foots.

– Chris Richer chrisratnostormspamdotca

Response:

Greg I was looking at those before everyone suggested that stocking foot was the way to go.. Any second thoughts from you guys? Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – FWIW: Cabelas has a lace up bootfoot model this year too.   I see that they’re a heck of a lot cheaper,  and the boots (from the small photo) look  like they might provide better ankle support.

Response:

Why Lou!  That’s for your annual bonefish trip to the Keys! Wayne to fish is human….to release Divine!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wayne & Others Wet wading, even in late summer is not much of a option here in Michigan’s Western UP. The streams and rivers run cold. The trout seem to like it but a guy can freeze his ass off in these waters. Going to take all the good advice and set up with stocking foot + boots. Lou

Response:

 Before you do you might want to take a quick look  at Orvis’s breathables with lace-up boot foots.

FWIW: Cabelas has a lace up bootfoot model this year too.

Response:

Wayne & Others Wet wading, even in late summer is not much of a option here in Michigan’s Western UP. The streams and rivers run cold. The trout seem to like it but a guy can freeze his ass off in these waters. Going to take all the good advice and set up with stocking foot + boots. Lou

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For may of the reasons already stated, go stocking foot.  Besides being able to change boot types and properly fit the boot, you can wet wade sans waders with a good boot in hot climes; maximum versatility.  As Bill recommended; go with breathables. Considere neoprene socks when wet wading with boots and keep in mind, some boots like Chota Brookies have removable insoles for use with and without waders. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou

Response:

… they are composed of poly-cotton with layers of codura on the knees and ass.  that’s because if you aren’t on the former when you fish, you aint gonna catch any of the latter, in hazel creek.

I fished all day on Hazel Creek, was on my knees most of the time and I STILL didn’t catch any ass. Need another lesson from the master, I guess. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

For may of the reasons already stated, go stocking foot.  Besides being able to change boot types and properly fit the boot, you can wet wade sans waders with a good boot in hot climes; maximum versatility.  As Bill recommended; go with breathables. Considere neoprene socks when wet wading with boots and keep in mind, some boots like Chota Brookies have removable insoles for use with and without waders. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HIYA guys I’ve always used bootfoot waders but I wonder if I’d be better off with stockingfoot. What do you folks use and why? Lou

Response:

No reason you can’t use quick-dry long pants.  They even make ones that have zip-off bottoms (i.e. convertible to shorts.)

        actually, my "fishing pants" are what were originally designed as warm weather bird hunting pants:  they are composed of poly-cotton with layers of codura on the knees and ass.  that’s because if you aren’t on the former when you fish, you aint gonna catch any of the latter, in hazel creek.         what the hell, it’s after 6, and it’s been a long day. wayno

Response:

Quick word of caution…walking in shorts through briars and scrub that scratch the legs…then standing in biota rich pond water is a recipe for some interesting rash and infection…the notion of keeping alcohol pads back at the truck is a good one.

No reason you can’t use quick-dry long pants.  They even make ones that have zip-off bottoms (i.e. convertible to shorts.)

Response:

stockingfoot.  because we wade wet down here after mid april, and thus need protection from the ankle up very infrequently.  if you ever hiked up to the middle falls on snowbird in late july, in even "breathable" chest high waders, you’d fully understand.

Good point.  I have used my wading boots without waders on quite a few occasions.

Response:

Question:

Sierra Trading Post has some good prices right now on winter time clothes. I got some silk long johns, marino woolshirts etc. Shipping was prompt etc. I’ve always stopped in their store when I was in Casper but I just found their website. They carry quality outdoor clothing at substantial discounts. I’m not affiliated with them at all just like the quality and price on what they carry.     http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ Willi

Response:

Just got an "Ott Light" for my tying table.  Been using my wife’s for a few months.  I love this thing.  The light is more natural that incandescent or florescent bulbs and I find I don’t need the magnifier on some of the flies that I used to use.  If you know a tyer, its a great gift (or put one on your own list.).       Frank Reid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sierra Trading Post has some good prices right now on winter time clothes. I got some silk long johns, marino woolshirts etc. Shipping was prompt etc. I’ve always stopped in their store when I was in Casper but I just found their website. They carry quality outdoor clothing at substantial discounts. I’m not affiliated with them at all just like the quality and price on what they carry. http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ Willi

Response:

Gentlemen, I would sincerely appreciate any advice for purchasing a winter "all – around"  but primarily fly fishing Gore-Tex type rain jacket.  It does not need to be Gore-Tex name brand just something similar and would like it to be an outdoor color, either solid brown, tan or camo would be suffice,  I would also like it to be more than just a shell so it will not only keep me dry but warm as well.  I do already layer properly with thinsulate and fleece but need something a little heavier for the very coldest of days in winter.  I live and fish primarily in Maryland and will begin shortly to fish in PA and WV.  I would also be glad to hear of any other suggestions for staying comfortable through the winter season. (Besides staying indoors) Sadly I can not afford top of the line products but anything in the $150.00 to $200.00 would be great. Thanks in advance, Tony Norton

Response:

Tony I have the old Bare sharkskin and it works fine.  The newer Bare models are olive and may be a bit higher than your price range but worth checking out. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Being in that part of the country it should be easy to get a military issue gortex field jacket WITH a liner.  I live in Ky and we can usually get them at Fort Knox for about 150.00 dollars.  I guess the key to this is knowing someone in the military who can get you this stuff. Being close to Ft. Meade and various other places it shouldnt be to hard for you.  If you know someone in the reserves they can get it for you.  I got all the clothing that I needed just before I got out except for the Gortex field jacket and I wish I would have gotten one myself. Roger – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gentlemen, I would sincerely appreciate any advice for purchasing a winter "all – around"  but primarily fly fishing Gore-Tex type rain jacket.  It does not need to be Gore-Tex name brand just something similar and would like it to be an outdoor color, either solid brown, tan or camo would be suffice,  I would also like it to be more than just a shell so it will not only keep me dry but warm as well.  I do already layer properly with thinsulate and fleece but need something a little heavier for the very coldest of days in winter.  I live and fish primarily in Maryland and will begin shortly to fish in PA and WV.  I would also be glad to hear of any other suggestions for staying comfortable through the winter season. (Besides staying indoors) Sadly I can not afford top of the line products but anything in the $150.00 to $200.00 would be great. Thanks in advance, Tony Norton

Response:

   I live about 3 miles from Ft. Meade and have found quite a few places where one can get the military gortex (mostly in Glen Burnie). I love the stuff.  Super durable and is relatively comfortable.  Gotex makes a spray that can reseal the gortex if its getting old.  A used jacket and the spray will be about half the price of the new.  Try Sunnies stores, there’s one on Richie Hwy north of 100.   If you don’t buy the military, make sure the seams are double stitched and sealed.  All pocket zippers should zip down to close and have a weather flap over the top.  If there is a hood, ensure that the hood is attached about halfway up the colar.  This will keep the wet off your neck when you take the hood off.  Make sure it is lined.  Gortex can be like a tent, if you touch it with your hand on the inside while it is wet, the damp can come through.  I don’t like the net linings, a good nylon taffeta inner is good.        Frank Reid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Being in that part of the country it should be easy to get a military issue gortex field jacket WITH a liner.  I live in Ky and we can usually get them at Fort Knox for about 150.00 dollars.  I guess the key to this is knowing someone in the military who can get you this stuff. Being close to Ft. Meade and various other places it shouldnt be to hard for you.  If you know someone in the reserves they can get it for you.  I got all the clothing that I needed just before I got out except for the Gortex field jacket and I wish I would have gotten one myself. Roger Gentlemen, I would sincerely appreciate any advice for purchasing a winter "all – around"  but primarily fly fishing Gore-Tex type rain jacket.  It does not need to be Gore-Tex name brand just something similar and would like it to be an outdoor color, either solid brown, tan or camo would be suffice,  I would also like it to be more than just a shell so it will not only keep me dry but warm as well.  I do already layer properly with thinsulate and fleece but need something a little heavier for the very coldest of days in winter.  I live and fish primarily in Maryland and will begin shortly to fish in PA and WV.  I would also be glad to hear of any other suggestions for staying comfortable through the winter season. (Besides staying indoors) Sadly I can not afford top of the line products but anything in the $150.00 to $200.00 would be great. Thanks in advance, Tony Norton

Response:

Tony check out the Solitude "Ultima" jacket. I picked one up and it’s worked great for me I do a bit a fishing in the winter and I try to catch the ice-outs up north so I’ve worn it in some pretty crappy weather. It runs about $200, the compant compares it to the Simms model priced a bit higher. You can check it out at their sight http://www.solitude.com. Good luck, Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gentlemen, I would sincerely appreciate any advice for purchasing a winter "all – around"  but primarily fly fishing Gore-Tex type rain jacket.  It does not need to be Gore-Tex name brand just something similar and would like it to be an outdoor color, either solid brown, tan or camo would be suffice,  I would also like it to be more than just a shell so it will not only keep me dry but warm as well.  I do already layer properly with thinsulate and fleece but need something a little heavier for the very coldest of days in winter.  I live and fish primarily in Maryland and will begin shortly to fish in PA and WV.  I would also be glad to hear of any other suggestions for staying comfortable through the winter season. (Besides staying indoors) Sadly I can not afford top of the line products but anything in the $150.00 to $200.00 would be great. Thanks in advance, Tony Norton

Response:

Question:

First of all, don’t use the terms *hook* &  *worm* and flyfishin’ in the same post. There’s a great little book which covers novice info, put out by, "Trailside Adventure," titled Flyfishing.  You may be familiar with the PBS series. The book covers knots, casting, types of flyfishin’, flys, ect…  Orvis also has a great beginners book, don’t recall the name presently.  Should be on their web site! Hang around and much advice will likely follow.  I’d offer to help, but I don’t fish so good, so my advice is limited to books. Op

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing I got a real nice rod and reel for a present but i’m not sure how put together the leader and the line and make it work.  Can somebody help me out here?  I love catching those little brookies but I have only done it on a hook and worm. I’m not a COMPLETE idiot , i just havent done a whole lot of fly fishing. Thanks for your time, Darrin

Response:

I love catching those little brookies but I have only done it on a hook and worm. I’m not a COMPLETE idiot , …

If catching is what you love, worms are the way to go. You’ll catch far more brookies with worms than with any other method save dynamite or rotenone. For flyfishing we generally recommend _The Curtis Creek Manifesto_ by Sheridan Anderson, Frank Amato Pubns; ISBN: 0936608064 Some think there’s more to flyfishing than catching, YMMV. Good luck. — Ken Fortenberry

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Orvis also has a great beginners book, don’t recall the name presently.  Should be on their web site!

Also here http://www.crosswinds.net/~brbg/books/brbg-gen-ff.html.  This book is by Tom Rosenbauer, who wrote a couple other books I know of "Reading Troutstreams" and "Prospecting for Trout".  He’s a good writer and after you check out a basic book, you might want to look at one of these 2 next. Regards, Jeff

Response:

If catching is what you love, worms are the way to go. You’ll catch far more brookies with worms than with any other method save dynamite or rotenone. Some think there’s more to flyfishing than catching, YMMV. Ken Fortenberry

Ahmen Brother!!! Wayne & Dianna enjoying the flyfishing. To fish is human….To release Divine! Before you buy.

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Some think there’s more to flyfishing than catching, YMMV.

Sometimes hiking is a pain I gotta go through to get to the fish, but then there are the times where I feel like carrying my fly rod is just good excuse for hiking up some beautiful paths and streams. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Can somebody help me out here?

You have received some good advice here. IMHO, once you have a good book and an idea of what the sport is about, seek out a flyfishing club and ask for their help getting started. In all likelihood someone will mentor you and explain the things that books and pictures can’t. If there are no clubs nearby, approach people you meet on the stream and ask questions. If you approach them in the same manner you entered ROFF, I’m sure they will help. Keep posting your questions here as well, and keep us informed as to your progress. George Adams "From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse, the goin’ up was worth the comin’ down." ___Kris Kristofferson "The Pilgrim/Chapter 33"

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Marge, I believe it is proper to identify yourself as an agent of the "suggested" business you are providing a link to. I’m surprised you just don’t use your normal isp address instead of an anonymous one. Just a friendly suggestion. Have a nice day, Walt ezflyfish.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here is a pretty good place to start. http://www.bluequillangler.com/learning_flyfishing.html Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing Before you buy.

Response:

Here is a pretty good place to start. http://www.bluequillangler.com/learning_flyfishing.html Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing

Before you buy.

Response:

www.troutfishing.co.za & click on lessons. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing I got a real nice rod and reel for a present but i’m not sure how put together the leader and the line and make it work. Can somebody help me out here?  I love catching those little brookies but I have only done it on a hook and worm. I’m not a COMPLETE idiot , i just havent done a whole lot of fly fishing. Thanks for your time, Darrin

Response:

Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing I got a real nice rod and reel for a present but i’m not sure how put together the leader and the line and make it work.  Can somebody help me out here?  I love catching those little brookies but I have only done it on a hook and worm. I’m not a COMPLETE idiot , i just havent done a whole lot of fly fishing. Thanks for your time, Darrin

Response:

I got a real nice rod and reel

At least you didn’t call it a pole. I’m not a COMPLETE idiot

Good!  Sometimes that helps.  :-) http://www.virtualflyshop.com/ Has a ton of good information, from basic to advanced. — Levi "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

Response:

Good luck in a fun new "sport."  hit a local library and search fir fly fishing.. hell, if i learned how that way, you can too.  see if you can find some poor sucker around where you live to help you out.. and , get a bunch of flies, go to a stream, and practice.  you will need a bunc of flies cause you can expect to lose many of them your first time out. that will end, dont panic. edwin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing I got a real nice rod and reel for a present but i’m not sure how put together the leader and the line and make it work.  Can somebody help me out here?  I love catching those little brookies but I have only done it on a hook and worm. I’m not a COMPLETE idiot , i just havent done a whole lot of fly fishing. Thanks for your time, Darrin

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Can someone lead me to an informative source where i can learn the fundamentals of Fly Fishing

Darrin,  You are going to need some supplies to get started.  I would take what you have and head to the nearest flyshop.  Tell them what is going on and they will most likely show you have to put the line together and attach a leader, tippet, ect.  Buy some stuff to let them know you are serious.  Maybe a flybox and some flies, tippet, ect.  Be ready to spend about $100 (I know I have a hard time leaving without spending at least $50 and that is being conservative). Ask about classes they offer.  Most shops offer beginner courses in casting, ect.  Some shops can be really helpful in getting a beginner started.  Not only will they obviously sell you what you need, but will give you enough advice to keep you coming back to spend more money.  Make a few friends with some people who fly fish as well.  It helps having someone around you can get some free advice from. Books and stuff are okay, but you cannot beat personal instruction, especially when it is free.  There are a lot of good websites out there with info on knots, ect.  Check them out and practice what you learn.  Practice casting on your lawn or at a park.  Sounds stupid, but lawn fishing can save you some frustration out on the water. HTH. Warren X#-[

Trout Dwellers Unite! Western Conclave Guru For info: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/sp_ROFF_people/wclave/wclave.html

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Question:

Does anyone know who puts on equipment/demonstration shows for flyfishing in alrge cities? I would like to go to one next year but can’t seem to find out how/where they are scheduled.

Huh, loaded kind of question….What  large area are you near? The fly fishing magazines often put out a list of the winter shows….also check websites www.flyshop.com,www.flyfish.com,www.flyfishing.com,www.flyrodreel.com, etc…; you local sporting goods stores or fly shops or the local clubs, ie TU, FFF chapters. All will have the low down. Wayne Knight (remove nospam to respond via mail) Expert in the creation of  wind knots and tailing loops.

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Does anyone know who puts on equipment/demonstration shows for flyfishing in alrge cities? I would like to go to one next year but can’t seem to find out how/where they are scheduled. Thanks

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Does anyone know who puts on equipment/demonstration shows for flyfishing in alrge cities? I would like to go to one next year but can’t seem to find out how/where they are scheduled. Thanks

Check the following URL’s.     www.sportshow.com     www.flyfishingshow.com

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Question:

I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?"

"really hammered ‘em"  covers all situations.  (keep walking) Schuhfly

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John – How timely to see your post. Late yesterday afternoon (around 4:30) I ventured out to a local municiple lake.  I have learned to prepare myself for the stares I get when I take my rod out of the tube.  Heck, most of the guys around here have never seen a rod tube except in a Cabela’s catalog. Anyway, the area I usually fish had a few baitcasters chunking plastic worms and being the social type, I climbed right in with them. They ususally give me plenty of clearance when they see my backcast. Anyway, the worm chunkers were bombing a grassline and turning up nothing.  I gave them there space and when they moved down the shoreline a bit, I came in behind them with a black #12 wooly worm and picked up the little 2 and 3 lb bass they left behind.  The looks on their faces were priceless. So you see, even us – no catching wiggle rodders – have our day in the sun. Tight lines. Gary

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Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?"  Now what I’d like to say is yea, I had a great day, the sky was blue, the birds were singing, I cast to a few trout, one took my fly, we had a great fight, and I gently released him back to his stream to fight another day. However, you know what they are thinking is "Ha you loser…you got skunked…can’t catch fish at all…ha ha ha". What do you guys do about this situation?  Should I lie and always say "Yea, I stacked ‘em like cordwood", or should I try and explain to these bait slinging fish killers how I feel? -John —

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What do you guys do about this situation?  

On those occasions when I don’t want to stop & chat, standard response, "Oh yeah, one er two". It’s not impolite, gives no additional information and is said in a way that invites no further conversation. should I try and explain to these bait slinging fish killers how I feel?

Given your pretentious predilections, I would advise against it. — Ken Fortenberry

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What do you guys do about this situation?  

If I have had a great day, I like to park my butt in a hole within eyesight of the bastards and pound fish like crazy, careful of course to emphasize the catch and release aspect.  Even better is catching a fish right under their nose or out of the back pocket of their waders. If I have had a poor day, a simple, "What a day!" followed by a grin leaves em guessing and keeps the honesty in check. Of course if I got skunked and the bait huckers are pulling fish out like crazy I find that a large rock hurled from the trail into their hole helps ease my frustrations.  I must mention that this form of therapy is saved for the times when the Jeep is in sight and I have a big head start.   Mike Wilson Fishing!! What else is there?

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Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?"

I usually reply to all and sundry with a ambiguous "…not much" and leave it at that. Majority of times it’s true – when it’s not I don’t want to advertise. I don’t care if someone else thinks I’m an idiot. Ralph H – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – —

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What do you guys do about this situation

My standard reply is: "Got a couple on midges" George Adams

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ROFL! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My standard reply is: "Got a couple on midges" George Adams

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The idea of a fisherman telling the truth when asked about his fishing should not be considered.

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Tell them you got a couple on worms and watch the look on their faces.

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situation?  Should I lie and always say "Yea, I stacked ‘em like cordwood", or should I try and explain to these bait slinging fish killers how I feel? -John — Of course if I got skunked and the bait huckers are pulling fish out like

crazy I find that a large rock hurled from the trail into their hole helps ease my frustrations.  I must mention that this form of therapy is saved for the times when the Jeep is in sight and I have a big head start. Mike Wilson Geez, I’d reply to these trolls, but I feel like I’d be stepping on T-Bone’s toes.             Jim

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Tell them you got a couple on worms and watch the look on their faces.

Quizzical, confused, look comes over my face. …wrigglers or baby nighties ? — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?" However, you know what they are thinking is "Ha you loser…you got skunked…can’t catch fish at all…ha ha ha".

I’m not sure if bait chuckers think that way in my neck of the woods. Most of the time they see flyfishers catching more fish than they do. You also see a lot of spin fishers use a water bubble and fly on lakes here. A number of times they have sheepishly asked if it was hard to learn to fly fish. THEN- you lay it on them. Big Al

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red wigglers, baby nighties, or, most likely, San Juan. aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh.

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[deleted] What do you guys do about this situation?  Should I lie and always say "Yea, I stacked ‘em like cordwood", or should I try and explain to these bait slinging fish killers how I feel?

[deleted] Is there any doubt that guilt replaced the creel ? — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?"

    I think if the flyrod is accompanied with nice looking neoprenes and a vest with pockets buldging and gadgets dangling you’ll tend to get this greeting.  My appearence on stream far from suggests the stereotypical "fly fisherman".  The only give away is the rod.  I always have it rigged in the car before I leave the driveway.  I guess I just tend to blend in.  That is until I start fishing. Of course, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t fish circles around everyone in sight. Sorry, couldn’t help myself, but it’s true!! JE

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?"  Now what I’d like to say is yea, I had a great day, the sky was blue, the birds were singing, I cast to a few trout, one took my fly, we had a great fight, and I gently released him back to his stream to fight another day. However, you know what they are thinking is "Ha you loser…you got skunked…can’t catch fish at all…ha ha ha". What do you guys do about this situation?  Should I lie and always say "Yea, I stacked ‘em like cordwood", or should I try and explain to these bait slinging fish killers how I feel? -John —

Simple, I beat them to the punch and ask them first. Peter Email address hacked. Remove -delete-this- to email a reply.

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Of course, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t fish circles around everyone in sight. Sorry, couldn’t help myself, but it’s true!!

Speaking of which…how did the smoked whitefish turn out ? — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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Speaking of which…how did the smoked whitefish turn out ?

    Not quite as good as the trout I brought up, but still darn good.  I wonder if it was the wood.  I used apple on the whitefish and hickory on the trout.  Either way, I need another load! JE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?"  Now what I’d like to say is yea, I had a great day, the sky was blue, the birds were singing, I cast to a few trout, one took my fly, we had a great fight, and I gently released him back to his stream to fight another day. However, you know what they are thinking is "Ha you loser…you got skunked…can’t catch fish at all…ha ha ha". What do you guys do about this situation?  Should I lie and always say "Yea, I stacked ‘em like cordwood", or should I try and explain to these bait slinging fish killers how I feel? -John —

Hi John, This is a great subject. I know what you are talking about. I guess you could tell them that you don’t keep the fish because they are full of chemicals? You could say that you are allergic to fish? You could say that you freezer is full? You could tell them that this stretch is catch and release? You could say that you had to let the big ones go because you have a bad back? You could say that you were getting tired of catching so many fish with bait, that you decided to try fly fishing? You could say that you were just shooting a Toyota commercial? You could say that you were just practicing casting? You could say that you are actually an undercover game warden? You could say I had a great day, the sky was blue, the birds were singing, I cast to a few trout, one took myfly, we had a great fight, and I gently released him back to his stream to fight another day. Thanks. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop www.kiene.com

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My standard answer to this question is always: "Yup" "47" e

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Howdy Rowdies, I have a question on how you guys react when someone sees you walking along with a flyrod and with that nasty grin on their face they ask "Catch anything?" -John

Maybe its a regional thing, but I’m more often asked, "Any luck?" My standard answer if I’ve been skunked is, "Well, I didn’t fall in." If not, "Yeah, I did OK." For another fly fisherman, I usually tell ‘em everything. Joe

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—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– While in non-compliance with local decency ordinances the world over, I guess you could tell them that you don’t keep the fish because they are full of chemicals?

That’s very depressing when it’s true. I like to fish the Kansas River as much as anyone, but the fish are unfit to eat to the extent that there are any eating fish anyway. A century ago, there was a significant commercial fishery for Blue and Flathead catfish on the Kaw, and fish weighing more than 80 pounds actually were caught on a semi-regular basis. Now, there’s a fat lot of nothing aside from cyprinids, a few small sturgeons, and some unhealthy-looking striped bass. You could say that you are actually an undercover game warden?

Bad news. In most US states, the wardens are peace officers. It’s illegal to claim to be one if you’re not. OTOH, if you are…:-) —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: 2.6.2 iQEVAwUBNt8/h5diUzdLFqlpAQGBrgf/RzbTAlaM74FFvMIO9exqnq3U5pgVDFMk Q0Ufdy4Grf373dWTDbrhwzxfmdLsaxUJYeSQuQACZ/TKxjqUVpP9qBYjhKtIA9Nd Lg/pXpdle1/eR3uJ3fpVXqL7fk9HCisA9Q/7Y9XQiCOCfqvxAjk9gWmsEHNM2wrY TbB9VeQ+8aMa81+8qUJig/1kNPJvyUjdbRwQcE2GzBnSqgX8llm/HXsA31qf4JJo mEH7/AKrrh5JyDkf83AndiaASynBHMGPcTA0SMu/8xSjf1i8K/ZB3HucCkNVG7PG 8rU02rpJttF+hajJMkUgXw97/ASpoaXAljo1×7kd6wHbIL7X5a4OeA== =Manp —–END PGP SIGNATURE—– Mike S. Medintz, http://www.grapevine.net/~medintz Some people say that fishing is better than sex. That proves that they ain’t doing either one right. -Mike S. Medintz, 1998

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Question:

You don’t beat up on your own sport. Mr. G. —

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You don’t beat up on your own sport.

A curious (if not bizarre) simile – which begs the question: just what do you do with your bar of bath soap, George? (Practise C&R in the tub? ;^) /dave

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Well this was an eye opener here on this cool morning in northern Maine….I’m howling… dave — dave’s homepage madness – flyfishing in Maine and more http://www.midmaine.com/~dbottom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You don’t beat up on your own sport. A curious (if not bizarre) simile – which begs the question: just what do you do with your bar of bath soap, George? (Practise C&R in the tub? ;^) /dave

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Interesting analogy.. but why the word "molest," which seem more in line with using them for your own purposes and then tossing them aside? You don’t beat up on your own sport. Mr. G.

-Mark/Particle Salad Particle Salad/Noom Room Studio http://home.earthlink.net/~psalad

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Question:

will be in northwest territories, Nunavut, and will have opportunity to fly fish for char and what ever.  Any advice as to flies, techniques, equipment???

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will be in northwest territories, Nunavut, and will have opportunity to fly fish for char and what ever.  Any advice as to flies, techniques, equipment???

        Think I recall an article about a year or so ago by the "political" columist for one of the FF mags whose name is Ted Williams though, of course, he’s not the baseball guy. At any rate, he talked about fishing for arctic char, but I’ve forgotten what mag he writes for. Maybe someone here will tell us and then you can call them and get a copy of the issue with that article in it. As I recall it, it was a good article, and it struck me that they weren’t all that different from fishing for brookies, esp. as Williams said that contrary to what he had heard, they do indeed take flies off the surface. I’d think streamers would be your best bet for day-to-day fishing for these guys, maybe with a 6 or 7 wt so as to fight the wind? And you might want to take along a 4 or 5 wt if you are going somewhere with grayling, plus lots of dryflies for them. Other than that I suspect there’s lake trout in the inland lakes, and way up there I suspect you might get them on the surface during the right time of year. In fact I’ve seen lakers taking stuff off the surface right after ice-out in Canada, and heard of guys catching them that way, though I didn’t have my flyrod when I saw it and was catching them on spinners right below the surface though.         Good luck, and let us know how it goes. tgb

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I agree with whoever said test test test. i know testing helps me feel better knowing what my sugar is. I also think it’s an individual matter for each to find. I know it’s been like that for me. I try to raise my blood sugar before my workouts (aerobic classes usually) so that I don’t have to worry about it during and after the wrokout. I usually have juice or fruit and it works to raise it enough so I don’t have to worry, and then i usually have dinner after. When I go out for bike rides alone I do the same thing. If it helps, I kept an article about managing blood sugar that i read in the magazine Diabetes Self Management. I thought it was a very good article that gave lots of examples about blood suagr during exercise and what to do about food and insulin. It was in the November December 1996 issue. The title was Balancing Blood Sugar and Exercise by Richard Weil. I don’t know if this is in the library, but there is a number in the magazine that i guess you could call to request a copy or maybe a back issue. The number is 800 234-0923 (that’s the subscription service). There’s also a number for advertising [212] 989-0200. I would try both numbers. The article really cleared up some things for me so I recommend it to you. I don’t work for the magazine, but I do think the article was helpful. Good Luck, Tina

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There are also all too many stories of a lone person who goes out into the woods never to return.  Diabetes is rarley a factor in these stories. Bears, Clifs, Falling rocks, Pitfalls, Snakes, Ect, Those are factors, Diabetes almost never.

Much more common are:   Falls causing sprains/broken bones: you lose your mobility, then you’re in trouble. Happens even without ‘cliffs’.   Inadequate clothing and/or shelter (exposure, hypothermia).   Insufficient food intake/food supply (starvation).   Insufficient water. – - – The root cause of these problems is usually foolish overconfidence. The one which is highly affected by DM is insufficient food intake,   which I have suffered a few times. Test often! Take lots of extra food, extra drugs, an entire extra test kit.   Experience is critical. DON’T try a 5-day in the middle of no where until you have a lot of solo overnights and 2-nighters under your belt.

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   Newsgroups: misc.health.diabetes    Ok, me again, needing advice. It seems that this is my first summer    on Insulin. After my expirience with that nasty hypo seizure on    vacation, I’m leary of engaging in certain outdoor avtivities alone. Actually you have answered your own question… You said "ALONE" The simple soultion is as follows 1: Always have a ready source of "Quick" glucose (Cake Iceing tubes)    Gluco gell, Gluco Tabs, Regular (not diet) pop,  Orange juice 2: (And this is perhaps the more improtant) always have a partner who    KNOWS you are diabetic and KNOWS the signs of HYPO in you. Now if you happen not to be a diabetic (As many are not) Then #2 is becomes #1 and delete all after PARTNER.  That is right… Man was not ment to be alone, Man was ment to be partnered (No this is not a religious or moral statment)  but there have been many, many, many stories of a couple of people who went out in the woods and one became injured.  The other saved his/her life.  There are also all too many stories of a lone person who goes out into the woods never to return.  Diabetes is rarley a factor in these stories. Bears, Clifs, Falling rocks, Pitfalls, Snakes, Ect, Those are factors, Diabetes almost never. So the easy answer is DO NOT HIKE ALONE,  Take a main squeze or hiking partner "Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business" A professor is one who talks in someone else’s sleep. Net-Tamer V 1.08X – Registered

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, me again, needing advice. It seems that this is my first summer on Insulin. After my expirience with that nasty hypo seizure on vacation, I’m leary of engaging in certain outdoor avtivities alone. I love to hike into the woods and go flyfishing. Or sometimes go to isolated rocks on the ocean for some surf fishing etc. Is the simple answer like this: "We’re diabetic, we can do anything,…if you test every hour or 2"?? Also, how do some of you handle… ah let’s say mountain climbing? Your metabolism goes from slow to maximum? How do you carbo load enough to handle that? Trial and era maybe? Test on the trail every 20 mins? My wife is also a bit nervous everytime I leave the house on any journey (after witnessing my seizure). I’m having a tough time because I have an very avtive life and find this area of insecurity intensly frustrating. Thoughts?                                         Terry Weir

When you know let me in on the secret.  Last winter I went out one weekend alone to go hiking and waterfall viewing.  One time I was about 3 miles into a lonely trail when it hit.  I had taken extra carbo before the hike (granola bars), and luckily I had a sack of candies.   The entire walk back it was one candy after another.  I must have injested over 100 grams carbo by the time I got back to civilization.   So what’s the answer?  Eat as you go?  Doesn’t sound fun to me.  Less insulin?  I’ve read that you should actually take a little insulin before you excercise, to make sure your body doesn’t starve of glucose and start keto.  Maybe both…..  Trial and error seems the only way for now.

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This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, me again, needing advice. It seems that this is my first summer on Insulin. After my expirience with that nasty hypo seizure on vacation, I’m leary of engaging in certain outdoor avtivities alone. I love to hike into the woods and go flyfishing. Or sometimes go to isolated rocks on the ocean for some surf fishing etc. Is the simple answer like this: "We’re diabetic, we can do anything,…if you test every hour or 2"?? Also, how do some of you handle… ah let’s say mountain climbing? Your metabolism goes from slow to maximum? How do you carbo load enough to handle that? Trial and era maybe? Test on the trail every 20 mins? My wife is also a bit nervous everytime I leave the house on any journey (after witnessing my seizure). I’m having a tough time because I have an very avtive life and find this area of insecurity intensly frustrating. Thoughts?

You are talking essentially about exercise so I have attached my standard exercise answer.  There is tremendous variability in diabetics response to exercise and the response is also affected by your type of diabetes and medication.  Some people can get along with only minor adjustments in their routine and some of us have to do quite a bit of compensation.  The more you learn about diabetes, your particular flavor of it, how the body normally works, and how a diabetics body works, the better you will be able to adjust to abnormal situations be they changes in activity, diet, workshifts or whatever.  Diabetics can do pretty much what ever they want to.  The first diabetic to swim the English Channel was just in the news. That doesn’t mean, however, that it you don’t have to put extra effort into it to deal with the effects of having diabetes.  When I think about doing things with diabetes, I often remember the old joke about Ginger Rogers.  She did everything Fred did, but backwards wearing high heels. — Charles Coughran Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; name="EXERCIS5.TXT" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline; filename="EXERCIS5.TXT" The best way to deal with problems associated with diabetes and exercise begins with understanding of what goes on in the metabolic system of normal people and what the differences are for diabetics. Only with such understanding can you make intelligent choices about pharmacological tactics. Relying on rules of thumb can cause more problems it solves because of the wide variability of individual responses and the wide variety of diseases that fall under the rubric of diabetes. Not to mention, I have seen postings where the rules of thumb were clearly misunderstood. While the following is intended for those who take insulin, it may assist those on oral medications as well. Exercise in this context means extended aerobic activity, say a minimum of 20 minutes of jogging. This is a somewhat simplified account but I think it captures the most important aspects for exercise related bg control. Comments encouraged. When a normal person starts to exercise, the insulin output of his pancreas goes down. At first blush, this seems backward since the muscles are working hard and therefore require more glucose to be transported from the blood into the cells. There are two reasons more glucose can be transported with less available insulin. The first is that during exercise insulin becomes much more efficient. The mechanism of this effect is not fully understood, but it helps overcomes the reduction in circulating insulin. Second, exercise activates non-insulin mediated glucose transport pathways. These pathways are not sufficient to handle the load in the absence of insulin, but do increase the effective insulin efficiency. When insulin levels decline relative to the counterregulatory hormones — glucagon, epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol — the liver is stimulated to release stored glucose. The blood glucose that is being transported into the cells is replaced by that from hepatic stores. It is this hormonal balance system that keeps the levels of blood glucose in the normal narrow range during exercise. For those of us who inject insulin, the first problem is obvious. Our circulating levels of insulin do not react to exercise. Absent any correction, when the muscles demand glucose and insulin becomes more efficient our blood glucose plummets and we become hypoglycemic. This is the reason for a commonly encountered prohibition to not schedule exercise when your insulin is peaking. The higher the level of circulating insulin, the more pronounced the effect. One solution is to reduce our circulating insulin levels by reducing insulin intake. Here specific advice starts to be difficult due to the wide variety of insulins, regimens, and individual variability. The spectrum spans from a Type II who takes a little NPH to help his beta cells out to a c-peptide free pumper. I have spoken to diabetic runners whose tactics would put me in an ambulance, even though our situations seem to be very similar. You see a lot of advice of the form, "reduce your insulin 2 units for every hour of strenuous exercise". This kind of advice ignores real world variability and is sometimes much worse than useless. Clearly, someone who takes one shot/day has a much more limited ability to adjust circulating insulin levels than someone using multiple injections or a pump. The other approach is to increase blood glucose levels by eating carbohydrates timed to arrive at the blood stream in the form of glucose when it is needed. The easiest way to do that is usually to eat fast acting carbohydrates during or immediately preceding exercise. Again, there are rules of thumb around about so many grams of carbohydrates for a particular length of exercise at some defined level. Again, they seem to be swamped by individual and circumstantial variability. Some of us do a combination of both and pump up our bg levels somewhat before exercise and reduce insulin levels to keep things on an even keel. The bottom line is to make careful adjustments and test, and test, and test, to find out how things work for your particular body. So much for too much insulin. What happens when the circulating insulin level is too low? When levels are so low that even the increase in insulin efficiency doesn’t overcome the defect, glucose isn’t transported into the cells. Worse, since insulin levels are low the liver continues to pump glucose into the blood. The result is bg levels rise with exercise. The muscles get stressed due to lack of fuel and the metabolism of fats kicks in, ketones start being produced and the danger of ketosis or ketoacidosis looms. This is the basis for another rule of thumb which is often misunderstood. The rule is usually stated "don’t exercise when your bg is above 240 mg/dl (13.3 mmol/l) and ketones are present in the urine". This makes sense because those are signs that you have inadequate insulin supplies — that’s how many of us got diagnosed. Exercise in those circumstances will make things worse, not better. On the other hand, if you are 300 mg/dl (16.7 mmol/l) because you just drank a large regular cola by mistake with lunch, exercise is a great way to bring that bg down in a hurry. Why your bg is elevated is just as important as the fact of the elevated level when deciding whether or not exercise is contraindicated. The 240 is also a somewhat arbitrary number. Some people start throwing ketones at significantly lower levels. In short: avoid exercise if your insulin level is too low. Do exercise if you are sure your insulin level is adequate but your blood glucose is too high. Exercise also produces effects at longer time scales. Sometime after exercise, there is often a take up of blood glucose by the muscles to replenish depleted stores. This most often occurs an hour or two after exercise, but has been reported in the range of 1/2 hour to 48 hours. Again, as is the case during exercise, artificially high insulin levels will lead to hypoglycemia. The last rule of thumb is to watch for hypoglycemia after exercise. *SPECULATION BEGINS HERE* A problem some of us encounter from time to time is a post exercise bg spike. Blood glucose readings will be reasonable after exercise but sharply elevated a few hours later. It is my speculation that this represents circulating insulin levels that were adequate to deal with exercise induced blood glucose demand with its attendant insulin efficiency increase, but too low to deal with the post exercise demand when insulin efficiency has lowered somewhat. It has been my experience that post exercise elevated bg levels respond to much less insulin than would be required in a more normal situation. It appears that insulin efficiency falls off after exercise at some rate and you can be on the correct side of the curve during exercise and the wrong side after. This hypothesis is the best of a couple I have come up with. *SPECULATION ENDS HERE* Regular exercise over time scales of weeks or months can reduce overall insulin requirements. In addition, as muscles become trained and improve their internal storage, it feeds back into the amount of glucose demand present during exercise, and thus into the entire control cycle. Diabetes makes exercise, and almost everything else, harder. But, hey, if it was easy it wouldn’t be any fun There are two very good, readable books from which you can get more information. The better is Campaigne and Lampman, _Exercise in the Clinical Management of Diabetes_. Almost as good is _The Health Professional’s Guide to Diabetes and Exercise_ edited by Ruderman and Devlin and published by the American Diabetes Association.

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Ok, me again, needing advice. It seems that this is my first summer on Insulin. After my expirience with that nasty hypo seizure on vacation, I’m leary of engaging in certain outdoor avtivities alone. I love to hike into the woods and go flyfishing. Or sometimes go to isolated rocks on the ocean for some surf fishing etc. Is the simple answer like this: "We’re diabetic, we can do anything,…if you test every hour or 2"??

Frequent testing is not necessary.  I engage in all types of strenuous and active things (skiing, hiking, bicycling, snokling, rock climbing, etc.) with no testing at all during the activity. My method is this:  take into consideration your level of activity, adjust your insulin accordingly, and bring along lots of sugary things to compensate.  Of course, this only works if you are relatively good judge (like I am) of when your blood sugar is low. For example, when I go skiing, I’ve found that after eating a regular breakfast and taking a normal dose of insulin in the morning, that I can eat lunch without taking any insulin during the day’s activities. Then I eat dinner and take a normal dose.  It so happens that the decrease in my blood sugar corresponding to my increased activity is almost exactly balanced by the lunch I eat (usually it is not a very large lunch, though, because the ski food prices are so high). I should say that I am on an ultralente/Humalog regimine (I split the ultralente dose into morning and evening, and then just take the required amount of Humalog right before I’m going to eat something). Also, how do some of you handle… ah let’s say mountain climbing? Your metabolism goes from slow to maximum? How do you carbo load enough to handle that? Trial and era maybe? Test on the trail every 20 mins? My wife is also a bit nervous everytime I leave the house on any journey (after witnessing my seizure). I’m having a tough time because I have an very avtive life and find this area of insecurity intensly frustrating. Thoughts?

When I do something like this, I just don’t take any of the regular insulin (but keep the ultralente the same).  Often I still go low and need to eat something. If you can’t tell when you are getting low, then you are screwed and this easy method (make sure you have enough insulin so you don’t go hig and just eat when necessary to prevent lows) won’t work. keith

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Ok, me again, needing advice. It seems that this is my first summer on Insulin. After my expirience with that nasty hypo seizure on vacation, I’m leary of engaging in certain outdoor avtivities alone. I love to hike into the woods and go flyfishing. Or sometimes go to isolated rocks on the ocean for some surf fishing etc. Is the simple answer like this: "We’re diabetic, we can do anything,…if you test every hour or 2"?? Also, how do some of you handle… ah let’s say mountain climbing? Your metabolism goes from slow to maximum? How do you carbo load enough to handle that? Trial and era maybe? Test on the trail every 20 mins? My wife is also a bit nervous everytime I leave the house on any journey (after witnessing my seizure). I’m having a tough time because I have an very avtive life and find this area of insecurity intensly frustrating. Thoughts?                                         Terry Weir

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You got it test test test…. experience experience  you can do anything if you are willing to do what it takes to know your body every step of the way.  Include your wife in everything…this should boost her confidence that you as a team can handle anything.  I have been diabetic for 20-years and have never let it stop me from anything I really wanted to do.  it just takes work. Good Luck, M.H. Moman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok, me again, needing advice. It seems that this is my first summer on Insulin. After my expirience with that nasty hypo seizure on vacation, I’m leary of engaging in certain outdoor avtivities alone. I love to hike into the woods and go flyfishing. Or sometimes go to isolated rocks on the ocean for some surf fishing etc. Is the simple answer like this: "We’re diabetic, we can do anything,…if you test every hour or 2"?? Also, how do some of you handle… ah let’s say mountain climbing? Your metabolism goes from slow to maximum? How do you carbo load enough to handle that? Trial and era maybe? Test on the trail every 20 mins? My wife is also a bit nervous everytime I leave the house on any journey (after witnessing my seizure). I’m having a tough time because I have an very avtive life and find this area of insecurity intensly frustrating. Thoughts?                                         Terry Weir

– The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.                   -Frances Willard

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I hope this gets to you in time. The McKenzie is not the most "bank friendly" river, beacuse of the large amount of private property along the river. You should go to the Caddis Fly Shop in downtown and they will tell you a few places to go. They are very friendly. I use to live down ther and it’s been a while so I can’t give you perfect directions. But Deadman or Deadmon’s Ferry is a decent place, or in the Springfield area, I hope this helps Dan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I desperately need help.  I just discovered that I