Question:

    It is now the a.m. where in I can actually recognize the keyboard as a keyboard, not a checkers board.  The FBI has left my door and life is getting back to normal (who knew that using a keyboard as a checker board would hit the right url and password to deploy the black helicopters to Stewart, Iowa?).     I want to wish you all a happy New Year.  This has been a tremendous year of growth in my fly fishing skill, due in no small part to ROFFians. The Pirate’s School of Fishing With Floaty Pieces of Yarn, followed by Mike Makela’s School of Stare at the Water and Will the Fish onto your Hook (Zen subdivision) taught me nymphing.  Petah and the Pirate, after watching me go fishless all day, telling me I’ve got too much bow in my line (‘cudda said something earlier).  Wayno threatening to beat me silly if I flexed my wrist on my back cast.  Tony Norton getting me out on skinny water so I could learn stealth.     Did I fish as much as I wanted to this year? No.  Did I more than make up for it with new friends that accept me as me? Yes.   Folks who open their homes like Dave and Jo, Wayne and Dianna.  Guys who haul me from spot to spot like Stan, and the whole Boston Massacre II Clave crew.  Not one had ever met me, but you all came out to fish with me.  To Penns and Rappahannock crew and to all of you I’ve yet to fish with, to those who put in the wonderful TR’s and advice, even to those who’ve added a bit of controversy the group, I wish you all the best in the coming year. — Frank Reid Reverse email to reply.

Response:

Frank, the pleasure was all mine.  I enjoyed your company and fishing with you.  I have named that pool on the Penns "The Frank Pool".    And, Jo and I are enjoying the quilt.   Best Wishes for a safe and wonderful New Year to you and yours, Frank.  Hope to see you at Penns. Dave

Response:

Frank, the pleasure was all mine.  I enjoyed your company and fishing with you. I have named that pool on the Penns "The Frank Pool".    And, Jo and I are enjoying the quilt.   Best Wishes for a safe and wonderful New Year to you and yours, Frank.  Hope to see you at Penns. Dave

I’ll echo those comments – see you at Penns, beside the Frank Pool. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://home.cogeco.ca/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Question:

Hi, Can anybody recommend a good quality, sturdy tackle box. It needs to be large as I have a big collection of lures and trolling paraphernalia. At the moment I end up dragging two or three smaller boxes around with me. Many thanks, Nick

Response:

shin real hard on the hitch receiver and jump around. Steve

Sorry, that was Bill Dance, "dancin" around the end of his truck. — —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

"Nick C"

asks: Hi, Can anybody recommend a good quality, sturdy tackle box. It needs to be large as I have a big collection of lures and trolling paraphernalia. At the moment I end up dragging two or three smaller boxes around with me. Many thanks, Nick

I like Plano.  You can get them in sizes big enough to carry the contents of a one bedroom apartment. But, I do like two or three smaller boxes.  I fish for different species of fish, and bringing along a ton of bass stuff to fish for trout is just too much.  Now, I may keep the bass box in the car or RV, just in case, but hauling everything you own to go catch a few bluegills doesn’t work for me. I even like the little ones about as big as two packs of cigs to carry when I go for a short hike.  Big enough to carry some extra hooks, sinkers, lures, flies, etc, and go in a pocket. But I do like Plano, and for a couple of bucks, send in the deal and get your name on a real brass plate for the top.  Makes you look like Like Roland Martin.  And to really look like Roland, bang your shin real hard on the hitch receiver and jump around. Steve Illigitimi non carborundum.

Response:

"Steve Huber"

Sorry, that was Bill Dance, "dancin" around the end of his truck.

I’ll bet that Roland has done it at least once.  Maybe not on camera. Steve Illigitimi non carborundum.

Response:

Hi, Can anybody recommend a good quality, sturdy tackle box. It needs to be large as I have a big collection of lures and trolling paraphernalia. At the moment I end up dragging two or three smaller boxes around with me. Many thanks, Nick

This doesnt relate much to what youre talking about, but If you take advice from the guys on TV and have like 5 small boxes for each kind of fish, you will end up going fishing and sure enough there will be people catching 20lb cats all around you when you only have your bass equipment with you.  or you take a bunch of topwater stuff and the bass are biting on the bottom……man that pisses me off so buy a big box, be ready for anything…..I even carry in my little firebird 4 different fishing poles….a fly rod & reel, a spinning reel w/ rod, a baitcasting reel w/ rod, and a bug surfrod with a huge spinning reel just in case the huge carp happen to be biting.

Response:

so buy a big box, be ready for anything…..I even carry in my little firebird 4 different fishing poles….a fly rod & reel, a spinning reel w/ rod, a baitcasting reel w/ rod, and a bug surfrod

One of those shopping carts works good to haul all the stuff. Be sure to remove the market’s name. Steve  ;-) Illigitimi non carborundum.

Response:

Cant remember the brand..but i saw one at wal-mart ,pretty big with removable clear boxes you could fit in a pocket for hiking,quick trip etc..

Response:

Let’s see tackle boxes … you got Kevin Van Dam on TV with a tractor-trailer load of tackle, you got Mark Sosin on TV with little Plano tackle boxes for all occasions …. sometimes a dozen boxes for some occasions, you got foot locker-sized, cig-pack-sized,  you got worm boxes, leader boxes, fresh … salt …. fly …. surf … spinning …. bait casting … I secretly suspect your question was designed to stir up this bunch of smelly ol’ anglers … and hook em good … Mission accomplished. Unless of course, you work for Plano, Flambeau or any of the other tackle box makers. By the way, I’ve been fishing for 44 years, and I only have a dozen tackle boxes … not counting the little ones.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cant remember the brand..but i saw one at wal-mart ,pretty big with removable clear boxes you could fit in a pocket for hiking,quick trip etc..

Response:

Let’s see tackle boxes … you got Kevin Van Dam on TV with a tractor-trailer load of tackle, you got Mark Sosin on TV with little Plano tackle boxes for all occasions …. sometimes a dozen boxes for some occasions, you got foot locker-sized, cig-pack-sized,  you got worm boxes, leader boxes, fresh … salt …. fly …. surf … spinning …. bait casting … I secretly suspect your question was designed to stir up this bunch of smelly ol’ anglers … and hook em good … Mission accomplished. Unless of course, you work for Plano, Flambeau or any of the other tackle box makers. By the way, I’ve been fishing for 44 years, and I only have a dozen tackle boxes … not counting the little ones.

I mostly freshwater fish, so I have two tackle boxes, one for fresh and a smaller one for salt. When I get too much freshwater gear and outgrow my box, I transfer all my saltwater stuff into it and give the smallest one to Goodwill. I’ve gone through about 4, and my freshwater box is now at the largest size Plano you can get without having dual side opening trays. I think I’m going to be keeping my current one for awhile Cant remember the brand..but i saw one at wal-mart ,pretty big with removable clear boxes you could fit in a pocket for hiking,quick trip etc..

Mega Man fans visit alt.games.megaman Quint’s page of Rockman manga scans: http://www.crosswinds.net/~sakugarne

Response:

Question:

Give it a break Ken.

Response:

Xref: news-feed.riddles.org.uk rec.outdoors.fishing.fly:48523 Xref: ratbert.tds.net rec.outdoors.fishing.fly:183077 … Kind of like poking a dog with a stick and then complaining about how nasty he is. More like poking a pile of dog shit and then complaining about the smell. — Ken Fortenberry

_______  You and I will meet one day, face to face. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Some of the fellows in this group will try to goad Mr. G into a rant and then spend weeks talking about it. Kind of like poking a dog with a stick and then complaining about how nasty he is.

LOL, I’ve learned. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Faeces to faeces? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – More like poking a pile of dog shit and then complaining about the smell. — Ken Fortenberry _______  You and I will meet one day, face to face. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

– Cheers, Herman Herman Nijland Daytime webmaster Lifetime flyfisher

Response:

Some of the fellows in this group will try to goad Mr. G into a rant and then spend weeks talking about it. Kind of like poking a dog with a stick and then complaining about how nasty he is.       Jim

In your opinion, FWIW. — Charlie…

Response:

Faeces to faeces?

        we have yet another nomination for european post of the year! wayno

Response:

What in th’ world?  Is this testing actually necessary?

Many have wondered whether this news group is necessary.  I am working on the definitive answer.  Will keep you posted.      

Response:

Got May issue of Fly Fisherman today and the ad on page 11 looked like Walt tryingto guide me up Wilson’s Creek last fall.  Know its not Pamlico Jim as he would be running.  Picture on Page 53 shows spot where I camped for three days last summer. Rocks were not slippery, and no rododendums got in mnto my fly.  I enjoyed both and plan to attend both eastern and Western claves this manhattens.   No I do not plan to play tennis or get drunk.  Indian Joe  Wilmington N.C.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Xref: news-feed.riddles.org.uk rec.outdoors.fishing.fly:48523 Xref: ratbert.tds.net rec.outdoors.fishing.fly:183077 … Kind of like poking a dog with a stick and then complaining about how nasty he is. More like poking a pile of dog shit and then complaining about the smell. — Ken Fortenberry _______  You and I will meet one day, face to face.

More like his ass and your face, George.  ;)

Response:

I have many Tom Thumbs. Got introduced to it in British Columbia. Hook: 8 to 16, fine wire Tail: Deer hair ends Body: Deer hair is tied in at the tail with butt ends. The thin ends of the deer hair are pulled forward to form a sheath body and tied off at the head. Deer hair is then spread up or around to form a hackle. Light grizzly hackle can be added as a variation, but I usually do not. If you use thicker tying thread for this fly it is more durable. You may tie it up from bend of the hook to get better hhoking qualities. Data: The major dry fly of British Columbia lakes from sedges to tiny chironomids. Regards from Montreal John Brkich

Response:

Some of the fellows in this group will try to goad Mr. G into a rant and then spend weeks talking about it. Kind of like poking a dog with a stick and then complaining about how nasty he is.        Jim * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

… Kind of like poking a dog with a stick and then complaining about how nasty he is.

More like poking a pile of dog shit and then complaining about the smell. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Albolene, Albolene, Best floating fly That I’ve ever seen Put away the gink and try My Albolene, sweet Albolene, My Albolene. test test test   test test test   test test test      —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free Usenet News via the Web  —–      —–  http://newsone.net/ —  Discussions on every subject. —–    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts

What in th’ world?  Is this testing actually necessary?     Meroli

Response:

Check out the following sites. The Tom Thumb is my favorite dry fly.

Looks interesting, yet I’ve never heard of it.  Probably floats well – the first "deer hair hackle" fly I’ve seen (not counting Muddler Minnows, etc. of course).  Presents a bit of a mayfly look, bit of a beetle look.  Strange, but maybe it works. Regards, Jeff

Response:

Huh…Been using this for years on Bluegills….didn’t know it had a name. Color does not seem important, gray to brown, all are effective. It seems that the more the fish chew it up the better it works. jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Check out the following sites. The Tom Thumb is my favorite dry fly. http://www.virtualkamloops.net/bcfff/thumb.htm http://www.sportfishingbc.com/tom_thumb.htm Has no one heard of the Tom thumb no fly box should be without a few . hard to tie but deadly!! Tom Thumb fly?  Where can I find instructions?     Meroli — http://home.earthlink.net/~vicbrockett

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – _____  Some have asked some more questions about how I tie my Adams and if I can tell them more about it.  Well, I forgot to mention that the tails are salt and peppered and I use either dark Cree or Red along with a few fibers of Griz.  It is important that one uses the stiff, shiny barbs that best can be found out he largest Saddle Hackles possible. I tie all my Adams between size #20 to size 12 and only sometimes do I go to size 10’s as an attracter pattern because by that time I’m reaching for a Gray Wulff. I’m very fortunate to have personal autographed Hoffman Rooster Necks and Saddles to tie with.  But I do wish I had longer fibers than what these prime #1’s and #2’s I have for the whole collection are stiff and even and prime.  I use nothing but four hackle tips for the Adams does not imitate a dipteria two winged insect of any kind.  Then again, we know trout can’t count either.  They may not possess logic as we know it but they are conditioned to patterns and four wing tips is a definite difference than a two winged looking offering.  They don’t reason it, they just know it. I use fine, black thread and the finest wire hooks I can find.  Barbless hooks are preferred because of the number of trout that can be caught on any given day.  Stripped to one dry fly to use, it would always be the Adams for me and for the nymph the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear. I also tie a Yellow Adams using a light yellow thread and dark red rooster tails.  The wings are still 4 Griz Hackle tips, divided and upright sticking a little beyond the diameter of the hackles upon completion.  The entire body is yellow and thinly dressed. This fly can be taken for a mayfly cahill dun just leaving the water and headed for the bushes to moat one more time to become an egg laying spinner.  To imagine that mayflies spend a whole year to prepare for the last three days of life to mate makes me realize how important it is to be prepared for those last three days of life and Matching the Hatch. There is a trick I learned on the Henry’s Fork one day about 20 years ago.  Everyone was having moderate success but not like it should be. Everyone in the area was using teeny dry flies or emergers.  I tied on a big Gray Wulff and suddenly I was not matching the hatch at all but I certainly was always into a fish for the next three hours.  Sometimes a large #10 Adams will do just that.  Rebel and try the ridiculous sometimes and for some reason the light comes on for the trout.  It may not be the right size but it has to be the right colors.  Adams seem to do that. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Has no one heard of the Tom thumb no fly box should be without a few . hard to tie but deadly!!

Tom Thumb fly?  Where can I find instructions?     Meroli

Response:

… I’m very fortunate to have personal autographed Hoffman Rooster Necks and Saddles to tie with. But I do wish I had longer fibers than what these prime #1’s and #2’s I have for the whole collection are stiff and even and prime…

For hackling flies, those Hoffman saddles are hard to beat, but for hackle fiber tails, bass bug hackle, streamer wings, and so forth, it’s nice to have a few Metz saddles (not microbarb) at the bench. I recently got a great deal on some bulk saddles at a local fly shop (3 for $5!!), that are being turned into pike streamers. I love my Hoffmans, but they just aren’t up to the job. Also, for anyone who like barbless hooks, consider getting a small pair of needlenose pliers. There’s a much wider variety of both flies and hooks in the barbed variety, all of which are easily debarbed with the pliers. BTW, some of the nicest brookies I’ve caught have been on yellow-bodied flies. I didn’t notice any yellow naturals around, but the fish never seemed to care, so neither did I (g). — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyo Before you buy.

Response:

… I’m very fortunate to have personal autographed Hoffman Rooster Necks and Saddles to tie with.

i know i should keep my mouth shut, but how in the hell do they teach them cocks to "hancock" them necks? furthermore, how the hell can ya determine one’s scratch from another? waldo, returning to the light side…. Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com http://auctions.yahoo.com/booth/ezflyfish_com Used, Rare, & Out-of-Print Books: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … I’m very fortunate to have personal autographed Hoffman Rooster Necks and Saddles to tie with. i know i should keep my mouth shut, but how in the hell do they teach them cocks to "hancock" them necks? furthermore, how the hell can ya determine one’s scratch from another? waldo, returning to the light side…. Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com http://auctions.yahoo.com/booth/ezflyfish_com Used, Rare, & Out-of-Print Books: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

— Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Check out the following sites. The Tom Thumb is my favorite dry fly. http://www.virtualkamloops.net/bcfff/thumb.htm http://www.sportfishingbc.com/tom_thumb.htm Has no one heard of the Tom thumb no fly box should be without a few . hard to tie but deadly!! Tom Thumb fly?  Where can I find instructions?     Meroli

– http://home.earthlink.net/~vicbrockett

Response:

Has no one heard of the Tom thumb no fly box should be without a few . hard to tie but deadly!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – _____  Some have asked some more questions about how I tie my Adams and if I can tell them more about it.  Well, I forgot to mention that the tails are salt and peppered and I use either dark Cree or Red along with a few fibers of Griz.  It is important that one uses the stiff, shiny barbs that best can be found out he largest Saddle Hackles possible. I tie all my Adams between size #20 to size 12 and only sometimes do I go to size 10’s as an attracter pattern because by that time I’m reaching for a Gray Wulff. I’m very fortunate to have personal autographed Hoffman Rooster Necks and Saddles to tie with.  But I do wish I had longer fibers than what these prime #1’s and #2’s I have for the whole collection are stiff and even and prime.  I use nothing but four hackle tips for the Adams does not imitate a dipteria two winged insect of any kind.  Then again, we know trout can’t count either.  They may not possess logic as we know it but they are conditioned to patterns and four wing tips is a definite difference than a two winged looking offering.  They don’t reason it, they just know it. I use fine, black thread and the finest wire hooks I can find.  Barbless hooks are preferred because of the number of trout that can be caught on any given day.  Stripped to one dry fly to use, it would always be the Adams for me and for the nymph the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear. I also tie a Yellow Adams using a light yellow thread and dark red rooster tails.  The wings are still 4 Griz Hackle tips, divided and upright sticking a little beyond the diameter of the hackles upon completion.  The entire body is yellow and thinly dressed. This fly can be taken for a mayfly cahill dun just leaving the water and headed for the bushes to moat one more time to become an egg laying spinner.  To imagine that mayflies spend a whole year to prepare for the last three days of life to mate makes me realize how important it is to be prepared for those last three days of life and Matching the Hatch. There is a trick I learned on the Henry’s Fork one day about 20 years ago.  Everyone was having moderate success but not like it should be. Everyone in the area was using teeny dry flies or emergers.  I tied on a big Gray Wulff and suddenly I was not matching the hatch at all but I certainly was always into a fish for the next three hours.  Sometimes a large #10 Adams will do just that.  Rebel and try the ridiculous sometimes and for some reason the light comes on for the trout.  It may not be the right size but it has to be the right colors.  Adams seem to do that. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Albolene, Albolene, Best floating fly That I’ve ever seen Put away the gink and try My Albolene, sweet Albolene, My Albolene. test test test   test test test   test test test      —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free Usenet News via the Web  —–      —–  http://newsone.net/ —  Discussions on every subject. —–    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts

Response:

_____  Some have asked some more questions about how I tie my Adams and if I can tell them more about it.  Well, I forgot to mention that the tails are salt and peppered and I use either dark Cree or Red along with a few fibers of Griz.  It is important that one uses the stiff, shiny barbs that best can be found out he largest Saddle Hackles possible.   I tie all my Adams between size #20 to size 12 and only sometimes do I go to size 10’s as an attracter pattern because by that time I’m reaching for a Gray Wulff. I’m very fortunate to have personal autographed Hoffman Rooster Necks and Saddles to tie with.  But I do wish I had longer fibers than what these prime #1’s and #2’s I have for the whole collection are stiff and even and prime.  I use nothing but four hackle tips for the Adams does not imitate a dipteria two winged insect of any kind.  Then again, we know trout can’t count either.  They may not possess logic as we know it but they are conditioned to patterns and four wing tips is a definite difference than a two winged looking offering.  They don’t reason it, they just know it.   I use fine, black thread and the finest wire hooks I can find.  Barbless hooks are preferred because of the number of trout that can be caught on any given day.  Stripped to one dry fly to use, it would always be the Adams for me and for the nymph the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear.   I also tie a Yellow Adams using a light yellow thread and dark red rooster tails.  The wings are still 4 Griz Hackle tips, divided and upright sticking a little beyond the diameter of the hackles upon completion.  The entire body is yellow and thinly dressed. This fly can be taken for a mayfly cahill dun just leaving the water and headed for the bushes to moat one more time to become an egg laying spinner.  To imagine that mayflies spend a whole year to prepare for the last three days of life to mate makes me realize how important it is to be prepared for those last three days of life and Matching the Hatch. There is a trick I learned on the Henry’s Fork one day about 20 years ago.  Everyone was having moderate success but not like it should be. Everyone in the area was using teeny dry flies or emergers.  I tied on a big Gray Wulff and suddenly I was not matching the hatch at all but I certainly was always into a fish for the next three hours.  Sometimes a large #10 Adams will do just that.  Rebel and try the ridiculous sometimes and for some reason the light comes on for the trout.  It may not be the right size but it has to be the right colors.  Adams seem to do that. — Mr.G http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html

Response:

Question:

Stan Gula:

Too hot to really do any fishing in Mass.  Let’s try to hook up together in September.  How was your trip this year?  The Rapid was wonderful in June, and as of a week ago, was still producing big salmon on dries.  The water is back into the 70’s now, and fishing has slackened off.

Beg to differ Dave.  I fished a mile or so of the Swift downstream from Rt. 9 Friday night and the water was under 60 degrees and pretty high.    (snipped for brevity) Correct you are, Stan.  I should have said "except for the Swift". Being a tailwater keeps it cool.  I didn’t mention the Swift because the last time I went by there (a Sunday in June), there was FFer as thick as black flies.  I imagine that with the water temps up on most of the streams that it is now worse than ever. I’m heading up to the Rapid River on Sept 6 for a week.  Hope every- thing cools down before then. Dave LaCourse

Response:

However, the Taft fly book says it’s fished dry as a "dry sedge" A sedge, I think, is another word for a Caddis.  Right ?? Yes – it can imitate a caddis. Basically the reason why it can pass for a caddis is that it has a swept back wing (and it just looks "buggy")… -Greg

or a big stonefly. Peter

Response:

This fish could grow to humongous proportions in a short time.  I would say it was at least five pounds as of today. Mark Faulkner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Was fishing a large Hornberg yesterday at Dunham Reservoir, 20 miles east of Troy, NY, RUMORED to have a few large trout in it near the dam. On second cast, something grabbed it, causing a 2 foot diameter splash, and rocketed off, taking line nearly to the backing before snapping the tippit. Could have been a bass, I’ll never know. Alex Pacek — Benjamin Fordham Assistant Professor Department of Political Science                  Office: (518) 442-5314 University at Albany, SUNY                         Home: (518) 433-7063 135 Western Avenue                                  Fax: (518) 442-5298 Albany, NY 12222            http://www.albany.edu/gspa/pos/poshome.html

Response:

Was fishing a large Hornberg yesterday at Dunham Reservoir, 20 miles east of Troy, NY, RUMORED to have a few large trout in it near the dam. On second cast, something grabbed it, causing a 2 foot diameter splash, and rocketed off, taking line nearly to the backing before snapping the tippit. Could have been a bass, I’ll never know. Alex Pacek — Benjamin Fordham Assistant Professor Department of Political Science                  Office: (518) 442-5314 University at Albany, SUNY                         Home: (518) 433-7063 135 Western Avenue                                  Fax: (518) 442-5298 Albany, NY 12222            http://www.albany.edu/gspa/pos/poshome.html

Response:

However, the Taft fly book says it’s fished dry as a "dry sedge" A sedge, I think, is another word for a Caddis.  Right ??

Yes – it can imitate a caddis. Basically the reason why it can pass for a caddis is that it has a swept back wing (and it just looks "buggy")… -Greg

Response:

I can’t imagine what it simulated when it is fished dry; certainly not a caddis or mayfly!  Perhaps a dead bait fish?

Katydid?  Grashopper? Moth? Mu Young Lee                        Ann Arbor, MI    USA

Response:

Hello: I have a question regarding the fishing of a Hornberg Fly: My understanding is that it can, and is, fished wet or dry.  I imagine that when it’s fished wet (probably as a Streamer) it simulates a bait fish. I can’t imagine what it simulated when it is fished dry; certainly not a caddis or mayfly!  Perhaps a dead bait fish? However, the Taft fly book says it’s fished dry as a "dry sedge" A sedge, I think, is another word for a Caddis.  Right ?? I’m very curious, and any information on the fishing and characteristics of this fly would be appreciated. Thanks,

Response:

Too hot to really do any fishing in Mass.  Let’s try to hook up together in September.  How was your trip this year?  The Rapid was wonderful in June, and as of a week ago, was still producing big salmon on dries.  The water is back into the 70’s now, and fishing has slackened off.

Beg to differ Dave.  I fished a mile or so of the Swift downstream from Rt. 9 Friday night and the water was under 60 degrees and pretty high.  A friend told me the temp. all the way down in Bondsville was only 62.  We were thinking of wading wet, but I’m glad I had at least my lightweight waders on.  Was wishing I had put on some fleece pants (left them in the car along with the box of sulphur comparaduns I would need later).  By 8:30 I was thoughoughly chilled – I was cool for hours, didn’t need the car AC during the drive home.  The heat and humidity resulted in a thick layer of fog on the river by 8PM – we could hear fish rising to the sulphur hatch but couldn’t see dimples – heck, we couldn’t see our flies.  My flies had no trouble finding the trees though – I lost my only sulphur bodied fly on the first cast. Only saw one other guy all evening – he was working up stream and we were headed down.  There were five cars at the route 9 parking area – so the upper section was busy as always. The East Branch of the Westfield on the other was down to 76 after the ‘cool’ spell last week.  Water levels are back down to drought levels after seeing a big boost after the rains of the week of July 4.  I’ll probably wait until mid-August to go back up there to check the water temps. –Stan

Response:

Bob Rose: <<Hello: I have a question regarding the fishing of a Hornberg Fly: My understanding is that it can, and is, fished wet or dry.  I imagine that when it’s fished wet (probably as a Streamer) it simulates a bait fish. I can’t imagine what it simulated when it is fished dry; certainly not a caddis or mayfly!  Perhaps a dead bait fish? However, the Taft fly book says it’s fished dry as a "dry sedge" A sedge, I think, is another word for a Caddis.  Right ?? I’m very curious, and any information on the fishing and characteristics of this fly would be appreciated. Hi, Bob.  I’ve been meaning to call you and go fishing, but have been very busy with a dozen other things. Hornberg:  Dick Steward ties a Hornberg to be fished as a dry, but the classical Hornberg (with a matched pair of mallard breast or flank feathers with a jungle cock lacquered to the wing) is usually thought to be a streamer, or at least it is listed in several of my books as a streamer.  I have had wonderful success with the classical tie, fishing it just under the surface in faster water. The only problem is matching the tippet to the fly — I always seem to have problems with it and the tippet ends up twisting. My grandson and I caught and ate many brookies last year in Labrador using one fly apiece — the classical tied Hornberg.  The fly didn’t look like much at the end of the day, but the fish tasted great.  <g Too hot to really do any fishing in Mass.  Let’s try to hook up together in September.  How was your trip this year?  The Rapid was wonderful in June, and as of a week ago, was still producing big salmon on dries.  The water is back into the 70’s now, and fishing has slackened off. Dave LaCourse

Response:

Question:

you have your harness, you have your carabener(sp) you have your parachute with the long lanyard you might carry a couple more carabeners for a classic 3 bean’er attachment for lowering your self to the ground R. (repelling all the way down) Williams – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – a saw or better judgement

Response:

a saw or better judgement

I recall that a self-rescue kit for tree landings was standard equipment among Tennessee/Georgia HG pilots when I flew there too many years ago. Consisted of one of those flexible-wire saws, a length of strong cord, some basic first-aid material and a whistle. may have been some other items, but it was along time ago. It was not for nothing that the local club is the ‘Tennessee Tree Toppers’, and yes, I qualified. Didn’t need the saw, though, ‘cos I fell straight out. Noel

Response:

Does anyone know of a design or plan for a tree rescue kit?

A recent issue of paragliding magazine had just such a plan.  I don’t remember the exact issue but you can probably find out at the USHGA web site <http://www.ushga.org. — Forrest Keller

Response:

Yes It is called "Tooth Floss" and comes in small boxes from the chemist. Strong enough to be dropped from the tree and haul up a climbing rope! Stewart Reid

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does anyone know of a design or plan for a tree rescue kit?

Response:

a saw

Response:

Does anyone know of a design or plan for a tree rescue kit?

Check out http://www.kurious.org/PG/treeresq.htm Thanks to Lowell Skoog. Floyd Rogers

Response:

Hi from Dwayne, A box of Dental Floss and say 5 2ft long ropes in your harness pocket. The dental floss is used to pull up a heaver rope when you are stuck in a tree. The 2ft ropes are used to tie yourself or your glider to the tree. I started my hang gliding in Wellington in 1995 back flying with Grant Tatham and company. In Dallas Texas now – I hope to visit NZ again soon. Regards, Dwayne Sinclair.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does anyone know of a design or plan for a tree rescue kit?

Response:

Does anyone know of a design or plan for a tree rescue kit?

Response:

a saw

or better judgement

Response:

Does anyone know of a design or plan for a tree rescue kit? Here in the NW USA, we have lots and lots of trees.  Unfortunately,

sometimes instead of flying over them, we fly into them.  We have a couple of guys in our club who put on a tree rescue clinic.  They also have recommendations for tree rescue kits.  Our trees are very tall (200 feet) so we have to be prepared.  I don’t know much about tree life in New Zealand, but in the Eastern US, a lot of places only have 30 foot trees. Anyway, we have very long tested ropes, at least 100 foot long for out here. About pencil width. Some people fly with them, others leave it in the truck. I leave it in the truck and carry fishing line in my PG harness.  In the HG I don’t have as much of penetration problems, but maybe I should carry it there too. I think 20 lb fishing test line is good to get the rope up to you.  One trick I used is to run over the line with my truck. I know it sounds weird, but it makes the spool much smaller without damaging the integrity of the spool or the line. It fits into harness better that way. You should also have an extra carabiner, you should know how to do the Munter hitch to lower yourself down, use the bowline knot to tie yourself or stuff off.  A lot of guys bring like an eight foot strap to immediately tie oneself into the trunk of the tree so you don’t fall while you’re getting yourself together.  You can really tire yourself out holding onto the tree wating for help.  I think those are the main things. John Saltveit Oregon NW USA

Response:

maybe supplies for a tree fort

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best of Darrell McClure." Yeah…But that was when "Yachting" was still worth reading, not the coffee table magazine for yuppie millionaires it has turned into. John

Response:

Yeah, but adding a $1,200 charter bill on top of airfare for four (another $1,200) brings the weekend tariff to $2,500 easy, vs. maybe $150 for towing your baby 300 miles and back.  Hardly the same thing unless you are Bill Gates.  Truth is, when you trailer you do kinda feel like the guys who fly into the Vineyard on a seaplane to meet their captained 90-footers. I too enjoyed cruising local waters for over 15 years.  But then it got a little old.  It’s still fun to zip across the Sound for lunch once in while, or wet a fishing line, but it’s not cruising. Ken

Response:

I don’t run around at anything near full speed 99% of the time, although I hear that sailboats try to do that *all* the time .

*ROTFL* Omygot, David! You’ve got us! flo

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have sail-cruised for 25 years  and power-cruised for 10 years.  I wasn’t getting much further from home on my 40 mph stink pot than I was on the rag boat.  You just can’t get all that far in the time most of us have for our hobby.  Plus 40 mph is not a reality once you leave the inner harbor.  I probably spent more time at 10 mph in the power boat than any other speed, which was a fast as I could move her in 3 ft. seas and still keep my kidneys. My solution:  use a trailer to get to the new places.  55 mph is a lot faster than a sailboat can go and 10 mpg in your Suburban is a lot better than the 2 mpg a powerboat gets.  I found trailer boating to be more of a "thing" than either sailing or powering, as far as distinctiveness of experience was concerned.  It’s just a hoot to spend a weekend on your boat in exotic waters 300 miles from home. Ken

Very well said! — Skipper

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Charming note! But if the truth be known, God probably owns a MacGregor 26X so that he can motor, sail or drift. (Sorry….couldn’t resist that opportunity.) Actually, I’ve always been amused by the division between ragbaggers and stinkpotters. It’s boating and being on and enjoying the water that are important, or should be. I’ve solved the dilemma by having both – a 25′ Bayfield sailboat for peace and pleasure and relaxation and a 25′ Carver powerboat for getting from here to there when I want. Both have their merits and drawbacks. I can’t stand powerboaters who go too damn fast and screw things up and create unreasonable risks for themselves or others. I also can’t stand sailors who put on that air of superiority and pedantry while always seeming to list 10 degrees to port. I think a little mutual appreciation would go a long way and might even help with the never-ending Mac 26X debate. (Sorry again.) Harry

Wow! You are in for it… As soon as Capt Neal (one of nine) reads this you will be in for a good thrashing… Why is it that the level of boating know how seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the boat?

Response:

Charming note! But if the truth be known, God probably owns a MacGregor 26X so that he can motor, sail or drift. (Sorry….couldn’t resist that opportunity.) Actually, I’ve always been amused by the division between ragbaggers and stinkpotters. It’s boating and being on and enjoying the water that are important, or should be. I’ve solved the dilemma by having both – a 25′ Bayfield sailboat for peace and pleasure and relaxation and a 25′ Carver powerboat for getting from here to there when I want. Both have their merits and drawbacks. I can’t stand powerboaters who go too damn fast and screw things up and create unreasonable risks for themselves or others. I also can’t stand sailors who put on that air of superiority and pedantry while always seeming to list 10 degrees to port. I think a little mutual appreciation would go a long way and might even help with the never-ending Mac 26X debate. (Sorry again.) Harry

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My hat’s off to an apparent purist. The vast majority of sail boats in our area, based upon observation, spend very little time with their sail up unless a sailboat race is on. Most of them motor from point to point, stopping in between for a little recreational sailing when the wind permits. On a breezy afternoon they do congregate just outside the breakwater and do some sailing as well, but they’re primarily just tacking back and forth within a mile or so of the marina.  Much of our inland type boating involves narrows and channels where a stiff current can develop that would require a sail boat to wait for a slack or alternate tide if not running under power; so perhaps there are other areas where the sail boaters actually spend the majority of the time sailing.

"Majority" might be stretching it, but here in the Great Lakes, we can and do cruise under sail for 8 hour runs if the wind is cooperative.  We’ve covered as much as 120 miles without turning over the engine.  We’ve also had to motor for 12 hours or more when the breeze failed to appear, or worse, when it was from a contrary direction. It will depend greatly on your locale and the routes available, but one can "have the sail up" a reasonable amount of the time.

Response:

I have sail-cruised for 25 years  and power-cruised for 10 years.  I wasn’t getting much further from home on my 40 mph stink pot than I was on the rag boat.  You just can’t get all that far in the time most of us have for our hobby.  Plus 40 mph is not a reality once you leave the inner harbor.  I probably spent more time at 10 mph in the power boat than any other speed, which was a fast as I could move her in 3 ft. seas and still keep my kidneys. My solution:  use a trailer to get to the new places.  55 mph is a lot faster than a sailboat can go and 10 mpg in your Suburban is a lot better than the 2 mpg a powerboat gets.  I found trailer boating to be more of a "thing" than either sailing or powering, as far as distinctiveness of experience was concerned.  It’s just a hoot to spend a weekend on your boat in exotic waters 300 miles from home. Ken

Response:

|Why is it that the level of boating know how seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the boat?| It may be a result of the size and capacity of the brain doing the seeming. Is that another way of saying that small boats can only carry people so small as to have such small brains that only think they are smart enough to come to such a conclusion without missing the important point regarding the presumption that one’s opinion regarding others’ ability vis a vis boating knowhow somehow corresponds to some true vision of the universe? I suppose then that a mosquito on a floating leaf fragment would logically possess most of the boating know how in the world, leaving little for the larger vessels, and of course explains the Exxon Valdise situation, which apparantly still stinks. Terry K Has anyone tried putting a sailboard sail on a wheelchair, then employing teams to propel a four foot ball through a soccer sized goal in competition?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A zillion years ago there was a Darrell McClure cartoon about this very thing. For those of you who don’t remember, Darrell McClure was a regular cartoonist in the Boston Herald. The cartoons were always on boating, and I guess it says something about Boston in those days. They also ran in Yachting. My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best of Darrell McClure." Anyway, there is John Truesalt (his name is on his seabag) in his bedroom, which is filled with models of grand sailing boats and a bookcase full of sailing books. He is on his knees by his bed obviously in great anguish of soul. The caption says: "Oh Lord — I went cruising in a power boat and I LIKED IT!" Another one has a group of people lounging in the cockpit of a sailboat. The superciliuous twit at the tiller says: "My brother? We don’t mention my brother anymore….. He bought a motor boat."

We Swamp Yankees here in the North East have something similar.  It is a cartoon called Bousquet (pronounced Bos’kay).  It shows a guy in the cockpit of his little sailboat.  The name on the back of the vessel is "Hazard to Navigation II".  Reminded me of a ragbagger I raft with on Block Island. Excuse the plug for my own page, but feel free to visit my page for a couple of ‘toons about us wooden boaters with a link to the cartoonists’ page as well. Dave Carlile Classic Wooden Boats http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/8110

Response:

…  I can’t stand powerboaters who go too damn fast and screw things up and create unreasonable risks for themselves or others. I also can’t stand sailors who put on that air of superiority and pedantry while always seeming to list 10 degrees to port.  …

Know what you mean.  However, it does seem a bit strange coming from someone named Harry.  The other Harry has a much longer list of gripes. You always know when his underwear don’t quite fit correctly. — Skipper

Response:

Why is it that the level of boating know how seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the boat?

Now THAT one I won’t touch with either a 1′ or 10′ boat hook! Harry

Response:

I’ve been cruising on a powerboat, and I too enjoyed it, except for guilt about the thousand gallons plus of fuel we burnt in a long weekend.  But we did cover about five hundred miles of open sea and visit three ports.   I learned a lot too.  If you’re accustomed to navigating a sailing cruiser it can be a shock to you to do complex pilotage at speed. Normally I never bother to plot courses etc. in advance – I don’t get seasick so I can work out courses at the chart table as and when I need them, and in a sailing boat you can never predict the wind.   John Wilson

Response:

John Wilson commented: I’ve been cruising on a powerboat, and I too enjoyed it, except for guilt about the thousand gallons plus of fuel we burnt in a long weekend.  But we did cover about five hundred miles of open sea and visit three ports.   I learned a lot too.  If you’re accustomed to

In other words, "If this is Saturday afternoon this must be Catalina?" Doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. If you spent any time sleeping or actually in the three ports you would have needed to be doing about what, maybe 20 knots?, the rest of the time to cover a 500 mile itinerary in a weekend. Your experience was an odd way to spend time on any boat, not a typical powerboat experience.  Many powerboats operate almost as economically under power as do similar size sailboats. Your skipper must have been fairly wealthy to burn up $1200 worth of fuel for a weekend. Most of us would not be able to afford that. How many people were aboard? A vessel getting half a mile per gallon isn’t all that inefficient if its carrying 40 people and it’s looked at on a per-passenger-mile basis. Mr. Wilson also commented: I learned a lot too.  If you’re accustomed to navigating a sailing cruiser it can be a shock to you to do complex pilotage at speed. Normally I never bother to plot courses etc. in advance – I don’t get seasick so I can work out courses at the chart table as and when I need them, and in a sailing boat you can never predict the wind.  

My hat’s off to an apparent purist. The vast majority of sail boats in our area, based upon observation, spend very little time with their sail up unless a sailboat race is on. Most of them motor from point to point, stopping in between for a little recreational sailing when the wind permits. On a breezy afternoon they do congregate just outside the breakwater and do some sailing as well, but they’re primarily just tacking back and forth within a mile or so of the marina.  Much of our inland type boating involves narrows and channels where a stiff current can develop that would require a sail boat to wait for a slack or alternate tide if not running under power; so perhaps there are other areas where the sail boaters actually spend the majority of the time sailing.

Response:

Sail vs. Power. It would be nice to think that the law of Equal Stupidity applies here; or that 1. The number of sailboaters with the ‘nose in the air self-righteous disdain’ for power boaters is a small but vocal and noticable contingent of an otherwise decent group of people and….. 2. The number of powerboaters who charge around way too fast and clueless (annoying a lot of other powerboaters with their antics as well) is also a small but noticable contingent of an otherwise decent group of people. Anytime we make a judgement about another boater’s attitudes, skills, or human worthiness based upon the motive power of his/her vessel or (dare I say it?) the brand name thereon we lose an opportunity to perhaps get to know somebody who would make a postive contribution to life.  Human nature is just that however, human and natural, and we will probably react emotionally and contribute to be discriminatory in our attitudes, rather than be compelled by intelligence and logic to go through the extra work of making our judgements one at a time based upon observed behaviors. More’s the pity.

Response:

        …My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best         of Darrell McClure."… So that’s where that cartoon came from. I saw it many many years ago, and in fact I had just gone on a powerboat cruise (up Hudson River, Lake Champlain, canals almost to Montreal) and I did enjoy it, and it did cause considerable anguish of soul. But I got over it. Meanwhile I’ll keep a weather eye for the book. — http://www.well.com/~pk/fishmeal.html                                               -"Call me Fishmeal"-

Response:

A zillion years ago there was a Darrell McClure cartoon about this very thing. For those of you who don’t remember, Darrell McClure was a regular cartoonist in the Boston Herald. The cartoons were always on boating, and I guess it says something about Boston in those days. They also ran in Yachting. My little book is a Yachting reprint dated 1954. "The Best of Darrell McClure." Anyway, there is John Truesalt (his name is on his seabag) in his bedroom, which is filled with models of grand sailing boats and a bookcase full of sailing books. He is on his knees by his bed obviously in great anguish of soul. The caption says: "Oh Lord — I went cruising in a power boat and I LIKED IT!" Another one has a group of people lounging in the cockpit of a sailboat. The superciliuous twit at the tiller says: "My brother? We don’t mention my brother anymore….. He bought a motor boat."

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Received the following message from a fellow boater.  Will protect the authors anonymity but the tale and his honest, self-effacing writing style are just too good not to share. Hope a positive response to his tale will prompt additional posts from this author.   I live on the British Columbian Gulf Islands.  After 7 years of sailing (and I loved my little Catalina 27) I’d been everywhere, man. At least everywhere I could get in a weekend at 6 knots (in a gale) or motoring. An honest sailor in coastal waters will tell you he motors 50% of the time anyway. Spring and fall I spent my sailing days in full rain gear and boots.  Summers the wind rarely blew.  There seems to be a certain eleteism in the sailing fraternity… now I’m not sure why.  In my sailing days I knew that God was a Sailor. My revelation, after the sailboat had to go (divorce), was that my bliss was linked to experiences on the water and had little to do with the conveyance.

Exactly. I like to go out on the water, period, and spend most of my time actually not moving, rather than blasting around upsetting sailboats (as some people would have it). What galls me most are the smug self-righteous types who put down powerboat owners as "people who are more interested in the destination than the journey". I took up boating precisely *because* I wasn’t interested in going anywhere fast (I sold my airplane to buy my boat). I don’t run around at anything near full speed 99% of the time, although I hear that sailboats try to do that *all* the time . And now the sailboaters, claiming the moral high ground as always, may end up being the only ones left in California legally allowed to use their two-stroke engines to pollute lakes and reservoirs. Figures. I bet the guy writing that bill owns a sailboat. — David (Dragon) Fiedler, Infobahn Warrior, Bf.D, CRS, ONS Find me at http://www.innercite.com/~dragon/ Please change "nospam" in my header address to "david" in order to reply. ** Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II,

Question:

I am an avid fly fisher doin’ cold turkey in Hong Kong, but am planning a trip to New Zealand, Tauranga/Rotorua/Taupo area for about a week in a camper van at the end of October with my 2 young lads. Any info on locations, flies, tactics, anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Adam J. Marr

Response:

I am an avid fly fisher doin’ cold turkey in Hong Kong, but am planning a trip to New Zealand, Tauranga/Rotorua/Taupo area for about a week in a camper van at the end of October with my 2 young lads. Any info on locations, flies, tactics, anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Adam J. Marr

Adam: Check out Anglers Paradise in Turangi. John and Val  Milner have retired now, but the new owbners would help. Sporting Life in Turangi is THE place to get info and tackle. Graham has fished the Tongiriro all of his life.  ****  THE BEST **** guide in the Turangi area is Tim Mcarthy. His father was a guide (still is, I believe), but Tim is, in the opinion of MANY of the locals as well, THE BEST guide. Use his services for ONE DAY, and you will learn the pools and what catches fish. I spent 9 months fishing that river and Lake Taupo, and it’s a WONDERFUL experience. Don’t forget to bring your "winter woolies"; ice can form on the guides this time of year, but the fishing is SUPERB in June and August. After all, the NZ fish are transplanted Oregon WINTER STEELHEAD. Enjoy your trip. I wish I was going with you !!   Regards de Mikey !!

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know about beaver creek in CA this year or at all? I was there last year late in the summer and the water was realy low. The were a lot of feed bugs in the water, but the water was too low to produce any sizable trout. Any info on the creek would be great. TimFLYFISH Dream of flyfishing, but also let the fish dream. C & R

Response:

Tim, where do you fish Beaver Ck.? in the park or up outa Sourgrass? I would expect the water to be high right now. The Stanislaus at Sourgrass was pretty high and fast a couple weeks ago. As I remember the fish aren’t really big there. This time of the year, due to high, fast water fish close to the river bank. There are some nice holes outa Sourgrass and up the creek where the road crosses Beaver Ck. wish you luck, Bob

: Does anyone know about beaver creek in CA this year or at all? I was there : last year late in the summer and the water was realy low. The were a lot : of feed bugs in the water, but the water was too low to produce any : sizable trout. Any info on the creek would be great. : TimFLYFISH : Dream of flyfishing, but also let the fish dream. C & R —  Remember amateur astronomers: "keep looking for the next Universe"

Response:

Question:

Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly Summary: Followup-To: Distribution: pwn Organization: Oregon Grad. Inst. Computer Science and Eng., Beaverton Keywords: Could someone please give me an idea of what Alec Jackson spey hooks cost by the 100 count, say for #3’s or #1.5’s.  A chap who taught a fly tying class I recently attended claimed that he could get them at a discount (about 20% less) and I need a reference price to confirm this is a reasonable claim.  Unfortunately, the catalogs only list prices for 25 count packages.  Also, I noticed that these hooks are sold in size #5’s – can someone tell me how this hook sizing relates to Tiemco (conventional) hook sizes – I have a hard time believing the sizing is the same since AJ #1.5’s are just about as large as a Partridge 3/0 hook.  Finally, if this discount proves reasonable then I’d be up for splitting a box two ways so let me know if you are interested; geesh, 100 hooks per size is more than i’d probably use in 5 years or more (knock on wood). Cheers, Roger — Roger S. Barga Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology Portland, OR 97291-1000  USA

Response:

Roger,     TMC 7999 #2 is just a tad larger than AJ #5.  If you want best price in quantity call Jackson direct…no, I don’t have #, look at ads in mags.  Might also try The Valley FlyFisher in Salem, Keith Burkhart is a friend of Alecs and usually has the best selectin available locally.                                 Mike in PDX                "When the trout are lost, smash the state."                                            Tom McGuane

Response:

Question:

says… Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog.

It’s a great leader for the small stream technical fishing that I do here in the Blue Ridge Mtns. It lays out nice with no memory and is the best leader by far I’ve ever used for bow and arrow casting into small pockets under and around mountain laurel. I’ve never used it for wide open water so I can’t comment on it for that but I suspect it would more than suffice for stillwater situations where you would desire a light presentation. I don’t believe I’d use it for nymphing. –Walt

Response:

forgot to mention one thing…. throw away the mono bimini-twist tippet they provide. THAT IS A PIECE OF JUNK  and will cause you nothing but pain, frustration and agony on the river. I build my own 2 to 6 foot tippet addition with a loop to connect to the braided leader. –Walt

Response:

says… Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog. Check out the new Airflo leaders. They’re available in floating and several

different sink rates. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s a great leader for the small stream technical fishing that I do here in the Blue Ridge Mtns. It lays out nice with no memory and is the best leader by far I’ve ever used for bow and arrow casting into small pockets under and around mountain laurel. I’ve never used it for wide open water so I can’t comment on it for that but I suspect it would more than suffice for stillwater situations where you would desire a light presentation. I don’t believe I’d use it for nymphing. –Walt

Response:

i use them for nymphing all the time.. the braided section tends to grip a strike indicator very well and the bimmini twist in the tippet helps to turn over a wieghted

fly quite well.. the only trouble i have had with them is that they tend to streach a bit when striking a fish Steve

Response:

…

I use braided leaders all the time, for surface flies and nymphs, mostly because they’re soooo easy. But they also work. This topic comes up every now and then, and the only real criticism that I can resonate with is that they tend to hold water and so can create a spray. This can scare spooky fish, especially in flat water, but false casts cure it.

Response:

… I use braided leaders all the time, for surface flies and nymphs, mostly because they’re soooo easy. But they also work. This topic comes up every now and then, and the only real criticism that I can resonate with is that they tend to hold water and so can create a spray. This can scare spooky fish, especially in flat water, but false casts cure it.

 Airflo also produce a tapered leader called ‘Polyleader’ – these have a  monofilament core surrounded by a tapered coating which does away with  the splashing problem.  About 5 feet long, you just tie on a mono  tippet as for the braided type and they turn over pretty well.  cheers all,  Dave — Fishy pix of N.Wales at:  http://xavier.bangor.ac.uk/dlane/fishing/ He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.

Response:

Dave,     I have used the AirFlo leader and found it to be very useful.  For a beginning fly fisher my local shop suggested I skin back a little of the tippet end of the leader to expose the core and tie a loop.  I can then change tippets with a simple handshake knot very quickly.  The setup certainly casts very well with my limited ability and offers great flexibility as I make up various size tippets in advance. Wayne To fish is human…to release devine.

Response:

Dave,    I have used the AirFlo leader and found it to be very useful.

Ditto, I find the Airflo Poly leader the best I’ve ever used. Wes

Response:

Tom, I have been using an Orvis braided for about a year now, for dry’s , nymphs and streamers. I am still using the same leader, where as before I would go through a dozen leaders a season (actually saves me $).  They are great, hardly ever knot up, but when they do you must be very careful because you can ruin it picking it apart. They tend to sink easier tham mono, but when fishing a dry a little floatant takes care of the problem.  They turn over great and have no memory. Scott Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog.

– Scott Maxwell http://www.page.az.net/scud

Response:

: They are too expensive at $9-10. I got a 9′ 5X about 3 months ago and : it has fallen apart (fished once a week). Flies that have a tendency : to twist (hoppers) will tangle a lot faster. After a couple of trips, : it started to fray and cause the line to tangle even more. : On the other hand. There is little memory. Just rig the line off the : reel. I have an Orvis line with the loop and it makes a good fit. It : did seem to help with controlling drag. No problems casting small : drys. : I wish it would be a little more durable or a little less expensive. : I might buy another but only use it when casting small drys. : Michael L You may want to try the AirFlo braided leaders.  I’ve been using them for several years and really like them.  They’re more durable than the Orvis leaders and they seem to float better as well. I also really like their lack of memory.  A little more spray than monofilament leaders (tho not much); but not a problem if you don’t make your first cast after pickup over the fish you are casting to (a good idea even if you’re not using braided leaders).  I’ve used these leaders with really small flies on spring creeks (Silver Creek and the Henry’s Fork) and not ever had a problem with presentation or spooking fish due to a braided leader (of course I usually fish downstream in these situations).  In fact the braided leader usually allows me to make a better presentation because it has so little memory.  I think the AirFlo leaders cost around $7-8.  They also have sinking braided leaders with different sink rates; makes it easy to create a sink tip from your floating line (or give your sinking line a little more "sink" at the tip). – Ward — —  Ward Foster            Hewlett-Packard, Boise Idaho

Response:

Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog.

Hi All, This all happened about 10 years ago here in California. Orvis and others brought in the tapered braided leaders and they soon died off. I hear that they are alive and well in Europe. Try it, you might like it? Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog. Hi All, This all happened about 10 years ago here in California. Orvis and others brought in the tapered braided leaders and they soon died off. I hear that they are alive and well in Europe. Try it, you might like it? Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY www.kiene.com

Hi! I use them for nymphing on big rivers, With small dries and small creeks I use mono. I think they are best for big waters and bigger fish. In other words the opposite opinion from earlier writers on this subject. Hans

Response:

Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog.

Response:

Tom, When they first came out Orvis was giving away samples so I took one and stuck it in my tackle box where it remains still in its wrapper. I make my own leaders.  If you want it give me your mailing address and I will send it to you. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them.

Response:

They are too expensive at $9-10. I got a 9′ 5X about 3 months ago and it has fallen apart (fished once a week). Flies that have a tendency to twist (hoppers) will tangle a lot faster. After a couple of trips, it started to fray and cause the line to tangle even more. On the other hand. There is little memory. Just rig the line off the reel. I have an Orvis line with the loop and it makes a good fit. It did seem to help with controlling drag. No problems casting small drys. I wish it would be a little more durable or a little less expensive. I might buy another but only use it when casting small drys. Michael L – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them. All I know is what I read about them in their catalog. Never heard of anyone really using this setup…the guy at the local Orvis shop thought they had been discontinued until I showed them to him in the catalog.

Response:

Interested in opinions about or experiences with Orvis’ braided leaders and the long (4 ft) tippets that loop connect to them.

– I purchased one 8-ft braided section (w/4-ft 5X tippet) this spring based on the recommendation of a friend who also gave me some other advice… 1.  Trash the 4-foot bimini twist tippet with the package 2.  Loop a 3-foot section of 3X to the braided leader 3.  Tie on a 4-foot section of 5X-7X depending on conditions 4.  Dress the braided leader with a very light wax/silicone coating     to prevent water uptake and enhance floatability Makes a good 15-ft small tippet leader that turns over like a 9-foot knotless tapered leader.  I have had good success with this set-up fishing both small drys and nymphs on the tailwater streams here in NE TN this season.   Still fishing the original braided section (over 15-trips), but it probably won’t make it to next season. My understanding is that Orvis has coated the braided sections (see #4 above) on some of the later versions of this leader set-up due to problems with water uptake and misting.             | /              |/    (         /|     —     / | C. Michael Bullard The Yellar Hammer

Response:

Jim.  Buy one roll of 5x braided and then in a warm well lighted room try to thread a freshly cut section of braided tippet through the eye of a # 20 hook.  This may help you decided if you want to switch over

I’m actually interested in a braided butt section, since that is the part that is really stiff.  I plan to stick with mono tippets, since they’re flexible enough.  I think a braided butt would be better for eliminating drag. — Jim Benenson                 Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA "The commonplace is only the self-constructed wall that separates us from the marvelous"  Tom Brown, Jr.

Response:

I own a set of Orvis braided leaders.  While they do produce tight loops, they soak up water.  This make them heavy to pick up on the backcast and you run the risk of spooking fish with the spray during false casts. Lastly, I tried to add a 4 foot section of tippet material to the 5 foot braided leader (making it a nine foot leader).  THe tippet section did not straighten well.  Orvis sells tippet sections that are supposedly tapered, but they are expensive. Daren Valentine

Response:

I use the Orvis braided leaders and LOVE them.  They last for about two years and I just tie on a length of tippet material on the end, then change that from time to time.  I’ve used both the light ones on my 5 weight rod, and the medium weight ones on my 7 weight.  I feel that the price is justified, even though I have to buy tippet material too.  Plus like you say, they’re not as stiff.

Response:

I use the Orvis braided leaders and LOVE them.  They last for about two years and I just tie on a length of tippet material on the end, then change that from time to time.  I’ve used both the light ones on my 5 weight rod, and the medium weight ones on my 7 weight.  I feel that the price is justified, even though I have to buy tippet material too.  Plus like you say, they’re not as stiff. Don’t you have problems with wind knots? I know wk’s are mainly due to poor casting technique, but I always seem to have more problems with the braided leaders. But you are correct – they are limp. Bob –

Response: