Question:

Outstanding fishing around Glover’s Reef (Manta Resort only one there) – during the day schools of small bones hang around in the lagoons and assorted toothed guys on the open water- the coolest thing we did there was night fishing in the lagoon- nice tarpon come in about midnight and you spot fish them with a flashlight – their eyes glow big time – they’ll hit casting plugs(mirror lures and rattle traps) and flat tear up big  popper flies – hell of a thing about 2am to have a drink in one hand be hooked up with a 4-6 ft tarpon on a 10-12wt in the other Gary

For a real challenge, try that with an 8 weight… /daytripper (Not sure if waving goodbye is all that fun, though

Response:

Outstanding fishing around Glover’s Reef (Manta Resort only one there) – during the day schools of small bones hang around in the lagoons and assorted toothed guys on the open water- the coolest thing we did there was night fishing in the lagoon- nice tarpon come in about midnight and you spot fish them with a flashlight – their eyes glow big time – they’ll hit casting plugs(mirror lures and rattle traps) and flat tear up big  popper flies – hell of a thing about 2am to have a drink in one hand be hooked up with a 4-6 ft tarpon on a 10-12wt in the other Gary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Except for fishermen, and in particular, light tackle anglers and fly fishermen as well as divers, Belize, once known as British Honduras is the forgotten part of Central America. It is located just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, to the east of Guatemala and is the only English speaking country in the region.. It’s chief claim to fame is that it has the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, and second in the world only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This, along with the fact that over ninety percent of its islands are uninhabitable makes it a light tackle anglers idea of heaven. From the super clear waters along the reef, through its myriad clusters of mangrove islands into its jungle rivers, it has something for everybody. Want variety? You can expect to catch two dozen different species of fish in a weeks time, from bonefish, permit and tarpon to wahoo, sailfish, grouper and snapper. Want to specialize? Get out your ten weight fly rod and try for the elusive permit, or stalk massive schools of bonefish. How about tarpon? Where do you prefer to pursue them? In slow moving jungle rivers with the howler monkeys screaming at you or on wide open flats with your guide slowly bringing you within casting range? Belize has it all. Winter is just around the corner, and if you feel the need to spend some time catching fish without thinking about how many layers of clothing you need, Belize is just the place for you. Check it out at www.tropicalfishing.com/Belize.htm or give Capt Gene Kelly at Tropical Fishing Adventures a call at 800 280 5565.

Response:

While I don’t doubt your point, I can only say that about the ones I’ve seen… /daytripper (And Belize was the worst by far…)

I wish I could say Belize was the worst I have seen. But then I didn’t spend much time on the mainland there, where conditions are much worse than where I was. — Charlie…

Response:

But don’t venture far from the "civilization" of the resort lest you stumble on the predominant gut-wrenching poverty… You can say that about a *lot* of resorts around the world.

While I don’t doubt your point, I can only say that about the ones I’ve seen… /daytripper (And Belize was the worst by far…)

Response:

The last day when I left,  I gave them all the cash I could and still get home. It was one of the most emotional thing that has happened to me in my lifetime.

…now why am I not surprised that you would do that Bill? I always knew you wuz one of the good guys. Good on ya. Frank Church

Response:

But don’t venture far from the "civilization" of the resort lest you stumble on the predominant gut-wrenching poverty… You can say that about a *lot* of resorts around the world. — Charlie…

Hmm . . . this was certainly true in Thailand.  Went there 6 times from 94-98. ( northern part of the country) (always stayed at the rear of the hotel where I stayed most. . . wanted it quieter)  Behind the hotel was a small field and a series of "small" wood buildings.  Some of the employees "lived" in these.   Would see them starting fires in the morning to cook breakfast and at night for dinner.  There was one shower for all the families, outside, with a cloth curtain. . . no hot water . . . and one outhouse.   These are the folks that did all aspects of the hotel functions. The owners live in suites at the top of the hotel. . . think they took a whole floor . . . or even two.  (quite a few fancy houses around the hotel from the other side of the economy,  with people catering to all resident needs) But with many of the hotel employees, and "most" other people I worked with in Thailand, they were selfless.  (I wasn’t at one of the higher end hotels) I got invited to a number of family events and functions of the less fortunate in terms of money.  I was overwhelmed by the generosity of them to share whatever they had to share.  Interesting reflection, at least to me, saving "face" is important over in that area of the world.  Even if I wanted to say something to an employee, I have to be careful about the presentation, and who was present.  (maybe we, in other parts of the world, can learn a bit from that concept) Neat thing to get into if you get a chance to work, and share experiences, with the people in the country you visit. (Naturally, not something that can generally happen with a whirlwind trip. . . nor something to consider . . . in some countries. . . but you can certainly develop friendships.) Most profound thing I’ve seen in my small part in world travel is absolute affluency and poverty right next to each other.  (Hmm. . . seem to have that part between me and my rich neighbors also . . . wonder if I can borrow a Sage rod or a cup of sugar or something?  . . . something to check out . . . and I think those are cute doggies . . . big teeth . . probably just smiling alot ) Thanks for helping me reflect on the international part. . . and my ramblings. BestWishes, DaveMohnsen Denver ( have a soft part in my heart for most of the Thailand folks. . .but there are always a few in the other category . . . but YMMV)

Response:

Hi DT, You are very correct. I have fished from the tip of the MX Yucatan all the way to the end of Belize in about 20 trips and that is a very sad fact. Actually, the fishing guides are some of the most affluent people in the Caribbean. The smart ones buy property and build rentals that their wife runs while they guide tourists. Most of them actually just drink and smoke a lot more. I was on a small cay for a week out of Dangriga, Belize fishing at the Blue Horizon Lodge it’s first season. On the back side of the cay in the mangroves was a little shack and a little skinny family of  four and their skinny dog. They had an old boat that they were using to haul sacks of sand, coral and shells to backfill the new fishing camp for ~25 cents a sack. While we fished, they loaded sacks, stacked them on their old boat to almost sinking and brought them back to the camp where they poured them around the new cottages on stilts to bring up the new cleared land above sea level a bit. You can imagine the heat, humidity and bugs they endured, let along the idea of that hard of work. They were all very skinny and made me feel very sad. The last day when I left,  I gave them all the cash I could and still get home. It was one of the most emotional thing that has happened to me in my lifetime. This kind of life is common in many 3rd world countries. Be glad you and yours are here in America. — Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA www.kiene.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But don’t venture far from the "civilization" of the resort lest you stumble on the predominant gut-wrenching poverty…

Response:

But don’t venture far from the "civilization" of the resort lest you stumble on the predominant gut-wrenching poverty…

You can say that about a *lot* of resorts around the world. — Charlie…

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Except for fishermen, and in particular, light tackle anglers and fly fishermen as well as divers, Belize, once known as British Honduras is the forgotten part of Central America. It is located just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, to the east of Guatemala and is the only English speaking country in the region.. It’s chief claim to fame is that it has the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, and second in the world only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This, along with the fact that over ninety percent of its islands are uninhabitable makes it a light tackle anglers idea of heaven. From the super clear waters along the reef, through its myriad clusters of mangrove islands into its jungle rivers, it has something for everybody. Want variety? You can expect to catch two dozen different species of fish in a weeks time, from bonefish, permit and tarpon to wahoo, sailfish, grouper and snapper. Want to specialize? Get out your ten weight fly rod and try for the elusive permit, or stalk massive schools of bonefish. How about tarpon? Where do you prefer to pursue them? In slow moving jungle rivers with the howler monkeys screaming at you or on wide open flats with your guide slowly bringing you within casting range? Belize has it all. Winter is just around the corner, and if you feel the need to spend some time catching fish without thinking about how many layers of clothing you need, Belize is just the place for you. Check it out at www.tropicalfishing.com/Belize.htm or give Capt Gene Kelly at Tropical Fishing Adventures a call at 800 280 5565.

But don’t venture far from the "civilization" of the resort lest you stumble on the predominant gut-wrenching poverty…

Response:

Except for fishermen, and in particular, light tackle anglers and fly fishermen as well as divers, Belize, once known as British Honduras is the forgotten part of Central America. It is located just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, to the east of Guatemala and is the only English speaking country in the region.. It’s chief claim to fame is that it has the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, and second in the world only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This, along with the fact that over ninety percent of its islands are uninhabitable makes it a light tackle anglers idea of heaven. From the super clear waters along the reef, through its myriad clusters of mangrove islands into its jungle rivers, it has something for everybody. Want variety? You can expect to catch two dozen different species of fish in a weeks time, from bonefish, permit and tarpon to wahoo, sailfish, grouper and snapper. Want to specialize? Get out your ten weight fly rod and try for the elusive permit, or stalk massive schools of bonefish. How about tarpon? Where do you prefer to pursue them? In slow moving jungle rivers with the howler monkeys screaming at you or on wide open flats with your guide slowly bringing you within casting range? Belize has it all. Winter is just around the corner, and if you feel the need to spend some time catching fish without thinking about how many layers of clothing you need, Belize is just the place for you. Check it out at www.tropicalfishing.com/Belize.htm or give Capt Gene Kelly at Tropical Fishing Adventures a call at 800 280 5565.

Response:

Question:

Has anyone tried 9X tippet material?  Is it really more beneficial than 8X (or even 7X)?  Or is it just a ploy to get us to buy more spools? —

Response:

Has anyone tried 9X tippet material?  Is it really more beneficial than 8X (or even 7X)?  Or is it just a ploy to get us to buy more spools?

Well, it’s thinner and more flexible, all else being the same.  But manufacturers fudge the numbers, so one company’s 5x is another’s 6x. Personally I use 11x – you know, for the sporting aspect of it.

Response:

Has anyone tried 9X tippet material?  Is it really more beneficial than 8X (or even 7X)?  Or is it just a ploy to get us to buy more spools?

I use 9X leaders the following way: 1) cut off leader at butt 2) tie on 2X, 4X, and 6X to create taper 3) tie on fly Research shows I break off far fewer fish on 9X tippet this way.  :) — HTH, Tim

Response:

   Has anyone tried 9X tippet material?  Is it really more beneficial than 8X  (or even 7X)?  Or is it just a ploy to get us to buy more spools?       I use 9X leaders the following way:   1) cut off leader at butt   2) tie on 2X, 4X, and 6X to create taper   3) tie on fly     Research shows I break off far fewer fish on 9X tippet this way.  :) What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet? Willi

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Has anyone tried 9X tippet material?  Is it really more beneficial than 8X  (or even 7X)?  Or is it just a ploy to get us to buy more spools?   I use 9X leaders the following way:   1) cut off leader at butt   2) tie on 2X, 4X, and 6X to create taper   3) tie on fly   Research shows I break off far fewer fish on 9X tippet this way.  :) What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet?

I don’t. That was the point of my reply. I use mainly 6X, but sometimes 7X for more calm, clear water presentation. Most of the flies I use are #20 or larger so the finer tippet isn’t normally needed. — TL, Tim

Response:

Personally I use 11x – you know, for the sporting aspect of it.

Certainly eliminates any drag, but you lose a lot of fish. — Rusty Hook Laramie, Wyoming

Response:

That’s the gist of the question.  Why do you need it and when would you use it?  I break off enough fish using 7X.  I’m still debating the use of 8X and now they come out with 9X and … get this…. 10X!  I saw it on a web site recently. — | |

|   |  Has anyone tried 9X tippet material?  Is it really more beneficial | than 8X |  (or even 7X)?  Or is it just a ploy to get us to buy more spools? |   |   |   I use 9X leaders the following way: |   1) cut off leader at butt |   2) tie on 2X, 4X, and 6X to create taper |   3) tie on fly |   |   Research shows I break off far fewer fish on 9X tippet this way.  :) | | | What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet? | | Willi |

Response:

I’m still debating the use of 8X and now they come out with 9X and … get this…. 10X!  I saw it on a web site recently.

I’d be curious to know the diameter of 10X or 11X. I did measure some 9x once, and it measured .0027, which is exactly .0003 less than 8x.  Hardly a significant difference. I’ll bet that 10X and 11X would measure somewhere around .0024/.0025. Using the standard X designations, 9X would measure .002, 10X .001, and 11X at a very stealthy .000. 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"

Response:

Personally I use 11x – you know, for the sporting aspect of it. Certainly eliminates any drag, but you lose a lot of fish.

Never lost one yet!  ’course, haven’t hooked any either.

Response:

Looks like you got some thin 9X.  The Classic and Custom flyshop web page has 9X and 10 X Varivas Tippet at 0.0028 and 0.0026, respectively.  The same chart rates them at 1.5 lb and 1.2 lb test.  For comparison, their 8 X is 0.003 at 1.8 lb test. —

| I’m still debating the use of 8X and | now they come out with 9X and … get this…. 10X!  I saw it on a web site | recently. | | I’d be curious to know the diameter of 10X or 11X. I did measure some 9x once, | and it measured .0027, which is exactly .0003 less than 8x.  Hardly a | significant difference. I’ll bet that 10X and 11X would measure somewhere | around .0024/.0025. Using the standard X designations, 9X would measure .002, | 10X .001, and 11X at a very stealthy .000. | | | 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"

Response:

Looks like you got some thin 9X.  The Classic and Custom flyshop web page has 9X and 10 X Varivas Tippet at 0.0028 and 0.0026, respectively.  The same chart rates them at 1.5 lb and 1.2 lb test.  For comparison, their 8 X is 0.003 at 1.8 lb test.

So the spread from 8X to 10X is a whopping .0004. That’s probably outside of their normal manufacturing tolance. I have seen a lot of tippet material in the 4X/5X range that deviates from nominal by .0005. 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"

Response:

9x ! I can’t convince myself to 6x (well, maybe once in a while if I’m fooling with the 2 wt) jh

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Looks like you got some thin 9X.  The Classic and Custom flyshop web page has 9X and 10 X Varivas Tippet at 0.0028 and 0.0026, respectively.  The same chart rates them at 1.5 lb and 1.2 lb test.  For comparison, their 8 X is 0.003 at 1.8 lb test. So the spread from 8X to 10X is a whopping .0004. That’s probably outside of their normal manufacturing tolance. I have seen a lot of tippet material in the 4X/5X range that deviates from nominal by .0005. 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"

Response:

What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet?

    Neon tetras. Not just any neon tetras though, he’s getting his name in the record book.

Response:

What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet?

You’ve never heard of The 69 Club ? 6# fish on 9X tippet and when you’re done the fish is licked. Your pal, TBone

Response:

What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet?

The Great North American Smart-Assed Reply… TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Willi

Response:

     Looks like you got some thin 9X.  The Classic and Custom flyshop web page  has 9X and 10 X Varivas Tippet at 0.0028 and 0.0026, respectively. The same  chart rates them at 1.5 lb and 1.2 lb test.  For comparison, their 8 X is  0.003 at 1.8 lb test.       So the spread from 8X to 10X is a whopping .0004. That’s probably outside of   their normal manufacturing tolance. I have seen a lot of tippet material in the   4X/5X range that deviates from nominal by .0005. Sounds like a gimmick to me. All other X designations from X4 down to 8X    vary progressively by .001. Their 9X should be 8.2X and their 10X – 8.4X. Willi

Response:

<Splork Clark (Who always prefered 68,…. "You go for it and I’ll owe you 1)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet? You’ve never heard of The 69 Club ? 6# fish on 9X tippet and when you’re done the fish is licked. Your pal, TBone

Response:

Sounds like a gimmick to me. All other X designations from X4 down to 8X   vary progressively by .001. Their 9X should be 8.2X and their 10X – 8.4X.

Exactly……basically it sounds like all repackaged 8X. 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"

Response:

What are you fishing for that you feel you need 9X tippet? The Great North American Smart-Assed Reply…

A measured judgement from the master of the genre. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

aspect of it.  Only 11x? Outhere in Kansas we take the big bass on 15x tied to an old Hogan Apex 4 iron with a piece of popcorn as a indicator with a Velvetta dropper. Best Wishes -Jeff

Response:

sporting aspect of it.  Only 11x? Outhere in Kansas we take the big bass on 15x tied to an old Hogan Apex 4 iron with a piece of popcorn as a indicator with a Velvetta dropper. Best Wishes -Jeff

We’ve invented a 20X tippet material but can’t market it.  The reason is, after we spool it up with a thousand yards worth, the customer can’t find the end of it. Is this over-engineering? George Gehrke

Response:

I have 20 spools of 30X for sale. Due to cutbacks we have been unable to obtain suitable packaging so these spools may just "appear" to be empty 4X and 5X spools. Anyone interested in purchasing can do so by contacting me. Each spool holds 50 meters of 30X flurocarbon and they are available as a bulk lot for only $50. Make checks payable to me please. Clark

Response:

I’m still debating the use of 8X and now they come out with 9X and … get this…. 10X!  I saw it on a web site recently. I’d be curious to know the diameter of 10X or 11X. I did measure some 9x once, and it measured .0027, which is exactly .0003 less than 8x.

Yeah, but the 8x from the same company was probably .0036.

Response:

Looks like you got some thin 9X.  The Classic and Custom flyshop web page has 9X and 10 X Varivas Tippet at 0.0028 and 0.0026, respectively.

How silly.

Response:

sporting aspect of it.  Only 11x? Outhere in Kansas we take the big bass on 15x tied to an old Hogan Apex 4 iron with a piece of popcorn as a indicator with a Velvetta dropper. Best Wishes -Jeff

Since you’re using forged blades, I assume your line is silk.  I’m sure Hogan would approve, since "The feel of a [fish on silk line], travels up the [rod], into your hands and into your heart."

Response:

Question:

Hi, Sherry         I used to have one of those for a pet. I don’t remember off the top of my head what kind it is, but it is definitely both harmless and beneficial. They all have forked tongues; that’s what they ’smell’ with.         Most poisonous snakes in the US have a triangular head, with fat ‘cheeks.’ That’s where the venom glands are. The exception is the coral snake. There are only four poisonous breeds in the US: rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth, and coral. The first three are adders and have the signature triangular heads and fat bodies. The coral snake is actually a kind of cobra, going by the venom family, and does not have the fat cheeks and thick body. Fortunately, they have short, fixed fangs that have difficulty penetrating human skin far enough to get enough poison into our system to do us much harm. Plus, they don’t inject venom like the adders. The fangs are grooved on the backside, and the venom trickles down the grooves. Copperheads also have short fangs. I’ve been told by someone who probably knows that no one has ever died from a copperhead bite, but I don’t know that for a fact.         Most wild snakes if cornered will put up a heck of a threat display to scare you away. Bull snakes will strike wildly at you, but without hitting you, and make a ferocious, loud hissing sound, but it’s mostly bluff. However, they will bite if they have to. Puff adders, properly called hog-nose snakes, will spread their necks like a cobra and make threatening gestures and false strikes. If you slap it, it will roll over, let its tongue hang out, and play dead. Cheers, Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have question for you. Since the recent snaketalk, I had a little encounter this after noon with a different-looking snake. I was getting ready to leave, and about to open the glass door there was a snake, like trying to crawl up the glass. He was dark, dark brown almost black  with a bright yellow belly. He was very skinny but long, at least 2.5-3 feet. He definitely had a forked tongue cause he was sticking it out at me. So I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere after all. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And finally went out the back door. Does that description sound familiar at all to you? I hate to keep asking. Also, is it true you can tell by the shape of their heads whether they’re poisonous or not? DH is at work. I hate to call him ’cause I know what he’d say, "It’s more scared of you than you are of it, blah blah blah.” I think that’s debatable. Sherry

– Some people think they’re worth a lot of money just because they have it.

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  Unless you have a friend that puts one on your rear view mirror. Only a garder snake but it still scared me half to death.   Bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have heard of snakes crawling into a car that was left with the door standing open, but it would be very rare. Modern cars are pretty well sealed so that the A/C works well. There aren’t any holes for them to crawl in through.

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  Thanks for the laugh. I like that one.   Bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A baby grass snake asked it’s mother, are we poisonous? It’s mother replied, no dear why do you ask? Oh good ‘cos I just bit my lip. — Adrian Isn’t it wonderful how cats can win friends and influence people without ever reading a book.

Response:

Hi, Bob         I grew up in North Texas and I’ve often heard cottonmouths called water moccasins, but they’re actually different species. Water moccasins get quite large, but they don’t have the triangular head and heavy body. Cottonmouths have a brilliant white mouth, and they hold it open with fangs outthrust when they’re about to attack.         Once while bowfishing I was wading through shallow water wearing thin canvas deck shoes. Just as I was stepping over a clump of grass, there was a flash of white right by my foot that caught my attention in a nanosecond. There was a large cottonmouth coiled to strike with mouth only a few inches from that scantily-clad foot. I stood there balanced on one foot while I drew the arrow and shot the snake through the mouth. The hard part was not hitting my foot as I was swaying from side to side trying to stay upright. It would have been useless trying to withdraw my foot as human reflexes are way too slow to avoid a snake strike. Cheers, Dave  Hey David,     Here in Texas we also have the water moccasin. Is that also considered a cottonmouth?

– Wanted: Man to assemble nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactivity counters, and three-phase cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary.

Response:

The only thing I remember as far as color, if it’s red on black, poisonous.  If yellow meets black then you’re ok.

For Coral snakes, the phrase to remember is red on yellow will kill a fellow – so if the red stripes are next to yellow stripes, stay away.  If the red is next to black stripes, you are okay.  My theory was that I wasn’t going to hang around long enough to figure out what color was next to what color and the snake could just have the space.  But PLEASE don’t pick up red on yellow and think it is safe.  Altogether for posterity: Red on Yellow will kill a fellow. Cheers, Bridget – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – However, I haven’t proven that to myself yet. Snake is snake is snake to be avoided at all costs.  My daughter is slightly confused why I let her walk across our pinestraw ridden front yard alone in the winter but if it’s summer she catches immortal hell. I’ve snuck up on a more than a few copperheads that way. Grace I have question for you. Since the recent snaketalk, I had a little encounter this after noon with a different-looking snake. I was getting ready to leave, and about to open the glass door there was a snake, like trying to crawl up the glass. He was dark, dark brown almost black  with a bright yellow belly. He was very skinny but long, at least 2.5-3 feet. He definitely had a forked tongue cause he was sticking it out at me. So I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere after all. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And finally went out the back door. Does that description sound familiar at all to you? I hate to keep asking. Also, is it true you can tell by the shape of their heads whether they’re poisonous or not? DH is at work. I hate to call him ’cause I know what he’d say, "It’s more scared of you than you are of it, blah blah blah.” I think that’s debatable. Sherry

Response:

A baby grass snake asked it’s mother, are we poisonous? It’s mother replied, no dear why do you ask? Oh good ‘cos I just bit my lip. — Adrian Isn’t it wonderful how cats can win friends and influence people without ever reading a book.

Response:

Well, I’ve read of people encountering cobras in "guest house" bedrooms in India, in the days of the British Raj, so its probably theoretically possible – but why would they want to, unless your car is infested with rodents? Because they’re looking for me. Or Pam.

Snakes seem to think that I’m going to give them goodies or something. They don’t pay attention to all those lovely crunchy squirrels out in the back yard.  Forget about all those munchy turtles and frogs in the pond back there.  No, they have to see if they can find a way to come in the front door and visit me.  They must think I’m lonely.  To be honest, I’m surprised that I haven’t had any visit me here, they did all the time back in Idaho and Washington State. Pam S.  afraid that she just invited the little monsters in and wondering if a snow shovel will work well enough to whack them with.

Response:

 Hey David,     Here in Texas we also have the water moccasin. Is that also considered a cottonmouth? There is a creek here that I like to go fishing in. One day this water moccasin spent a good 30 minutes trying to get out of the water at me. But since the bank was so high and water level low he finally gave up. Scared the crap out of me since a snake (as well as heights) are the only things that really scare me. And I’m a pilot, I love to fly. Go figure. Bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Sherry         I used to have one of those for a pet. I don’t remember off the top of my head what kind it is, but it is definitely both harmless and beneficial. They all have forked tongues; that’s what they ’smell’ with.         Most poisonous snakes in the US have a triangular head, with fat ‘cheeks.’ That’s where the venom glands are. The exception is the coral snake. There are only four poisonous breeds in the US: rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth, and coral. The first three are adders and have the signature triangular heads and fat bodies. The coral snake is actually a kind of cobra, going by the venom family, and does not have the fat cheeks and thick body. Fortunately, they have short, fixed fangs that have difficulty penetrating human skin far enough to get enough poison into our system to do us much harm. Plus, they don’t inject venom like the adders. The fangs are grooved on the backside, and the venom trickles down the grooves. Copperheads also have short fangs. I’ve been told by someone who probably knows that no one has ever died from a copperhead bite, but I don’t know that for a fact.         Most wild snakes if cornered will put up a heck of a threat display to scare you away. Bull snakes will strike wildly at you, but without hitting you, and make a ferocious, loud hissing sound, but it’s mostly bluff. However, they will bite if they have to. Puff adders, properly called hog-nose snakes, will spread their necks like a cobra and make threatening gestures and false strikes. If you slap it, it will roll over, let its tongue hang out, and play dead. Cheers, Dave

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—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sounds like a plain old garden/garter snake to me. (Incidentally ALL snakes have forked tongues, I think.)  Are you SURE about the size?  I had never seen a snake until I encountered a garter snake at my aunt’s lake place in Minnesota (I was about then at the time).  I knew it was a garter snake, and couldn’t hurt me, but I ran away, anyhow. However, it couldn’t POSSIBLY have been as big as I remember it – they just don’t grow that long! I have question for you. Since the recent snaketalk, I had a little encounter this after noon with a different-looking snake. I was getting ready to leave, and about to open the glass door there was a snake, like trying to crawl up the glass. He was dark, dark brown almost black  with a bright yellow belly. He was very skinny but long, at least 2.5-3 feet. He definitely had a forked tongue cause he was sticking it out at me. So I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere after all. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And finally went out the back door. Does that description sound familiar at all to you? I hate to keep asking. Also, is it true you can tell by the shape of their heads whether they’re poisonous or not? DH is at work. I hate to call him ’cause I know what he’d say, "It’s more scared of you than you are of it, blah blah blah.” I think that’s debatable. Sherry

The distinctive feature of garter snakes is that they have stripes running lengthwise on the body, as opposed to around the body.  They are the only type of snake that I am aware of with lengthwise stripes. One of the garter snake’s defenses is that it can exude a stinky liquid if scared.  I found this out the hard way when I was on a camping trip as a teenager, and one of the other boys found a garter snake and started passing the snake around.  The substance had a strong musky smell, so it might be something that the snake would normally use to mark its territory. —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: PGP 7.0.4 iQA/AwUBPPmrATMYPge5L34aEQJbygCg4SzKyTT7WW1eSqgZSrof/PI+QjkAoITD jEckAMjoUieiBugeocJhtB/b =PDBC —–END PGP SIGNATURE—– — PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "There must be, not a balance of power, but a community of power; not organized rivalries, but an organized common peace." Woodrow Wilson

Response:

Sounds like a plain old garden/garter snake to me. (Incidentally ALL snakes have forked tongues, I think.)  Are you SURE about the size?  I had never seen a snake until I encountered a garter snake at my aunt’s lake place in Minnesota (I was about then at the time).  I knew it was a garter snake, and couldn’t hurt me, but I ran away, anyhow. However, it couldn’t POSSIBLY have been as big as I remember it – they just don’t grow that long! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have question for you. Since the recent snaketalk, I had a little encounter this after noon with a different-looking snake. I was getting ready to leave, and about to open the glass door there was a snake, like trying to crawl up the glass. He was dark, dark brown almost black  with a bright yellow belly. He was very skinny but long, at least 2.5-3 feet. He definitely had a forked tongue cause he was sticking it out at me. So I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere after all. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And finally went out the back door. Does that description sound familiar at all to you? I hate to keep asking. Also, is it true you can tell by the shape of their heads whether they’re poisonous or not? DH is at work. I hate to call him ’cause I know what he’d say, "It’s more scared of you than you are of it, blah blah blah.” I think that’s debatable. Sherry

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somewhere just waiting to cross my path. I’ve even thought up a new phobia. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car?

Well, I’ve read of people encountering cobras in "guest house" bedrooms in India, in the days of the British Raj, so its probably theoretically possible – but why would they want to, unless your car is infested with rodents?  Believe it or not, snakes don’t go out of their way to annoy/frighten humans – either they’re looking for something to eat (usually live rodents) or water (if it’s a dry season and they can’t find it outdoors).  Even most poisonous snakes won’t attack unless they feel threatened, and even then, they’d rather just slither off, unless their retreat is blocked.

Response:

I’m trying, I really am. Sherry

You really have my sympathy Sherry. By living next to a fairly nice sized pond, we’ve always been victims of those surprise showings. (I guess it’s a pond, kinda odd when I hear Dave Y talk about his 5 foot pond. It’s not a lake, nor is it a pond like he and Victor have…) The last time, the very last time I have ever crawled into my parents swimming pool and spend a half day drifting about luxuriously soaking up sunshine was a couple days before my sister popped up from underneath the water just in time to see a snake slide into the opposite side of the pool.  A few days later, Dad pulled a dead one out of the filter after it got sucked through somehow. Or maybe it slide in through the hole on the coverplate. Who knows.  Suffice to say, it ended my snoozing days poolside *grin* I’m a walking paranoid basketcase outside during the summer. Moreso with a child than I ever have in the past. If the temps are right, I am much more relaxed with her playing outside without any hovering. Grace

Response:

Sounds like a plain old garden/garter snake to me. (Incidentally ALL snakes have forked tongues, I think.)  Are you SURE about the size?  I had never seen a snake until I encountered a garter snake at my aunt’s lake place in Minnesota (I was about then at the time).  I knew it was a garter snake, and couldn’t hurt me, but I ran away, anyhow. However, it couldn’t POSSIBLY have been as big as I remember it – they just don’t grow that long!

No, it wasn’t a garter snake. Garter snakes around here aren’t much bigger than a pencil. This was was definitely that long. But skinny, like a garter snake. I need a snake-ID website. Except I don’t want to look at the pictures. Sherry

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somewhere just waiting to cross my path. I’ve even thought up a new phobia. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car? Well, I’ve read of people encountering cobras in "guest house" bedrooms in India, in the days of the British Raj, so its probably theoretically possible – but why would they want to, unless your car is infested with rodents?

Because they’re looking for me. Or Pam. Sherry

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We live next to my parents, my parents have a two acre pond I’ve mentioned in the past. We’ve seen our share of copperheads and thankfully the only cottonmouths we’ve noticed have been right there at water’s edge. She doesn’t visit the pond much. *sheepish grin* Shoes? What are shoes Dave? We’re southern girls and this is the good old summertime. But I’ll keep that in mind, when she’s outside playing all day during the weekends, I’m going to make sure she has shoes from now on. Grace

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Grace Snakes are deaf, but they have keen senses in their belly scales that can pick up even slight vibrations. If you and your daughter wear hard-soled shoes in the summer, you are less likely to sneak up on them.

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Sherry, you mentioned seeing a snake you’ve never seen before.  Around here, in Louisiana, this time of year we see three times as many snakes as we normally do. Don’t be surprised if you see another. It’s always been my guess it’s a nestmate. Some days during the first few weeks of summer we can find three or four smallish snakes in one day when mowing the lawn. Only lasts for a little while though and then it’s back to the occassional view from a distance. Grace

I’m trying, I really am. We built this house  in 1982, and moved away years later. It was empty for many years before we moved back in 1999. When we firstt moved back, the snakes were awful. They were everywhere–our outbuilding rafters were dangling with skins. I think, being empty, the snakes took over but now that there’s activity around the house, we see fewer and fewer every year. I know they really don’t want to be around people. I don’t want them killed at all. I just SO hate being startled by them. Another critter that seems in big supply is terrapins, but they’re kinda cute. Sherry

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No. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car? Sherry — Wanted: Man to assemble nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactivity counters, and three-phase cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary.

I take it that’s a no? Does this mean I don’t have to stuff my pants legs down into my socks so the baby bullsnakes can’t crawl up my pants leg while I’m driving down the road? Sherry

Response:

I have heard of snakes crawling into a car that was left with the door standing open, but it would be very rare. Modern cars are pretty well sealed so that the A/C works well. There aren’t any holes for them to crawl in through. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car? Sherry — Wanted: Man to assemble nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactivity counters, and three-phase cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary. I take it that’s a no? Does this mean I don’t have to stuff my pants legs down into my socks so the baby bullsnakes can’t crawl up my pants leg while I’m driving down the road? Sherry

– Wanted: Man to assemble nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactivity counters, and three-phase cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary.

Response:

Hi, Grace         You’re thinking of the old poem that starts, "Black on yellow, kill a fellow." That’s the coral snake. "Red on black, friend of Jack," refers to other similarly marked snakes called milk snakes or banded king snakes. They’re harmless.         Snakes are deaf, but they have keen senses in their belly scales that can pick up even slight vibrations. If you and your daughter wear hard-soled shoes in the summer, you are less likely to sneak up on them. They’ll feel you approaching and flee or hide.         The only venomous snake you have to wary of is the cottonmouth. They are both territorial and aggressive. They don’t bluff; when they strike they mean business, and if you invade their territory, they will attack without provocation. Plus, the way they hunt is to climb trees and wait on overhanging branches for prey to pass beneath. A large number of cottonmouth bites to humans is on the face or head. Cheers, Dave I think it’s true that the heads are shaped differently. At least around here, the cottonmouths/copperheads have pointed triangle shaped heads and the king snake/rat snakes have a rounded head. The only thing I remember as far as color, if it’s red on black, poisonous.  If yellow meets black then you’re ok.  However, I haven’t proven that to myself yet. Snake is snake is snake to be avoided at all costs.  My daughter is slightly confused why I let her walk across our pinestraw ridden front yard alone in the winter but if it’s summer she catches immortal hell. I’ve snuck up on a more than a few copperheads that way. Grace

– Wanted: Man to assemble nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactivity counters, and three-phase cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary.

Response:

 Copperheads also have short fangs. I’ve been told by someone who probably knows that no one has ever died from a copperhead bite, but I don’t know that for a fact.

For what it’s worth Dave, the local paper just had a write up about snake venoms.  We have a very very short supply of copperhead antivenom and a very very large supply of copperheads.  Doesn’t take much logic to figure out it’s not something we need a great deal of Sherry, you mentioned seeing a snake you’ve never seen before.  Around here, in Louisiana, this time of year we see three times as many snakes as we normally do. Don’t be surprised if you see another. It’s always been my guess it’s a nestmate. Some days during the first few weeks of summer we can find three or four smallish snakes in one day when mowing the lawn. Only lasts for a little while though and then it’s back to the occassional view from a distance. Grace

Response:

No. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car? Sherry

– Wanted: Man to assemble nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactivity counters, and three-phase cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary.

Response:

I think it’s true that the heads are shaped differently. At least around here, the cottonmouths/copperheads have pointed triangle shaped heads and the king snake/rat snakes have a rounded head. The only thing I remember as far as color, if it’s red on black, poisonous.  If yellow meets black then you’re ok.  However, I haven’t proven that to myself yet. Snake is snake is snake to be avoided at all costs.  My daughter is slightly confused why I let her walk across our pinestraw ridden front yard alone in the winter but if it’s summer she catches immortal hell. I’ve snuck up on a more than a few copperheads that way. Grace

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have question for you. Since the recent snaketalk, I had a little encounter this after noon with a different-looking snake. I was getting ready to leave, and about to open the glass door there was a snake, like trying to crawl up the glass. He was dark, dark brown almost black  with a bright yellow belly. He was very skinny but long, at least 2.5-3 feet. He definitely had a forked tongue cause he was sticking it out at me. So I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere after all. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And finally went out the back door. Does that description sound familiar at all to you? I hate to keep asking. Also, is it true you can tell by the shape of their heads whether they’re poisonous or not? DH is at work. I hate to call him ’cause I know what he’d say, "It’s more scared of you than you are of it, blah blah blah.” I think that’s debatable. Sherry

Response:

I think it’s true that the heads are shaped differently. At least around here, the cottonmouths/copperheads have pointed triangle shaped heads and the king snake/rat snakes have a rounded head.

Thanks, Grace. That was what I’ve heard, but I couldn’t remember which was which. Apologies to everyone for the off-topic stuff but this is starting to freak me out just a little.. I was fine as long as I thought they were all bullsnakes but this one I don’t know. And I’m sure it’s not some orphan, single, unmarried snake. I know it has friends and relatives out there somewhere just waiting to cross my path. I’ve even thought up a new phobia. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car? Sherry Sherry

Response:

Not sure, but they can weasel in to your house. Mom walked through the kitchen one morning, and there she lay. A huge mama of a copperhead… right in front of our refrigerator.  Not sure how we determined they got through the dryer vent… Or if I’m remembering wrong. Grace

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think it’s true that the heads are shaped differently. At least around here, the cottonmouths/copperheads have pointed triangle shaped heads and the king snake/rat snakes have a rounded head. Thanks, Grace. That was what I’ve heard, but I couldn’t remember which was which. Apologies to everyone for the off-topic stuff but this is starting to freak me out just a little.. I was fine as long as I thought they were all bullsnakes but this one I don’t know. And I’m sure it’s not some orphan, single, unmarried snake. I know it has friends and relatives out there somewhere just waiting to cross my path. I’ve even thought up a new phobia. Can they get under the car, and get up in through the bottom, and end up inside the car? Sherry Sherry

Response:

I have question for you. Since the recent snaketalk, I had a little encounter this after noon with a different-looking snake. I was getting ready to leave, and about to open the glass door there was a snake, like trying to crawl up the glass. He was dark, dark brown almost black  with a bright yellow belly. He was very skinny but long, at least 2.5-3 feet. He definitely had a forked tongue cause he was sticking it out at me. So I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere after all. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And finally went out the back door. Does that description sound familiar at all to you? I hate to keep asking. Also, is it true you can tell by the shape of their heads whether they’re poisonous or not? DH is at work. I hate to call him ’cause I know what he’d say, "It’s more scared of you than you are of it, blah blah blah.” I think that’s debatable. Sherry

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Question:

<SNIP. A wise man once wrote… <SNIP      - Ken Very flattering!   Sometimes I can not help thinking that a "wise man" would keep his silence more often.

Probably, but what’s the fun of being wise if you can’t say stupid things every once in a while.  :-)      - Ken

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The only evidence I have that you yourself might be a "real" or even a "good" angler is your oft-repeated assertions here that you are.  I have no overwhelming reason to disbelieve you other than the inherent little untruths contained in your entertaining exits from ROFF ("I will tell you a little story,  my all too eager to condemn friend. It does not matter a lot, as it will in any case be my last post to this newsgroup"), so I choose to assume you’re correct.  I do, however, have personal knowledge that Joe Howell is.  I also know that he would not, on the basis of reading few snippet quotes on a newsgroup, be so eager to condemn a fellow angler as a "greedy and self-serving human being" and a "snobby prat." JR

For the record. I have never asserted any such thing. What you or others choose to interpret, or believe,  is your own affair. You are indeed perfectly correct about my "exits". To be perfectly honest, very considerable thought and self-analysis notwithstanding, I can not for the life of me explain why I feel obliged to post here at all, or why I felt obliged to return. As I have no reasonable explanation, I will refrain from even attempting to tender one. As you so ably demonstrate in your description of my behaviour, and its consequences. What people say is important. Of the thousands of posts I have written in recent years, you remember the "exits", and the associated comments, and base your evaluation, of myself on that. Rather odd don

Question:

Good post snipped. I’m definitely no streamer expert but many writers have commented that the eyes on a streamer are a trigger for the fish. Gary LaFontaine even ties a streamer with the eyes at the rear of the fly (near the hook bend) to help eliminate all the missed strikes. Willi

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good post snipped. I’m definitely no streamer expert but many writers have commented that the eyes on a streamer are a trigger for the fish. Gary LaFontaine even ties a streamer with the eyes at the rear of the fly (near the hook bend) to help eliminate all the missed strikes. Willi

That’s the reason for the Sedge Hook Perch.  Instead of moving the eyes back, I’m moving the hook point forward. Peter

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The first Sedge Hook Perch is on ABPF.  Not a great first effort and I wasn’t able to get any olive cafltail – used bucktail instead so the profile is not what I hoped, but you can get the idea.  Vertical bars are done with black magic marker. Peter

Response:

<< There are some designs that put the hook much closer to the head of the streamer. Gartside does it with his marabou soft hackles, others as well use shorter shank hooks with streamer materials extending far past bend. This could be done, I suppose, as long as the materials don’t foul around the gape of hook. <<  Tom Littleton This is one of the virtues of the Lefty’s Deceiver and Kreh and Clouser’s Half & Half.  Lefty Kreh also writes that big fish are head hunters. GKT

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<< There are some designs that put the hook much closer to the head of the streamer. Gartside does it with his marabou soft hackles, others as well use shorter shank hooks with streamer materials extending far past bend. This could be done, I suppose, as long as the materials don’t foul around the gape of hook. <<  Tom Littleton This is one of the virtues of the Lefty’s Deceiver and Kreh and Clouser’s Half & Half.  Lefty Kreh also writes that big fish are head hunters. GKT

Saltwater patterns have used this approach for years as the fish are known headhunters, but apart from clousers, there aren’t many freshwater versions.  Though I didn’t start out the Sedge Hook Perch with a particular saltwater fly in mind, it certainly did end up resembling one.   Since I can’t make much use of it till next year, if anybody would like to try a couple, email me your snail mail and I’ll send them off. In return, you have to post your results. Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Peter, That is a good looking fly you posted on ABPF. I wish more people would post flies on ABPF. Reading a description of a fly just doesn’t cut it. I think the streamer tied on a short shanked hook has a better "look" and it probably would have better action. What do you use for eyes? Willi

Response:

: That is a good looking fly you posted on ABPF. I wish more people would : post flies on ABPF. Reading a description of a fly just doesn’t cut it. Many, maybe even most, of us don’t get ABPF… JonCook.

Here ya go Jon. http://www.ezflyfish.com/perstreamfly.html Peter has graciously allowed for this information to be posted at ez. Thanks Peter…. –Walt — Walter G. Winter Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

Response:

Peter, That is a good looking fly you posted on ABPF. I wish more people would post flies on ABPF. Reading a description of a fly just doesn’t cut it. I think the streamer tied on a short shanked hook has a better "look" and it probably would have better action. What do you use for eyes? Willi

They’re on a peel and stick sheet.  I cover them with flex cement afterward or they’d just drop off. Peter

Response:

: That is a good looking fly you posted on ABPF. I wish more people would : post flies on ABPF. Reading a description of a fly just doesn’t cut it. Many, maybe even most, of us don’t get ABPF…

So ask your university sysop to add it. ‘Tain’t no big thang… /daytripper

Response:

Many, maybe even most, of us don’t get ABPF… So ask your university sysop to add it. ‘Tain’t no big thang…

Spoken like a man who’s never been a university sysop. — Ken Fortenberry- never got ABPF

Response:

Many, maybe even most, of us don’t get ABPF… So ask your university sysop to add it. ‘Tain’t no big thang… Spoken like a man who’s never been a university sysop.

Well, true, I was never a sysop in college, and my college days preceded Usenet anyway (360/20 programmer "back in the days" when real computers ran on air)… But the "no big thang" was referring to the *asking*. As we both know the actual *doing* is trivial…even for a university sysop. /daytripper (Even those that call central Illinois "Home" ;^)

Response:

Well, true, I was never a sysop in college, and my college days preceded Usenet anyway (360/20 programmer "back in the days" when real computers ran on air)…

Ah yes, those were the days. We had one of the few 360/44’s, kind of a RISC precursor I suppose, without the complete instruction set so math operations were faster. We had a 1620 prior to that and a ‘hands on’ 1130 w/8K RAM<g. — Charlie…

Response:

http://www.ezflyfish.com/perstreamfly.html

Do most of you who post pics of flies use digital cameras?  If so, do they have built-in macros or did you have to do something else to get close-up shots? Mu

Response:

http://www.ezflyfish.com/perstreamfly.html Do most of you who post pics of flies use digital cameras?  If so, do they have built-in macros or did you have to do something else to get close-up shots?

"long"? I use an Oly C2020Z which has built-in macro capability. However, I usually top the lens off with a macro multiplier (I have a 2X and a 4X) to really fill the frame and make the most of the CCD (rather than crop down the shot and lose pixels). I think I can speak for "Vern" and Paul G wrt your questions: they both shoot using C2020Z’s , but I’m pretty sure they haven’t bought the macro multipliers yet. My matched brace of Nikkormats, an F5, and a Minolta (all SLRs) are all feeling very lonely and neglected these days… /daytripper ("Totally Digital"  ;^)

Response:

http://www.ezflyfish.com/perstreamfly.html Do most of you who post pics of flies use digital cameras?  If so, do they have built-in macros or did you have to do something else to get close-up shots? Mu

I just stick ‘em in my scanner, squish the buggers then crop ‘em. Looks like hell but people know they’re flies. Peter the always helpful

Response:

Olympus 2020, does macros just fine without any add on’s Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://www.ezflyfish.com/perstreamfly.html Do most of you who post pics of flies use digital cameras?  If so, do they have built-in macros or did you have to do something else to get close-up shots? Mu

Response:

http://www.ezflyfish.com/perstreamfly.html Do most of you who post pics of flies use digital cameras?  If so, do they have built-in macros or did you have to do something else to get close-up shots? Mu

Mu, while I haven’t taken any photos of flies yet, I have taken a ton of pics of small desert flowers.   Some of them will fit on a dime with a lot  room left over.  The decision to use macro is a personal one depending on how you want the subject to look.  I can get the lens to within about 1/4 inch without macro.  I advise a tripod for macro and telephoto.   Camera?  Sony Mavica FD-91.  Macro ability plus a bunch more including interchangable lenses and filters. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyfd91/  Lemme know and I can send some examples. — All fishermen are liars ‘cept you n me, and I’m starting to have doubts about you! www.fishticker.com

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My matched brace of Nikkormats,

        tripper:  what flavor nikkormat do you have?  are you interested in getting shut of one of them? wayno the digital anti-christ

Response:

The mystery has finally been solved – and on the last day of the season.  Anyway  . .

Great report snipped for brevity. Peter, Very interesting info. Some observations from fishing for Lake Trout and Landlocks in a stillwater that mesh with your obsrvations: About thirty five years ago, I spent some time fishing for Lakers and Landlocks in the local reservoir. The hot method at the time was still or drift fishing with large shiners for bait. the predominant forage fish were Smelt and Yellow Perch. I had a number of hits, but very few hookups the first few times out, and often, when I got a hit, the bait would still be on the hook, dazed but alive. I mentioned this to a local guy who had been catching a lot of fish, and he told me it was very important not to set the hook at the strike, but to wait until the fish began to run with the bait. He said that Lakers and Landlocks often made a pass  and struck a baitfish, and then turned and picked it up. Once I started following his advice I began taking Lakers in the four to six pound range, and Landlocks in the two to four pound range regularly. Seems to be quite similar to your experience with the Browns. Funny thing is that I have also caught Lakers and Landlocks using streamers in the river that drains the reservoir, (they escape over the spillway in high water), and they don’t exhibit the same behavior there. They just grab the streamer and turn. Go figure.{:-) 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"

Response:

The mystery has finally been solved – and on the last day of the season.  Anyway  . . Last week I post up some stuff about streamer fishing for browns on the Grand and having something like 50 hits and only landing about half-a-dozen.  I had been using a green ghost which is a bit perch-like and perch have been getting washed through the dam into the river during high water periods.  So I tied up two perch flies, one based on a 1/0 Rangley hook (I posted the recipe here and on ROFFT and the image on ABPF), the other on a 4X #6 Diiachi.  The 1/0 used float foam to give it some buoyancy while the other had a small strip of lead added. To try and bring some order to the process, I decided to track all happenings over one hour starting at 2:30 pm.  I had decided to use the #6 for half an hour and then the 1/0 but events overtook that plan. At the access point, a small island divides the channel creating a smallish pool and seam on the south side and a chute emptying into a larger, slower pool on the north side.  Everyone tromps through the southside pool so I never expect much there; one fish at best.  Right at the water’s edge, I begin fishing the #6, casting directly across current and stripping back in a "U".  Within ten minutes I have six hits and three landed – but here’s where the interesting shit happens. One fish has taken the #6 perch directly from the rear and hooked up mid lower jaw.  The other two were foul hooked in the face above the upper jaw.  The direction of the hookup indicates that they turned on the fly and hit it broadside while facing downstream.  They were hooked up on the far side of their face, indicating that they had aimed for the head of the fly.  It all made sense.  Perch are a spiny rayed fish so trout must have ingrained behaviour to aim for the head so that they can swallow head first and smooth down the dorsal spines. This explains why I had so many misses and lost fish last week. Here’s all the poop: Recorded results for one hour. Presentation was directly across stream with a "U" retrieve and a 3" to 4" strip.  (a slower presentation than last week – 12" strip) Total casts – 100 to 120 Total hits – 21 Total hooked – 12 Total landed – 9 Total lost -3 Total foul hooked – 5 (4 in the face and 1 behind the head) Average size of fish – 9" Results by fly:         # 6  Perch – 6 hits, 3 hooked, 3 landed, 2 foul hooked         1/0 Perch – 5 hits, 0 hooked, 0 landed, 0 foul hooked         #6 g. ghost – 10 hits, 9 hooked, 6 landed, 3 foul hooked In deeper, faster water, 2 browns took the fly broadside while facing downstream and one took from the rear.  In shallower, slower water 5 of the 6 browns landed took the fly broadside facing upstream (the 6th faced down.)   After I brought my third fish to hand, I dropped it and grabbed the tippet.  The knot parted and away swam my only #6 perch.  I tied on the 1/0 and tried my luck in the slower northside pool but 5 hits only.  Crossing back to the south side of the island, I began working the tailout down about 200 yards to the end of Cedar Run with what was left of my Green Ghost.  After the end of the hour, I picked up one more small one and then hooked and landed a nice 15" brown. Unfortunately, it was also fouled; this time under the jaw.  After the 15" fish, I changed presentation to a classsic quartering downstream approach and did not get a single hit.   After changing back, I landed another small one.  After a meal break, I picked up one 16" brown on a joe’s smelt.  Once I got back on the water I tried a black nosed dace (one of Charlie’s) and a joe’s smelt to see if the browns would hit them differently.  These being representations of soft rayed fish and having obvious strike zones with their red tails, I was curious if they performed better,  Total was 6 hits, 4 hookups, 1 landed (the 16" one.)  Not really enough action to draw any conclusions. Results on first misses: – Mindful of Mike’s advice, I tried to remember to drop in some slack after a miss.  I had no results on the 1/0 despite one solid hit from a larger fish.  On the green ghost, I had one persistant small guy whack it three times in succession without a hookup and missed another small one on the second hit.  The 16" was classic.  He hit and missed, I dropped the smelt.  he did nothing, then I made one strip and he nailed it directly from the rear.  I hooked him up mid lower jaw. There’s no doubt in my mind that these browns were headhunting the perch flies.  From now on, I’ll be tying my perch flies on short shanked, heavy wire hooks (like a Mustad 3906B) or on sedge hooks that have a small, straight shank.  Too bad I won’t get to try them on the browns to the end of April 2001.  I’ll tie some up tomorrow afternoon and post a binary on ABPF. Cheers Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

addendum: Some conclusion now that I’ve had some more time to digest the results and read other peoples’ comments. The method of attack for a brown is variable and they choose their method based on prey species and relative size (them vs. the prey.) and other variables like temperature, water clarity, etc. Some conculsions: When I fish my mini streamers, I have a 40% to 50% hookup rate of which I probably land 4 out of 5.  Foul hookups are very rare and the majority of hookups are mid lower jaw with a few mid upper jaw. Corner of jaw hookups are rare.  This indicates that the browns are tail chasing the streamer and taking it on the first hit.  The missed strikes can be attributed to short takes on the fast moving, tiny streamer. A few weeks back, I foul hooked another 15" brown under the jaw when using a #4 streamer.  The pattern seems to be – small fish take from below, probably looking for a gill shot, whil the larger fish seem to take from slightly above, probably turning into the prey at the head. Not all fish are looking for a disabling shot, in the Attack-Maime-Return mode as some seem to have hookups that appear to come from an attempt to seize the prey.  If they are in the mood to strike and drop, then it’s important to have a spongy, neutral buoyant fly with a small hook to avoid jaw to steel contact.  The Sedge Hook Perch should fit this bill.  The white calftail belly and red gill slash will form a target for the smaller fish. The large head and eyes work for the larger ones.  Since the sedge hook is small and light, and the bulk of the fly is made up of semi-buoyant hair, it should react well when tension is released after a strike.   Liberal use of flex cement over the front of the fly will also aid buoyancy and provide a spongy feel to the attacking fish.  Once released, the fly should drift more naturally than a weighted or big hook fly.  As most of the profile of the fly is simply hair, then it should also move more naturally than a stiff, long shanked fly. Since my season is now closed, maybe somebody else could give this fly a shot. (off to buy some vino for SWMBO and some olive calftail so I can complete the prototype.) Peter Peter

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -What a great discussion….and some people wonder why we come here! This whole streamer thing has been puzzling me for years. Getting hits versus hookups,etc. There have been some great observations in this discussion. My feeble brain is spinning. perhaps it would be worthwhile tying up some "reversed" streamers, That is to say, streamers with the heads at the bend of the hook. How would such a streamer be fished such that the drift would look right? Angle of pull from rod would seem to give it a tailward oriented motion. There are some designs that put the hook much closer to the head of the streamer. Gartside does it with his marabou soft hackles, others as well use shorter shank hooks with streamer materials extending far past bend. This could be done, I suppose, as long as the materials don’t foul around the gape of hook. I may be trying a few ideas out as we head into the fall season here in PA and post if any intelligent thought or observation arise. Thanks again for the discussion!                            Tom Littleton

Tom Here’s the perch fly I’m planning for next year.  It can be done in any colours for any bait fish – I bet a baby brown would be perfect for PA. Sedge Hook Perch Hook – Kamasan # 8 Sedge or similar Thread – 3/0 Olive Uni-thread Tinsel – gold Flashaboo Belly – white calftail Throat – red Uni-floss Underwing – chartreuse bucktail Wing – Olive calftail Overwing – three strands of thick peacock herl Eyes – stick-on black on gold Tying instructions: All of the material will be tied on the short, straight section of the sedge hook shank.  Tie on a bed of thread.  Do not worry about building up too much bulk as we want a big head.  Tie in three strands of flashaboo doubled and trimmed to length.  Wrap thread over flashaboo to the end of the shank.  Invert hook and tie in the white calftail as a belly.  I’m using calftail instead of bucktail as it’s bulkier and stiffer, producing the deep perch profile.  Then wrap in the red floss at the rear of the shank over the calftail to a width of about 1/8".  This represents a gill flare on a frightened fish.  Then in turn, wrap in the bucktail close to the eye and the length of the shank, followed by the olive calftail then the herl.  Build up the head with thread the full length of the shank and stick on the eyes. Leave about 1/16" of the red floss showing at the back.  Then coat liberally with head cement at least to 1/8" beyond the head. Later on today when I get finished of the chores, (SWMBO is a slave driver)  I’ll tie up one and post it to ABPF. Peter

Response:

What a great discussion….and some people wonder why we come here! This whole streamer thing has been puzzling me for years. Getting hits versus hookups,etc. There have been some great observations in this discussion. My feeble brain is spinning. perhaps it would be worthwhile tying up some "reversed" streamers, That is to say, streamers with the heads at the bend of the hook.

How would such a streamer be fished such that the drift would look right? Angle of pull from rod would seem to give it a tailward oriented motion. There are some designs that put the hook much closer to the head of the streamer. Gartside does it with his marabou soft hackles, others as well use shorter shank hooks with streamer materials extending far past bend. This could be done, I suppose, as long as the materials don’t foul around the gape of hook. I may be trying a few ideas out as we head into the fall season here in PA and post if any intelligent thought or observation arise. Thanks again for the discussion!                             Tom Littleton

Response:

Great report. Thanks for the info.  Seems it could be a combination of things. Trout taking spiny rayed fish head first, and the "attack maim and wait, and then hit again" behaviour we already discussed. Bullheads are also "spiny rayed", and I already explained the behaviour of trout, in my experience,  in this case.   I assume that my original idea was correct, and the trout attack the fish to damage it, and then come back to take the fish head first,  Seems very reasonable. Just a daft idea, but perhaps it would be worthwhile tying up some "reversed" streamers, That is to say, streamers with the heads at the bend of the hook. This practice is common with lightweight pirks, they are fished "the wrong way round", the fish take on the drop, as the pirk is apparently diving head first for the bottom. I have no idea how this might sensibly be realised, but I will have a think about it. My running water season is finished for this year, so I will not have a chance to try any of this for a while, But very interesting, and food for thought. TL MC — "If you have tried everything you know, and nothing works, then perhaps it is time to accept that you don

Question:

So Ken, are you a shill for george or one of his multiple personalities?

Now THAT is an address that lacks integrity and honesty.  Put it in your ear G2.  You posted this WHILE in the chat room.  Well pal, I’m still there.  Come and get it! George Gehrke — http://www.gink.com/chat

Response:

Sorry G, I was in your chat room one night a long time ago and found no reason to return. I certainly wasn’t there last night. As far as "come and get it". I don’t like spam. With regards to the Email – the last time I put an email on a news group my inbox got filled with garbage from those like yourself. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So Ken, are you a shill for george or one of his multiple personalities? Now THAT is an address that lacks integrity and honesty.  Put it in your ear G2.  You posted this WHILE in the chat room.  Well pal, I’m still there.  Come and get it! George Gehrke — http://www.gink.com/chat

Response:

So Ken, are you a shill for george or one of his multiple personalities?

That was beautifully written.   Thanks for sharing that. Have you read any of the books from Roderick Haig-Brown?  His words are so eloquent and thoughts so devine.  I recommend his books too all who are interested in reading about fly fishing.  But he goes further than that. You learn about his interests, his childhood, his hopes, and you might even learn a few things about life. Ken. _____  I have been an avid fly fisherman ever since I was 10 years old, beginning with an old South Bend my Grandfather, Theodore Kurczak had

[snip] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – crack at those 10 pound plus brown trout and larger bows. Mr.G. — http://www.gink.com

Response:

Didn’t you know G2 Marsh that ROFF is Darwinian and Shakespearean and that all the parts are played by me?   So Ken, are you a shill for george or one of his multiple personalities?

____  Marsh, that you use a disguise to come to the Chat Site for Fly Fisherman makes you a sick puppy.  You were her tonight and when you could not get anyone’s ire up, you went away with your tail between your legs.  It seems you just cannot function on love and kindness pal. Please get a life other then with the Federal Government. But you’re still welcome in spite of yourself.  You couldn’t take the heat of kindness and you left the kitchen.  You just can’t handle niceness, huh? : ) Mr. G. — http://www.gink.com/chat

Response:

_____  I have been an avid fly fisherman ever since I was 10 years old, beginning with an old South Bend my Grandfather, Theodore Kurczak had purchased back during the great depression.  Those were the days of trying times when the entire family used to walked the railroad tracks out in the country picking up coal dumped or fallen off the steam engines of that era.  It was the days during 1934, the year I was born that my mother would walk three miles to the five points area of Toledo to buy me a quart of milk at black market prices.  The days of rationing stamps during world war two was full bloom when I was five, six, and then seven years old.  Trading gasoline stamps for food and the victory gardens where whole city parks were plowed under and for two or three dollars, a small garden plot could be planted by families to grow vegetables.  Food for our Armed Forces was in great demand and anything that helped feed America was considered.  It was the days of great integrity and honesty.  When away and not attending the garden every Saturday near DeVilbiss School, the hundreds of plots remained intact and not one tomato, not one radish, not one head of lettuce was ever stolen.  It was an era of unusual times. The fly rod was used to reach out in local creeks to catch bullheads and anything that would provide a share of much needed protein.  The war efforts greatest demand for preserved meats for our soldiers went into Spam Cans and on Spam the American Army marched across Europe and the Pacific Islands. Well, I was given this old South Bend Fly Rod and it was like new.  My parents sold out right after the war and bought a forty acre farm out in the country and with me went that fly rod.  Actually, fly rods are more useful in the country anyhow and this one was no exception.  Some of those stories of my youth have been hinted about in past articles such as "The Makings of a Fly Fisherman" ( see: http://www.gink.com/makeflyfisherman.htm ) It takes years to learn the progressive secrets in the world of trout. One needs to understand water if they are to understand trout.  More thought is given to flies and tying them and to all the trimmings that go with the pursuit rather then the thought necessary to understand rivers, and the timeless waters that bed there.  This moving entity is a witchcraft cauldron of churning possibilities.  If we can understand the rivers that contain this moving home year around may we possibly understand the magic’s that happen in a place we seldom see.  We stand in air and trout are below our feet mocking the higher intellect (it seems) under a window of imperfect vision as long as its moving.  In that, there is a certain danger that lurks for both.  One can drown in the water and the other drowns out of it. After spring run off, the modern day angler waits for the seasonal exodus of summer vacations when the rivers of no return get lower and lower and concentrations of trout are condensed into smaller and smaller runs and pools.  The lowest level on most rivers is just prior to Spring run off.  That month is around April just before those April showers that bring the flowers that bloom in May.  Around the 40th parallel, the colder latitudes are best fished with midges and very early types of small stone flies.  What is not realized is the really BIG FISH during all these more confined times do not come out except at night.  The big rainbows and browns and cutthroat and brook trout are actually nocturnal animals.  The are big because they have learned that they are prey to things much larger then they.  So they hide beneath under cut banks, log jams, deep under huge rocks and boulders and under deep rapids where the window above is broken and they cannot be seen.  As with humans, every day we live is a gift . . . and that is why each day is called ‘a present’. Spring comes with each days higher azimuths of the rising sun that softens the snows.  They start to bleed, unwillingly but give up the blood of life to the thirsty earth below.  The streams swell and as they do the soils run with the thaw.  The rivers turn darker and darker until the waters are a torrent of chaos and terror. Yet, the trout lives.  The trout adapt.  The trout move to the friction dragging shore lines where the current pulls on the banks, trying to draw them in, but no they hold fast. The river edges during the spring are a forest of trout who are not willing to be involved deep in the low visibility of the central rivers.  The torrents roll debris upon them including rolling stones that can kill or injure them.  If you can see the danger coming, you might have a chance.  If you can’t see, its suicide to stay there. The trout move to safety and that is to the edge of the river where the current is less and where the food is plenty. This is the time of streamers.  I fish more Zonkers and Muddlers during the spring run off then at any other time of the year.  One only needs hip waders and need not even get their feet wet for all that it matters.  A length of fly line out, cast maybe 10 degrees out into the edge of the main current and letting it swing back toward shore and them twitching and working it back, upstream to yourself can be deadly.  The fish don’t come often but when they do, they are hefty and much larger. Spring run off edge fly fishing (whew, what a mouthful) can be the most startling revelation to any fly fisherman who has never done it before. The worse the river looks, the better and more concentrated are the trout packed along the edge. So think about this coming spring run off.  Don’t miss this time of great opportunity as a fly fisherman.  It is the best time to get a crack at those 10 pound plus brown trout and larger bows. Mr.G.   — http://www.gink.com

Response:

That was beautifully written.   Thanks for sharing that. Have you read any of the books from Roderick Haig-Brown?  His words are so eloquent and thoughts so devine.  I recommend his books too all who are interested in reading about fly fishing.  But he goes further than that. You learn about his interests, his childhood, his hopes, and you might even learn a few things about life. Ken. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – _____  I have been an avid fly fisherman ever since I was 10 years old, beginning with an old South Bend my Grandfather, Theodore Kurczak had purchased back during the great depression.  Those were the days of trying times when the entire family used to walked the railroad tracks out in the country picking up coal dumped or fallen off the steam engines of that era.  It was the days during 1934, the year I was born that my mother would walk three miles to the five points area of Toledo to buy me a quart of milk at black market prices.  The days of rationing stamps during world war two was full bloom when I was five, six, and then seven years old.  Trading gasoline stamps for food and the victory gardens where whole city parks were plowed under and for two or three dollars, a small garden plot could be planted by families to grow vegetables.  Food for our Armed Forces was in great demand and anything that helped feed America was considered.  It was the days of great integrity and honesty.  When away and not attending the garden every Saturday near DeVilbiss School, the hundreds of plots remained intact and not one tomato, not one radish, not one head of lettuce was ever stolen.  It was an era of unusual times. The fly rod was used to reach out in local creeks to catch bullheads and anything that would provide a share of much needed protein.  The war efforts greatest demand for preserved meats for our soldiers went into Spam Cans and on Spam the American Army marched across Europe and the Pacific Islands. Well, I was given this old South Bend Fly Rod and it was like new.  My parents sold out right after the war and bought a forty acre farm out in the country and with me went that fly rod.  Actually, fly rods are more useful in the country anyhow and this one was no exception.  Some of those stories of my youth have been hinted about in past articles such as "The Makings of a Fly Fisherman" ( see: http://www.gink.com/makeflyfisherman.htm ) It takes years to learn the progressive secrets in the world of trout. One needs to understand water if they are to understand trout.  More thought is given to flies and tying them and to all the trimmings that go with the pursuit rather then the thought necessary to understand rivers, and the timeless waters that bed there.  This moving entity is a witchcraft cauldron of churning possibilities.  If we can understand the rivers that contain this moving home year around may we possibly understand the magic’s that happen in a place we seldom see.  We stand in air and trout are below our feet mocking the higher intellect (it seems) under a window of imperfect vision as long as its moving.  In that, there is a certain danger that lurks for both.  One can drown in the water and the other drowns out of it. After spring run off, the modern day angler waits for the seasonal exodus of summer vacations when the rivers of no return get lower and lower and concentrations of trout are condensed into smaller and smaller runs and pools.  The lowest level on most rivers is just prior to Spring run off.  That month is around April just before those April showers that bring the flowers that bloom in May.  Around the 40th parallel, the colder latitudes are best fished with midges and very early types of small stone flies.  What is not realized is the really BIG FISH during all these more confined times do not come out except at night.  The big rainbows and browns and cutthroat and brook trout are actually nocturnal animals.  The are big because they have learned that they are prey to things much larger then they.  So they hide beneath under cut banks, log jams, deep under huge rocks and boulders and under deep rapids where the window above is broken and they cannot be seen.  As with humans, every day we live is a gift . . . and that is why each day is called ‘a present’. Spring comes with each days higher azimuths of the rising sun that softens the snows.  They start to bleed, unwillingly but give up the blood of life to the thirsty earth below.  The streams swell and as they do the soils run with the thaw.  The rivers turn darker and darker until the waters are a torrent of chaos and terror. Yet, the trout lives.  The trout adapt.  The trout move to the friction dragging shore lines where the current pulls on the banks, trying to draw them in, but no they hold fast. The river edges during the spring are a forest of trout who are not willing to be involved deep in the low visibility of the central rivers.  The torrents roll debris upon them including rolling stones that can kill or injure them.  If you can see the danger coming, you might have a chance.  If you can’t see, its suicide to stay there. The trout move to safety and that is to the edge of the river where the current is less and where the food is plenty. This is the time of streamers.  I fish more Zonkers and Muddlers during the spring run off then at any other time of the year.  One only needs hip waders and need not even get their feet wet for all that it matters.  A length of fly line out, cast maybe 10 degrees out into the edge of the main current and letting it swing back toward shore and them twitching and working it back, upstream to yourself can be deadly.  The fish don’t come often but when they do, they are hefty and much larger. Spring run off edge fly fishing (whew, what a mouthful) can be the most startling revelation to any fly fisherman who has never done it before. The worse the river looks, the better and more concentrated are the trout packed along the edge. So think about this coming spring run off.  Don’t miss this time of great opportunity as a fly fisherman.  It is the best time to get a crack at those 10 pound plus brown trout and larger bows. Mr.G. — http://www.gink.com

Response:

Ken, If you really liked that go to George’s chat or his bulletin board. It is full of George’s prose. George, Since these messages disappear off of the mail servers maybe you should post them to your bulletin board and preserve them. Then when people like ken want to read them they know where to go. sf

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That was beautifully written.   Thanks for sharing that. Have you read any of the books from Roderick Haig-Brown?  His words are so eloquent and thoughts so devine.  I recommend his books too all who are interested in reading about fly fishing.  But he goes further than that. You learn about his interests, his childhood, his hopes, and you might even learn a few things about life. Ken. _____  I have been an avid fly fisherman ever since I was 10 years old, beginning with an old South Bend my Grandfather, Theodore Kurczak had purchased back during the great depression.  Those were the days of trying times when the entire family used to walked the railroad tracks out in the country picking up coal dumped or fallen off the steam engines of that era.  It was the days during 1934, the year I was born that my mother would walk three miles to the five points area of Toledo to buy me a quart of milk at black market prices.  The days of rationing stamps during world war two was full bloom when I was five, six, and then seven years old.  Trading gasoline stamps for food and the victory gardens where whole city parks were plowed under and for two or three dollars, a small garden plot could be planted by families to grow vegetables.  Food for our Armed Forces was in great demand and anything that helped feed America was considered.  It was the days of great integrity and honesty.  When away and not attending the garden every Saturday near DeVilbiss School, the hundreds of plots remained intact and not one tomato, not one radish, not one head of lettuce was ever stolen.  It was an era of unusual times. The fly rod was used to reach out in local creeks to catch bullheads and anything that would provide a share of much needed protein.  The war efforts greatest demand for preserved meats for our soldiers went into Spam Cans and on Spam the American Army marched across Europe and the Pacific Islands. Well, I was given this old South Bend Fly Rod and it was like new.  My parents sold out right after the war and bought a forty acre farm out in the country and with me went that fly rod.  Actually, fly rods are more useful in the country anyhow and this one was no exception.  Some of those stories of my youth have been hinted about in past articles such as "The Makings of a Fly Fisherman" ( see: http://www.gink.com/makeflyfisherman.htm ) It takes years to learn the progressive secrets in the world of trout. One needs to understand water if they are to understand trout.  More thought is given to flies and tying them and to all the trimmings that go with the pursuit rather then the thought necessary to understand rivers, and the timeless waters that bed there.  This moving entity is a witchcraft cauldron of churning possibilities.  If we can understand the rivers that contain this moving home year around may we possibly understand the magic’s that happen in a place we seldom see.  We stand in air and trout are below our feet mocking the higher intellect (it seems) under a window of imperfect vision as long as its moving.  In that, there is a certain danger that lurks for both.  One can drown in the water and the other drowns out of it. After spring run off, the modern day angler waits for the seasonal exodus of summer vacations when the rivers of no return get lower and lower and concentrations of trout are condensed into smaller and smaller runs and pools.  The lowest level on most rivers is just prior to Spring run off.  That month is around April just before those April showers that bring the flowers that bloom in May.  Around the 40th parallel, the colder latitudes are best fished with midges and very early types of small stone flies.  What is not realized is the really BIG FISH during all these more confined times do not come out except at night.  The big rainbows and browns and cutthroat and brook trout are actually nocturnal animals.  The are big because they have learned that they are prey to things much larger then they.  So they hide beneath under cut banks, log jams, deep under huge rocks and boulders and under deep rapids where the window above is broken and they cannot be seen.  As with humans, every day we live is a gift . . . and that is why each day is called ‘a present’. Spring comes with each days higher azimuths of the rising sun that softens the snows.  They start to bleed, unwillingly but give up the blood of life to the thirsty earth below.  The streams swell and as they do the soils run with the thaw.  The rivers turn darker and darker until the waters are a torrent of chaos and terror. Yet, the trout lives.  The trout adapt.  The trout move to the friction dragging shore lines where the current pulls on the banks, trying to draw them in, but no they hold fast. The river edges during the spring are a forest of trout who are not willing to be involved deep in the low visibility of the central rivers.  The torrents roll debris upon them including rolling stones that can kill or injure them.  If you can see the danger coming, you might have a chance.  If you can’t see, its suicide to stay there. The trout move to safety and that is to the edge of the river where the current is less and where the food is plenty. This is the time of streamers.  I fish more Zonkers and Muddlers during the spring run off then at any other time of the year.  One only needs hip waders and need not even get their feet wet for all that it matters.  A length of fly line out, cast maybe 10 degrees out into the edge of the main current and letting it swing back toward shore and them twitching and working it back, upstream to yourself can be deadly.  The fish don’t come often but when they do, they are hefty and much larger. Spring run off edge fly fishing (whew, what a mouthful) can be the most startling revelation to any fly fisherman who has never done it before. The worse the river looks, the better and more concentrated are the trout packed along the edge. So think about this coming spring run off.  Don’t miss this time of great opportunity as a fly fisherman.  It is the best time to get a crack at those 10 pound plus brown trout and larger bows. Mr.G. — http://www.gink.com

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Question:

Will be fishing at Spinney and/or Eleven Mile in a few days.  Any info on northern pike or other fishing would be appreciated.  Thanks

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Will be fishing at Spinney and/or Eleven Mile in a few days.  Any info on northern pike or other fishing would be appreciated.  Thanks

Big spoons in the 2-3 ft deep weedy shallows if you are casting. Black or yellow zonkers or BIG wolly buggers in the same place if you are fly fishing. If you have to fish from shore, you are pretty much out of luck. cheers oz

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Call this number for info- 1-719-748-3424  Elevenmile Store This is an article(1997) from Fishng & Hunting MAG Sleep Late, then fish the shallows at Elevenmile Resevoir and you’ll catch Northern Pike.  Pike aren’t noted for being early feeders so theres no point in fishing the lake until after 10 am.  The bite gets underway in late morning, then it tapers off in early afternoon and picks back up again around 5:30 pm. Elevenmile is loaded with pike.  The majority of them are in he 18-26 inch range but there are some fish over 30 inches in the lake, and probably some are getting close to 40 inches now. Some of the favorite spots include: Parking lot cove- west of the Corral Cove parking lot East Bay The Columnist, Ed Marsh prefers to use Stickbaits, like the Luhr Jenson Minnow in the fire tiger pattern(4 1/2 inches) All of the coves mentioned are shallow and weedy, and you definetly need waders to fish them properly.  From the shoreline you simply cannot cast far enough to cover enough water for fishing. Another bit of advice.  If you go there, the afternoons here in Colorado are very windy, so don’t go too far in a belly boat(Experience!) Most people I know who go to Elevinemile for pike use large Rapalas colored like Rainbow Trout and do pretty well. Also, if you use smaller spoons, you’ll probably hook up with some of the trout that haven’t been eaten by the Pike! Dan Dow Check my page- http://community-2.webtv.net/dandow/KINGFISHEROFTHEWORLD/page2.html thanks!

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Going to Colorado next week to fish for northern pike.  Any tips would be appreciated.  Thanks, Ed.

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where do you expect to find northern pike in Colorado? there  are a few lakes on the front range where the tiger musky has been stocked but i never heard of any northern in colorado.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Going to Colorado next week to fish for northern pike.  Any tips would be appreciated.  Thanks, Ed.

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What lakes are you fishing?  Bring your coat! Going to Colorado next week to fish for northern pike.  Any tips would be appreciated.  Thanks, Ed.

Before you buy.

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From what I’ve heard, there’s plenty of pike in various Colorado lakes, albiet I’ve heard there somewhat over populated and sizes tend to run on the hammer handle size. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – where do you expect to find northern pike in Colorado? there  are a few lakes on the front range where the tiger musky has been stocked but i never heard of any northern in colorado. Going to Colorado next week to fish for northern pike.  Any tips would be appreciated.  Thanks, Ed.

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Spinney Mountain Reservoir has plenty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From what I’ve heard, there’s plenty of pike in various Colorado lakes, albiet I’ve heard there somewhat over populated and sizes tend to run on the hammer handle size. where do you expect to find northern pike in Colorado? there  are a few lakes on the front range where the tiger musky has been stocked but i never heard of any northern in colorado. Going to Colorado next week to fish for northern pike.  Any tips would be appreciated.  Thanks, Ed.

Before you buy.

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Question:

Hi there I am a 34yo m Aussie Flyfisher looking to find a few E-Mail mates to chat about flyfishing in there part of the world (wherever that may be) I am also an avid collector of Antique Fly Fishing Books so if anyone would like to See Ya Later Glynn Wulff

Howdy Glynn, There are two gents (I being one) that can help you out with some books here at ROFF. Ernie Harrison, who is a frequent poster here, is selling his collection off book by book. You will need to contact him for his list. I am a used, rare, and antiquarian dealer. My specialty categories are Sporting and Natural History. You can view my offerings at www.mercury.net/~wgwinter There will be some major remodelling (if i can get off my duff) going on there shortly to update the listings. Tight lines, Walt

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says… Oh, by the way Walt; please box up and send us all of your World War One and Two unit histories for the Museum.  We also could use a set of Pershing’s memoirs with his signature. Wayne To fish is human…to release divine.

Hell Wayne, why don’t we throw in the Korean & Vietnam units’ whilst were at it? Jeez, are you looking for "toughies" or what? btw, message received…. Walt

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Hi there I am a 34yo m Aussie Flyfisher looking to find a few E-Mail mates to chat about flyfishing in there part of the world (wherever that may be) I am also an avid collector of Antique Fly Fishing Books so if anyone would like to See Ya Later Glynn Wulff

Response:

Hi there I am a 34yo m Aussie Flyfisher looking to find a few E-Mail mates to chat about flyfishing in there part of the world (wherever that may be) I am also an avid collector of Antique Fly Fishing Books so if anyone would like to See Ya Later Glynn Wulff

        well, glynn (hey, billy, did you ever spend any time down under about 1964?  that name is suspiciously welsh…), you sure have found the right place.  check our posts for walt winter.  and get ready to communicate. wayno, self-appointed chairman of the roff welcoming committee.

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Oh, by the way Walt; please box up and send us all of your World War One and Two unit histories for the Museum.  We also could use a set of Pershing’s memoirs with his signature. Wayne To fish is human…to release divine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there I am a 34yo m Aussie Flyfisher looking to find a few E-Mail mates to chat about flyfishing in there part of the world (wherever that may be) I am also an avid collector of Antique Fly Fishing Books so if anyone would like to See Ya Later Glynn Wulff Howdy Glynn, There are two gents (I being one) that can help you out with some books here at ROFF. Ernie Harrison, who is a frequent poster here, is selling his collection off book by book. You will need to contact him for his list. I am a used, rare, and antiquarian dealer. My specialty categories are Sporting and Natural History. You can view my offerings at www.mercury.net/~wgwinter There will be some major remodelling (if i can get off my duff) going on there shortly to update the listings. Tight lines, Walt

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Question:

Planning a Memorial Day Weekend trip to the Housatonic and have never fished the area.  Looking for help regarding spots and hatches.  Will be staying at Housatonic Meadows State park.   Thanks and Tight Lines! — MICHAEL DeVERE

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Michael, From your campground at Housatonic Meadows North on Route 7 to the Covered Bridge in Cornwall is the entire Trout Management Area.  Anyplace you see a spot where you can squeeze in a car, on either side of the road,  will get you to the River.  Many people like the pool just below the covered bridge, but I have found the entire stretch excellent. The CT State Hatchery is stocking 9,000 Trout into this section on May 22.  This will add to an already abundant, but wise, population. Caddis Flys (Green, Black, Cream, Tan, Brown & Grey) seem to be big producers this week.  Also Caddis Emergers fished in the film are doing well. Look for Ephemerella Dorothea (Little Sulphur in about a size 16) to be hatching during your stay. Good luck. Greg Greg

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Planning a Memorial Day Weekend trip to the Housatonic and have never fished the area.  Looking for help regarding spots and hatches.

The Housie has lots of hatches. Baetus, brown and green caddis (#14-16), maybe March Browns, Green and Brown Drakes if you’re lucky, are all likely to be present. Figuring out what the trout are working on is the biggest challenge. There are lots of trout, virtually all stocked fish, despite fishkills in recent years brought about by hot water and poor water management. River flows are controlled by releases from a power dam, which is operated on weekends primarily for the benefit of canoeists and kayakers. This generally means high water difficult to fish from 9AM to 5PM. One strategy is to fish the north end of the Trout Management Area (about a mile or so above the covered bridge and best accessed from the east side) early in the AM, and move downstream as the water there starts to rise between 8 and 8:30, ending up at the south end around 10 or 10:30, and repeat the trip in the late afternoon. The daily rise and fall of water flow tends to put the trout down during the transition. The Housie gets a lot of fishing pressure, but one can almost always find areas that are not crowded, and it offers a good variety of conditions, from fast pockets to smooth pools.  Check in with Phil at the Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop on Rte 7; take his recommendations with a grain of salt, but he does know the river.

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There’s a fly shop right opposite the campgrounds with good info and excellent local ties although my recollection is that proprietor is a little close mouthed until your wallet becomes visible. A;lso call river club info number for daily updates by the most knowledgeable Ed Kluck who records report daily. 203 248 8616. Also water releases tape # is 203 824 7053. Note that it takes two hours for head of water to reach the campground from the time the release starts at dam at Falls Village.

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Question:

Has anyone heard if Saltwater Flyfishing Magazine (not Flyfishing in Saltwater) has started to publish again?  Someone told me that they recently received another issue. Marshall Cutchin

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Yes, the SFF magazine resumes its business, I received my subscription couple weeks back after missing couple issues. To you northeast flyfishers, there is a good article on flat fishing on the Cape Cod area. Thi Nguyen

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Has anyone heard if Saltwater Flyfishing Magazine (not Flyfishing in Saltwater) has started to publish again?  Someone told me that they recently received another issue. Marshall Cutchin

Yep…though I havent had a chance to talk with Barbera Fine yet, they seem to be up and running again. I got an issue last saturday out of the blue.

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Has anyone heard if Saltwater Flyfishing Magazine (not Flyfishing in Saltwater) has started to publish again?  Someone told me that they recently received another issue.

I rcv’d an issue as well. In the Editor’s comments, they mentioned the outage, and that they are back in business again with a new publisher. Good news, I would say!  Alan Barrow  km4ba         | If a little knowledge…..

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