Question:

Fly fishing woman wanted…. I’m a 41, slim, intelligent  (I hope) Australian male, who’s gainfully employed, passionate about life, the universe, travel & fly fishing. You – hopefully similar to the above & relax – no need to know how to scale or gut fish, as I let them go to catch another day.

Response:

Fly fishing woman wanted….

Well, best of luck to ya, mate — but if anybody offers to meet with you while wearing a pink satan evening gown, run like hell… In the meantime, you might want to do a Google search for Angie the Fishing Goddess. Kevin, Roffian matchmaker

Response:

Thank you Kevin Pink’s never been my favourite color anyway

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fly fishing woman wanted…. Well, best of luck to ya, mate — but if anybody offers to meet with you while wearing a pink satan evening gown, run like hell… In the meantime, you might want to do a Google search for Angie the Fishing Goddess. Kevin, Roffian matchmaker

Response:

In the meantime, you might want to do a Google search for Angie the Fishing Goddess.

She’s married and having a baby. — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

Fly fishing woman wanted…. I’m a 41, slim, intelligent  (I hope) Australian male, who’s gainfully employed, passionate about life, the universe, travel & fly fishing. You – hopefully similar to the above & relax – no need to know how to scale or gut fish, as I let them go to catch another day.

You forgot "Send picture of rod"…;-) Wish You luck, having a partner with the same interest would make life a lot easier, trust me… (are You going fishing again…, I never get out anything…) Stefan

Response:

In the meantime, you might want to do a Google search for Angie the Fishing Goddess. She’s married and having a baby.

She has friends! — I fly fish so therefore I am.

Response:

Make sure she will clean the fish! — Fly Fisherman With a Furless Naked Cat named Dub.

Response:

She’s married and having a baby.

Orvis Boy?

Response:

Orvis Boy?

Yep. — Warren change addy to yahoo for email Henry’s Fork Clave info and Bozeman, MT fishing info http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt3/HFclave.html

Response:

Question:

Hello Jan, I am not a flyfishermen yet, but there’s are some in San Francisco. I am in no way affiliated with any fishing shops. San Francisco: Fly Fishing Outfitters (415) 781-3474 there are others… check out their link: http://www.scottflyrod.com/sfr/Dealers/dwstcost.html LELAND FLY FISHING OUTFITTERS 463 BUSH ST SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108 USA ph: 415-781-3474 URL: http://www.flyfishingoutfitters.com Go the www.sageflyfishing.com and they have a dealer locator also. We also have a flyfishing expert at TackleTour if you have any additional questions. www.tackletour.com Jack Ip Senior Editor of TackleTour http://www.tackletour.com Hey everyone, I’ll be comming to SF in a couple of months and since Scott and Sage rods are pretty expensive here in europe I hope to do some shopping while there. Where would you recommend that I’d go look-see for fly rods in SF ? Best, Jan, Denmark

Response:

Hey everyone, I’ll be comming to SF in a couple of months and since Scott and Sage rods are pretty expensive here in europe I hope to do some shopping while there. Where would you recommend that I’d go look-see for fly rods in SF ? Best, Jan, Denmark

Response:

Hey everyone, I’ll be comming to SF in a couple of months and since Scott and Sage rods are pretty expensive here in europe I hope to do some shopping while there. Where would you recommend that I’d go look-see for fly rods in SF ?

<SHAMELESS PLUG Hey there Jan – Our San Rafael store is just about 15 minutes north of the Golden Gate bridge – we’ve been a  Sage Dealer since there were Sage dealers, and have Scott, Winston, G. Loomis, St. Croix and others. Location & Maps: http://www.westernsportshop.com/stores.html General Fly Fishing Dept Info: http://www.westernsportshop.com/flyf.html If you manage to get out on March 2-3rd, we’ll be at the Fly Fishing Show in San Rafael, along with many manufacturers and a lot of events. Fly Show Info: http://www.flyfishingshow.com/marin.html We also run our own Fly Fishing Fair – the first Saturday in May, but this year it will be up at our Santa Rosa store (about an hour north of the GG Bridge).  We’ll have more info on our website as it gets closer. Have a safe trip! — Jim —      http://www.westernsportshop.com Western Sport Shop Discussion forums –      http://www.westernsportshop.com/forums.html Western Sport Shop Email Newsletter Signup –      http://lists.westernsportshop.com/mailman/listinfo/wss-newsletter

Response:

Hey everyone, I’ll be comming to SF in a couple of months and since Scott and Sage rods are pretty expensive here in europe I hope to do some shopping while there. Where would you recommend that I’d go look-see for fly rods in SF ?

The Internet: George Gehrke http://www.gink.com

Response:

Question:

excerpt from xmision.com’s acceptable use policy "The posting of any advertisement or other commercial solicitation to any newsgroup or mailing list is strictly prohibited, except in the few areas specifically reserved for such postings."

How exactly was announcing the creation of a new Utah related fly fishing site a ‘commercial solicitation?’  The site’s not trying to sell anything. Cut the guy some slack.

Response:

I did. He posted a message earlier in the week and neither I nor anyone else commented. This is his second post within a week. Paul

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – excerpt from xmision.com’s acceptable use policy "The posting of any advertisement or other commercial solicitation to any newsgroup or mailing list is strictly prohibited, except in the few areas specifically reserved for such postings." How exactly was announcing the creation of a new Utah related fly fishing site a ‘commercial solicitation?’  The site’s not trying to sell anything. Cut the guy some slack.

Response:

New fly fishing website just launched… http://www.utahonthefly.com/

Response:

So your announcement last week wasn’t the real opening excerpt from xmision.com’s acceptable use policy "The posting of any advertisement or other commercial solicitation to any newsgroup or mailing list is strictly prohibited, except in the few areas specifically reserved for such postings." – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – New fly fishing website just launched… http://www.utahonthefly.com/

Response:

Question:

I’m looking for a description of the fishing itself.  I only ask this because you said I don’t need pay $ for a guide on my first day. Additionally, I’ve never fished the Madison River.  

Might not be so bad.  The guy is providing a boat and you will get to cover a lot of water.  You can come back on your own later and fish the spots that appeal to you (unless of course access is limited). Mu

Response:

Ah, the B-52s. I miss them no matter where I am. Great rock and roll dance music!

I was talking about the shot B-52 not the music.  I’m a blue grass man.  I had no idea that there was a band called the B-52. Vern

Response:

Ah, the B-52s. I miss them no matter where I am. Great rock and roll dance music! I was talking about the shot B-52 not the music.  I’m a blue grass man.  I had no idea that there was a band called the B-52.

I knew you weren’t referring to the band, Vern ;^)

Response:

 In fact, you can have seperate quarters away from the likes of Fortenberry, Waldo, Tripper, Wayno, and Jeffy Miller.  These types will corrupt you.

        you eat one little… wayno

Response:

I did not know they had been shot ! TL MC "In order to achieve what is possible, one must constantly attempt the impossible" http://www.mikeconnor.de

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Yeah, and they all copied their name from the famous USAF droopy-winged B-52, many motored sumbitch that could carry enough bombs to drop from here to there.  We fondly called it the BUF, ie: Big Ugly F*cker.  I’ve been retired now for *30* years and that big sucker is still flying in the AF inventory.  It’s gonna outlast me fer sure. Frank Church Elkhart, IN USAF RETIRED – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ah, the B-52s. I miss them no matter where I am. Great rock and roll dance music! I was talking about the shot B-52 not the music.  I’m a blue grass man.  I had no idea that there was a band called the B-52. Vern

Response:

Yeah, and they all copied their name from the famous USAF droopy-winged B-52, many motored sumbitch that could carry enough bombs to drop from here to there.  We fondly called it the BUF, ie: Big Ugly F*cker.  I’ve been retired now for *30* years and that big sucker is still flying in the AF inventory.  It’s gonna outlast me fer sure.

I grew up in Wichita watching those bad boys fly around at Boeing and McConnell (my dad worked on them at Boeing). Awesome plane. — Charlie…

Response:

Frank Church writes: Yeah, and they all copied their name from the famous USAF droopy-winged B-52, many motored sumbitch that could carry enough bombs to drop from here to there.  We fondly called it the BUF, ie: Big Ugly F*cker.  I’ve been retired now for *30* years and that big sucker is still flying in the AF inventory.  It’s gonna outlast me fer sure.

Frank, I used to live within shouting distance of Westover AFB.  I can remember the B-47s taking off and landing.  But then came those bigger BUFs, the B-52 Speaking of droopy wings — the U-2 wasn’t exactly a stubby winged aircraft. One scared the hell out of me in Japan, landing without power, gliding about 100 feet off the ground, as I walked to work.  All I saw was a giant shadow whisking over me.  It was going into Atsugi Naval Air Station on the other side of the rice paddies. OBROFF:  There is probably still room for the Maine Clave next September. Great fishing, great food, great friends.  Consider it.  Fourteen attending so far. Dave L.

Response:

I grew up in Wichita watching those bad boys fly around at Boeing and McConnell (my dad worked on them at Boeing). Awesome plane.

B-52’s flew in and out of Hanscom Field in the town I grew up in, to get outfitted with the latest black boxes that the Charles Stark Draper and Mitre Labs folks cooked up over there. Flight path to the only runway that’d take those big mf’s went right over our house, but that wasn’t close enough for me and my friends, so we’d ride our bikes out to the perimeter fence at the end of the safety zone and watch them big bastids swoop in and out. Awesome. It’s a miracle I can still hear anything… /daytripper

Response:

of the safety zone and watch them big bastids swoop in and out. Awesome.

I saw one take off back in the 70s that must have been using water injectors and the whole deal; I don’t know what his angle of climb was but I was looking for the CONELRAD station on my dial<g. — Charlie…

Response:

Awesome.

"…fryin’ chickens in the barnyard!" General "Buck" Turgidson

Response:

<Snipped tribute to B-52’s & U-2’s.

Dave Years ago I used to work in the Oklahoma Panhandle which is pretty sparsely populated.  Unknown to me was the fact that there was a flyway for low altitude bombing runs that ran from Clayton, NM to somewhere in western OK.  I was driving down some dirt road trying to find a farmhouse when about 10 B-52’s flew over about 1,000 feet or less off the ground and at full bore.  These guys came one right after the other and just after you lost your  hearing , you could still feel to car and ground vibrate.  The F-111’s that came after them sounded like learjets.  This was when I started carrying toilet paper in my car.  You never know. DP

Response:

I did not know they had been shot !

The planes? They were shot _at_, but they got out unscathed. Opt out == cop-out. What’s so hard to understand?

Response:

 I was driving down some dirt road trying to find a farmhouse when about 10 B-52’s flew over about 1,000 feet or less off the ground and at full bore.  

The early B52’s had the tail gunner actually in the tail. When they modified the plane for low altitude operations they had to move the position to the flight deck after they almost killed one or two in test flights. — Charlie…

Response:

Yesterday I was searching the Internet for a guide in Ennis, Montana for the western conclave.  I thought it would be fun to pay for a day with a guide to familiarize me with the area before doing it alone.  I couldn’t find any in the Ennis area.  Yea, a few in Montana just not in the Ennis area. While in the middle of searching and getting discouraged the man in the brown truck knocked on my door. Remember the fly rod that had the tip snapped off in the car door?  Some suggested I contact the company and see if they would replace it.  I followed your suggestion and sent it off.  The UPS man brought it back yesterday.  Well, I thought he brought it back.  However, when I opened the box it was a completely different rod.  It was a nice and new rod without the river slime on the cork handle.  Cool! The UPS man asked me what it was and I told him the story.  I also told him that I’m going to Montana in July for a fly-fishing conclave.  I also told him that I was searching the Internet for a guide for a guide but couldn’t find one. He replied, "I don’t know what part of Montana your going.  But, if it’s near Ennis, my father in-law is a guide." I almost started laughing.  "Ennis!  That’s where were going," I said. He then informed me that his father in-law is currently in Las Vegas on vacation. What are the odds? To make a long story a little shorter, I talked to his father in-law.  His name is Bob Cleverley.  He’s currently retired but used to be a HS football coach.  He’s been a guide on the Madison River for over 15 years.  I think he said 17 years but not certain.  He has owned a fly shop in the past. However, running the shop, his guide service, and teaching at the local HS was to much for him so he got rid of the fly shop.  Now he’s retired.  How nice for him. Now back to the guide service, it’s a flat fee of $275 which includes transportation, a full day of fly-fishing, over 20 miles floating on the Madison in a 17 foot fiberglass drift-boat, food for the day, and all the local information a local lifetime fly-fisherman can provide.  The price is a flat fee per boat regardless of how many go.  However, only two fly-fisherman per boat.  He has three boats.  He also has other friends that provide guide service. I was hoping another ROFFian could split the price with me.  What I was thinking $150 each.  That would pay for the $275 fee and a $25 tip.  If the fishing is good I could tip him even more. I believe the western conclave is scheduled for July 21-31 in spite George’s desire for it to be around the 4th of July.  I will be taking 9 days off work.  Although, I’m driving and allowing 2 days up and 2 days back.  I have 2 options for my days off, the July18-26 or the July 25- Aug. 2.  That translates into my conclave days either July 21-24 or July 27-31.  I have to make that decision on the day my fly-fishing partner can take the guide service. Here it is, either a guide service on July 21 or July 27.  If you are interested on sharing a trip with me post it or send me an e-mail. Additionally, let me know what day is best for you.  I will schedule the trip.  I don’t have to put a deposit down at this point.  However, after the first of July if I need to cancel there is a $100 cancellation fee. Again, Bob Cleverley has three boats and can get more if needed.  The more ROFFians the better. Vern

Response:

Vern writes:

(lil snip) Since I’ve never been to a conclave before I don’t really know what goes on other than breakfast preparation in one’s BVDs, midnight fishing trips while hanging onto a wooden love, sleeping-in while others post to ROFF on their notebooks, lots of drinking and a lot more drinking, rowdy conversations, and really good fishing.  Can you please provide a standard description of a ROFF conclave so I know what to expect?  Warren’s not going to be the guide all ten day is he?

Vern, not to worry.  At an conclave, you can do just about as you please.  The organizers will have scouted out places to fish and will direct you to such places and perhaps even guide you seperately. There will probably be folks at the Western Clave who have fished those waters and they will help Warren in fishing assignments and guiding.  The main thing of any clave is to have fun fishing with buddies/friends, regardless how you met them.  The internet claves I have attended so far have been filled with juvenile antics, much joking, swearing, hard-assing, by a bunch of educated serious men on their way to go fly fishing. Stories about one’s bvds and night fishing etc. are bound to occur.  There will be more stories from the Western Clave and the Spring Fling for that matter. No one is forcing you to drink or smoke or stay up late. In fact, you can have seperate quarters away from the likes of Fortenberry, Waldo, Tripper, Wayno, and Jeffy Miller.  These types will corrupt you.  You could  hang around with Charlie Choc – go to bed early, wake up late, go fishing.  <g As I understand it, you would like to get to Ennis a day or so early and "scout" the place out, possibly even hire a guide for a day.  Arriving early and checking things out is ok, but I am sure Warren and the rest of the western roffians would be more than willing to help. Main thought here, Vern, is:  don’t worry about it.  You will be with friends. They may hard-ass ya, and joke with ya, but they love ya and will make sure you have a great time. I hope to fish with you.  I will have my grand-sons (15 and 16) with me. Dave L.

Response:

Since I’ve never been to a conclave before I don’t really know what goes on other than breakfast preparation in one’s BVDs, midnight fishing trips while hanging onto a wooden love, sleeping-in while others post to ROFF on their notebooks, lots of drinking and a lot more drinking, rowdy conversations, and really good fishing.  Can you please provide a standard description of a ROFF conclave so I know what to expect?

Given your opening paragraph, that’d be redundant. You nailed it! Warren’s not going to be the guide all ten day is he?

There should be at least a few people that have fished that area to allow the group to break up into smaller units. Nobody’s gonna want to fish the Madison for the entire duration – there are many other rivers to fish within 2 or 3 hours of Ennis. I should mention that I gave up alcohol and cigars around 3 to 4 years ago. I miss them at times, but I made a commitment and I can’t afford to break it.  If I do, I don’t think I could stop again.  I think I miss the cigars more than I do the B-52s, especially at the stream.

Ah, the B-52s. I miss them no matter where I am. Great rock and roll dance music! So, whatever description you provide, there’s no need to tempt me with explanations of liquid refreshment.

Normally I’d torture you by noting that you’re surely doomed to a week of depravity, moral turpitude, and Xtreme Liver Abuse. However, I’ll go easy on you and note that Le Duc Du Chocolate has escaped unscathed – repeatedly – with his facilities intact and his morals unmolested. Despite repeated attempts to torpedo same. I’m looking for a description of the fishing itself.  I only ask this because you said I don’t need pay $ for a guide on my first day. Additionally, I’ve never fished the Madison River.  I don’t know what to expect.  If others that have fished the Madison would be kind enough to describe what kind of river it is, I would be much appreciated.

The upper reaches – assuming the river below the Hebgen Lake hasn’t changed much – is a short set of small braids winding through the pucker brush. Short rod fishing works best there. These collect into a modest flow for about a mile if memory serves, then there’s a broad stretch (lake-ish) a few miles long – not really fishable on foot iirc – until you get below Rock Creek. Then you have about 10 miles of fishable water down to Kirby Ranch. From there down to Varney (about 25 miles I think) and beyond the river becomes broader and more boisterous – depending on how much water is coming down through a whole host of creeks – and the best (or at least easiest) fishing is from a drift boat. I’ve done the stretch from Kirby Ranch to the Varney bridge a few times in my life and caught some prodigiously large trout and white fish. There were lots of places to stop the boat and get out and wade gravel bars and cast to wonderful holes. The biggest trout I’ve ever hooked and lost was in the middle of that stretch. There was good fishing on foot along a lot of the river the last time I was out there – but that was before people started building goddamned houses along the banks and posting it, and of course the whirling disease has probably changed what’s in the river – so I’ll have to let others bring me up to date. But again, that’s just one river – and there are a handful of famous streams within 3 hours or so of Ennis. If this post doesn’t make much sense, it’s because I’m falling asleep after a long day.  It’s now 12:30 in Las Vegas.  So, please forgive any errors.

Wimp! It’s now 5:54 in Massachusetts and I’ve been up all night getting a newsletter published. Forget sleepin’ – it’d only make me feel even worse – so it’s direct-injected caffeine for me today! /daytripper (I’m getting too old for this shit!)

Response:

speaking of the western clave, where the hell is Warren?

He’s doing fine. I got an email from him a few days ago. Everything is on track for the Western Clave. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

You don’t need to pay hard-earned money for guide, Vern, Warren’s the guide. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Since I’ve never been to a conclave before I don’t really know what goes on other than breakfast preparation in one’s BVDs, midnight fishing trips while hanging onto a wooden love, sleeping-in while others post to ROFF on their notebooks, lots of drinking and a lot more drinking, rowdy conversations, and really good fishing.  Can you please provide a standard description of a ROFF conclave so I know what to expect?  Warren’s not going to be the guide all ten day is he? I should mention that I gave up alcohol and cigars around 3 to 4 years ago. I miss them at times, but I made a commitment and I can’t afford to break it.  If I do, I don’t think I could stop again.  I think I miss the cigars more than I do the B-52s, especially at the stream.  So, whatever description you provide, there’s no need to tempt me with explanations of liquid refreshment. I’m looking for a description of the fishing itself.  I only ask this because you said I don’t need pay $ for a guide on my first day. Additionally, I’ve never fished the Madison River.  I don’t know what to expect.  If others that have fished the Madison would be kind enough to describe what kind of river it is, I would be much appreciated. If this post doesn’t make much sense, it’s because I’m falling asleep after a long day.  It’s now 12:30 in Las Vegas.  So, please forgive any errors. Vern – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You don’t need to pay hard-earned money for guide, Vern, Warren’s the guide. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/ something bogus to avoid spam)

Response:

Probably sick of George dominating the news group. Big Dale

Response:

Probably sick of George dominating the news group. Big Dale

Big D, Have you been getting any ‘gills this winter? There’s a nice lake up here that has bass and gills in it. It also has yours and my name on it one afternoon in May. Stay loose big guy, Walt — Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com For Book & Print Auctions: http://www.amazon.com/seller/mariebooks Blue Ridge Book Gallery: http://www.bibliofind.com/cgi-bin/texis.exe/s/search/dhome.html?id=33… P.O. Box 5112, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Response:

speaking of the western clave, where the hell is Warren? — Levi Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. –Ernest Hemingway

According to Dave L. he’s been busy with hunting and his work. Darin

Response:

speaking of the western clave, where the hell is Warren? — Levi Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. –Ernest Hemingway

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Darin Minor writes: speaking of the western clave, where the hell is Warren? — Levi Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. –Ernest Hemingway According to Dave L. he’s been busy with hunting and his work. Darin

Yeah, but that was about two weeks ago that I heard from him.   Dave L.

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know of any newsgroups relating to Oregon’s fly fishing?

Response:

Hi Leif:  Iive in Clackamas and read this newsgroup pretty regularily and occaisionally post a note here.  What,s wrong with this group?

Response:

Does anyone know of any newsgroups relating to Oregon’s fly fishing?

Don’t know of any specifically for Oregon but recently joined an International news group called "The Fly Fishing List". It is excellent. Some folks from The West on it. There are lots of sites on the Net from Oregon that offer loads of info such as The Virtual Flyshop at www.flyshop.com They even have a chat room. Many others also. I’m sure a search would turn up more web sites than you’d ever want to peruse. The Gorge Fly Shop has a site I recall also. Anyone can start a news group I understand, but apparently it is quite a *chore*. Good Luck!

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Question:

Can anyone give me some information or hints about fishing for N. Pike in Sweden ? I’ve heard about pike fishing in the Baltic sea, but can’t find any information about it… Gertjan Gertjan Doedens The Netherlands

Response:

Can anyone give me some information or hints about fishing for N. Pike in Sweden ? I’ve heard about pike fishing in the Baltic sea, but can’t find any information about it… Gertjan

Try some of these sites for more info, but I know most of the pike fishing in the Baltic is lure fishing from boats with very little bait fishing.  If you need anymore help, e mail me direct as I have a few articles in mags here that cover the pike fishing in the Baltic. <UL <LI<A HREF="http://www.algonet.se/~henrik_b/"Baltic Sea Sportfishing</A <LI <A HREF="http://www.pi.se/magnus.ugander/fb_home.html"Specimen Group – Fina Biten Homepage</A <LI <A HREF="http://www.bahnhof.se/~jrpstrom/index.html"The Specimen Group – Team Cisco</A <LI <A HREF="http://hem1.passagen.se/birger1/index.html"Sportfiskeguiden</A <A HREF="http://www.capricorn.se/" Capricorn Fly-Fishing. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.pi.se/magnus.ugander/carphome.html" Carp Invaders Homepage. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.algonet.se/~fishhole/fishhole.htm" The Fishing Hole. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.ts.umu.se/~widmark/lwfishxl.html" LW’s Fishing Site. </A <LI <A HREF="http://www.pi.se/magnus.ugander/mu_home.htm" Magnus Ugander Specimen Fishing Page. </A <LI <A HREF="http://pew.psy.gu.se/~psymarer/salmon.html?" Martin G. Erikson’s Homepage. </A </UL <P — Davy Holt Surfing from Clydebank,        *"O Sir, doubht not that angling is Scotland.                      * an art… The question is rather The Scottish Angling Homepage  * whether you are capable of http://www.dholt.demon.co.uk/  * learning  it?"     Izaack Walton  

Response:

Question:

My mother-in-law is moving to Superior, Montana (about sixty miles west of Missoula), and will be living right on the Clark Fork.  Am I right that this is a pretty good flyfishing river? (Please forgive my ignorance.) I figure that since I’ll be spending some time out there, I might as well take advantage of the fishing.  The thing is, though, I’ve never flyfished moving water and know very little about it. Years ago I used to do quite a bit of flyfishing in lakes in British Columbia, Canada.  And I used to tie all my own flies. I’d be obliged if someone might be able to answer a few questions for me regarding that stretch of river: First and foremost, what flies should I be tying and in what sizes? What kind of gear should I use?  (Double taper or weight forward line? Floating or sinking?  What weight?) Also, if anyone could recommed a book on flyfishing rivers and streams, particularly anything specific to Western Montana, I’d appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any help, Philip

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My mother-in-law is moving to Superior, Montana (about sixty miles west of Missoula), and will be living right on the Clark Fork.  Am I right that this is a pretty good flyfishing river? (Please forgive my ignorance.) I figure that since I’ll be spending some time out there, I might as well take advantage of the fishing.  The thing is, though, I’ve never flyfished moving water and know very little about it. Years ago I used to do quite a bit of flyfishing in lakes in British Columbia, Canada.  And I used to tie all my own flies. I’d be obliged if someone might be able to answer a few questions for me regarding that stretch of river: First and foremost, what flies should I be tying and in what sizes? What kind of gear should I use?  (Double taper or weight forward line? Floating or sinking?  What weight?) Also, if anyone could recommed a book on flyfishing rivers and streams, particularly anything specific to Western Montana, I’d appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any help, Philip

Yeah…it’s ok fishing.

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Question:

Sorry to raise this issue again! I would like to know people’s perceptions on whether the microfibre Simms or the codura Simms where tougher. I do a lot of rough walking/wading where I go fishing and I’d heard the codura was tougher but not as comfortable. Is this correct? Regards, Jamie Sharp

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Sorry to raise this issue again! I would like to know people’s perceptions on whether the microfibre Simms or the codura Simms where tougher. I do a lot of rough walking/wading where I go fishing and I’d heard the codura was tougher but not as comfortable. Is this correct? Regards, Jamie Sharp

Jamie, The microfiber is both tougher and more comfortable. If you fish in areas that include star thistles and brambles in the streamside vegetation, I would strongly recommend the microfiber. Here in Northern California we have alot of star thistles and have seen a few problems with the barbs making their way through the relatively coarse fibers of the cordura model. Simms has assured us that this weakness has been remedied with the new microfiber material. I hope this helps,   Alan.   Alan Barnard   Kiene’s Fly Shop   Sacramento, Ca.

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Question:

I am a member of the Canadian team to the World Fly Fishing Championships in Galway, Ireland.  They will be held in September of this year.  The venue lakes are Lough Mask and Lough Corrib.   I am looking for information about patterns and feed organisms. If anyone has fished this area and can help me, I would be very grateful.

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i just posted an article on those lakes   email me direct if you need more info. I have fished mask on numerous occasions. what a great venue. –

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Question:

I have experience fishing for salmon and steelhead in Oregon and Alaskan waters.  First of all, I don’t think there is a general consesus in the scientific community that mature steelhead activily feed in fresh water.  Although I am well aware that food is often found in the stomach of these fish, still most fisheries experts characterize this behavior as abnormal.   I fully agree with the statement that salmon and steelhead strike lures out of either agression or some other instinct.

        The Skamania come into the creeks in Mich City IN in July         and stay there until spawning in April.  They certainly         do feed, quite extensively, for 9 months.  They will         hit waxworms, marshmellows, spawn, worms, and power bait right         up to actually spawning. They are much less likely to strike at your lure.  On an ending cord I would like to share that I have many times coaxed a stuborn salmon to strike my fly and I don’t accept the notion that these fish need to be snaged even 50 % of the time.

        Quite true.  Chinooks will hit nightcrawlers (feeding) and         black flies (who knows) quite nicely in the streams.  Cohos         will hit anything that flashes.  I have even seen them         swallow other peoples LARGE weighted snag hooks.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve had different experiences while trying to catch salmon in Michigan.    I went to the Platte river a few weeks ago.  The special regulations there specify that you can only use a single unweighed hook. So in the Platte I used spawn sacks which I drifted right in front of the spanwning salmon.  My dad and I spent hours doing this and the Salmon did not even give us the time of day.  If I irritated them too much they would move out of their beds and eventually return latter.      In this situation I think that it is almost impossible to catch a Salmon.  My theory is that in clear water and when the Salmon are allready in their beds they will not strike.  In these situations it seems that they dont strike because they can see you and are warry and because they can see your line and hook to clearly.  But I did see other people leave with Salmon.  Where they snagging or do they just know something that I dont?  Could it be that they where technically hooking them in the mouth but that this resulted from being able to carefully place the hook in the fishes mouth and then snag?  If these fish can be caught can somebody tell me how?

    When the water is low on MN steelhead streams, I have had the same observation. What worked for me was to try a blaze orange , bright yellow, hot pink, or chartreuse modified wooly worm pattern. The modification was to replace the soft hackle around the body with marabou tufts of the above mentioned colors. The idea is to aggravate them. Sometimes fly fishing is the only way to go. I am not sure whether this will work on salmon. -galen .sigs are for lousy typists. -bill kennedy

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[...] |  Where they snagging or do they just know | something that I dont?  Could it be that they where technically hooking them | in the mouth but that this resulted from being able to carefully place the | hook in the fishes mouth and then snag?  If these fish can be caught can | somebody tell me how? [...] This reminds me of something that happened to me fishing with my father in Florida. I was casting a Johnson’s weedless spoon along the edge of a marsh in lake Monroe. I spotted a long fish holding in a pocket and started casting to it. My father said it was a Gar, and that it wouldn’t hit my lure and wouldn’t be worth catching anyway. (Fish = food mentality.) This didn’t seem reasonable since a Gar is obviously designed for eating other fish, which my spoon was imitating. So to prove him wrong, I continued to cast to the fish, drawing my lure right through his cone of vision again and again. Nothing. Finally, I started putting the lure right on top of the fish. Nothing. It became amusing, because the fish seemed completely unruffled by the lure banging down right over his head. Then, all of a sudden, he was on. After a very un- inspired struggle, I landed the fish. My lure had dropped across his elongated mouth and wrapped several times around his jaws; he was lassoed! Had a good laugh and turned him loose. — Mark Myers 703 758 2725

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I have experience fishing for salmon and steelhead in Oregon and Alaskan waters.  First of all, I don’t think there is a general consesus in the scientific community that mature steelhead activily feed in fresh water.  Although I am well aware that food is often found in the stomach of these fish, still most fisheries experts characterize this behavior as abnormal.   I fully agree with the statement that salmon and steelhead strike lures out of either agression or some other instinct.  As for your situation where salmon are actually spawning, attempting to catch them here is very poor sportsmanship.  After such a long journey, traveling sometimes hundreds of miles past both fishing nets and hooks, these fish deserve to be left alone to complete there life cycle.  Its just n ot practical to fish over spawning fish either.  A) They have no food value B) They are much less likely to strike at your lure.  On an ending cord I would like to share that I have many times coaxed a stuborn salmon to strike my fly and I don’t accept the notion that these fish need to be snaged even 50 % of the time. Derek Snelling,   Eugene, Oregon

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I’ve had different experiences while trying to catch salmon in Michigan.         I went to the Platte river a few weeks ago.  The special regulations there specify that you can only use a single unweighed hook. So in the Platte I used spawn sacks which I drifted right in front of the spanwning salmon.  My dad and I spent hours doing this and the Salmon did not even give us the time of day.  If I irritated them too much they would move out of their beds and eventually return latter.           In this situation I think that it is almost impossible to catch a Salmon.  My theory is that in clear water and when the Salmon are allready in their beds they will not strike.  In these situations it seems that they dont strike because they can see you and are warry and because they can see your line and hook to clearly.  But I did see other people leave with Salmon.  Where they snagging or do they just know something that I dont?  Could it be that they where technically hooking them in the mouth but that this resulted from being able to carefully place the hook in the fishes mouth and then snag?  If these fish can be caught can somebody tell me how?         Ive also fished for Salmon in waters that are not as clear such as the Pere Marquete and the Grand River (again these rivers are in Michigan).   Here I have been able to catch Salmon using both plugs and spawn sacks.   Using a plug I have definitely felt when they hit.  Using spawn it is much more difficult to detect but I have been able to hook Salmon and Steelhead in the mouth.  Whether I happen to hook them in the mouth or they actually hit I still cant exactly tell.  Anyway my theory is that they will hit lures and that they cannot see the line and hook as clearly in murky water so it is more likely that they will bite.           Finally, I have been able to hook Steelhead in clear water when I run my spawn right through some turbulent water that goes into a hole.  So, an example would be where there is a small water fall that goes into a hole.  It seems that in these cases the presentation was much more natural and the Steelhead reacted more instinctively.           I’ll end with a short success story.  I went out on the GRand River with a small boat and we where trailing hot and tots.  This was my first time trying this method and I was moving my line a little bit in the current since we were not moving the boat.  We had only been there about 20 minutes when this 15 pound 32 inch chinook Salmon hit my lure.  It gave me such an adrenaline rush that I could hardly stand up.  I fought that fish for about 15 minutes before my friend netted it.  WE had some great Salmon that night and I slept like a baby.   I would appreciate any advice and comments.  This is only my second season fishing Salmon and I can use all the help I can get.  Thanks for your advise and comments. "Will there be fishing in Heaven?" "Sure, we’ll just use velcro patches instead of hooks."

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   I went to the Platte river a few weeks ago.  The special regulations there specify that you can only use a single unweighed hook. So in the Platte I used spawn sacks which I drifted right in front of the spanwning salmon. (much deleted, no fish caught)

First, steelhead do actively feed and strike lures when on a spawning run, salmon, unfortunately, do not.  From every steelhead I caught (in rivers), I had to remove hooks from INSIDE the mouth, whereas with salmon, the hooks are on the OUTSIDE of the mouth or foul hooked elsewhere on the body. I too was on the Platte (Michigan) a few weeks ago.  I sat for 11 hours on a road culvert with 2 holes on either side of the culvert and caught no fish.  I saw a total of 5-8 salmon in the holes which would move from hole to hole as my salmon egg moved in front of them.  Absolutely no bites. In contrast, 2 years ago, on the Platte, in the same spot using the same technique, I hooked at least 10 salmon.  The difference?? Two years ago I hit a period of time in which there were at least 100 fish near the area in which I was fishing.  There were so many fish, that they could not get out of the way of the hook.  Furthermore, with this many fish swimming with their mouths opened, the line gets caught in the mouth (occasionally) and they react and you feel a strike.  Actually, the fish hook themselves about the mouth area, but not in the mouth.         In talking with a local who had obviously caught his share of fish, he detailed to me how he would cast slightly upstream from the side of the stream, and hook (foul hook) the fish. They always are foul-hooked (as were the 10 I  ’caught’  2 years ago).  Some in the tail, some in the dorsal fin etc.         In the 60’s when salmon were first introduced, Manistee lake (and many similar eco-systems in Michigan) was a holding area for Salmon prior to their being stripped for eggs at the weir.  One could literally walk across the water on boats since there were so many fishermen.  Most people fished with a line out on the bottom with a nightcrawler, eggs or spawn.  There were so many fish, that again, they would run into the line and get hooked about their mouth area.  You would actually feel the fish run into the line, and by holding the rod, could definitely feel 3-4 seconds later when the fish reached the hook (which felt like a strike). Actually, if they hit the bait initially, you wouldn’t have had the delay between feeling the bite as the fish ran away from your location.         In other Michigan rivers, I have over the years observed the same phenomena.  The correlation seems to be with numbers of Salmon in the rivers.  The greater the number in the river (and I’m talking many hundreds) then people catch fish.  With only few fish in the river, no catches. I had done my MS thesis on salmon in the early 70’s, and, the livers of spawning salmon are basically cirrhotic in nature, and their GI tract is as thin as a pencil (These changes are indications of a non-functioning GI tract).  In contrast, when I examined steelhead trout, their livers are normal color, and the GI tract appears functional, not pencil thin.         I just returned from the Upper Peninsula (MI) and I legally foul-hooked 5 salmon, (catching 2) and examined the livers and GI system:  same results.  Atrophied looking liver and GI tract.

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