Question:

I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis).

Response:

Scott is a *great* rod company. I’ve owned various Scott rods since 1975. I broke my STS 905-4 last year in Northern Quebec falling over a rock; all I had to send back to Scott was the lowest 14" of the handle–everything else was at the bottom of the headwaters of the Caniapiscau River. The rod was replaced promptly–no questions asked. There was *no* defect–it was a clumsy dumbass move on my part–and I was very honest and upfront with Scott by telling them that.   The lady I talked to said:  "An unconditional guarantee is just that–unconditional. Send it back to us–and we’ll ship you a new one." They did–promptly.   I have no idea if the Scott Rod Company will be around 5 years from now–but I certainly hope so.   Dave M

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis).

Response:

I fell against a tree holding my Scott G906 last year.  The section just ahead of the grip was crushed.  Scott replaced the rod without question and I got GREAT service.  I’ll buy a Scott every chance I get.  Not only for their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis).

Response:

Amen, Clark.  If these guys werent’t so busy breaking and crushing their Scott rods, maybe James Barna wouldn’t need a $200 discount to buy a new rod… Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

Haven’t broken one of my rod blanks yet (the fates will strike me for sure, now) but I did send back a Loomis GL3 8′ 3 wt. rod with a bend in the tip that I had not noticed when I bought it.  They replaced it with a rod that was worse (mushy action, off centre reel seat and epoxy on the seat threads).  I sent that one back to have the reel seat redone – OK after that but the action of rod no.2 wasn’t nearly as crisp as rod no.1 despite that they were supposed to be identical 3 wts.  A couple of months later, I sold rod no.2 on eBay to a guy that was looking for a slow 2/3 wt. – the Loomis fit the bill and he was a very happy camper.  I thought rod no.2 was crap – whatever floats your boat, I suppose.  Haven’t bought a Loomis product since.  They did repair and return promptly though, as  I suppose they get lots of practice. I also sent back a Hardy 3 wt. to Cortland as the handle cork cracked when fighting a nice, fat, little 16" steelhead that wasn’t supposed to be in that part of the stream.  It was repaired and returned promptly. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

 Perhaps a new poll is in order:  How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty  on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty,  lifetime warranty, no matter.    Tom G  I have returned many items over the years; my "satisfaction level" runs the whole range. Best of the best: Galvan reels- I called them and asked for a replacement part (my fault it broke), and they replaced the whole thing for free. St Croix rods- Super fast replacement, didn’t charge for shipping, didn’t care that I broke the rod in a bicycle accident. REC Components- Sent free parts to replace the ones I’d stupidly lost. Cabelas- No questions asked, ever. Okay service, but not dazzling: Sage- Two week turnaround, they always seem to charge for shipping. Cortland- Slow turn around time. Ross reels- They took care of the problem, but it shouldn’t be sooo recurring. Crappy service, they’ve lost a customer: Redington- Kept a returned custom rod, forcing me to replace all the components. Redington again- Required the original bill of sale (which I didn’t have) on a pair of waders with a supposed four year unconditional warranty, even though they’d only been selling those waders for two years. Trout Traps- "Nobody’s ever made that complaint, it must be your imagination." Worst of the worst: Airflo lines: "Uhh, you’re shit out of luck son."

Response:

      Fuck Redington and all the re-labled imported crap they sell. I will never spend another penny on their crap. Did you consider calling them and asking about obtaining the original? They are a pretty good group of guys to work with and I bet you could have received the original hardware.  The stuff may be re-labled, but it’s not all crap.

    Yup, I called them and they told me to piss off, they’d already discarded it. I met Jim Murphy a few years ago and he seemed like a pretty decent guy, but he has some bozos working for him. Anybody who builds rods would have known what to do, but nobody at Redington builds them, they are strictly a marketing operation. And their stuff may not be all crap, but none of it is made in this hemisphere.

Response:

Not bad for a bunch of them jamokes & scaramouches.   Meow. <vbg

Man, there’s nothing like a good Tony Germuga reference to brighten one’s day. Thanks, Joe. It’s the classics that keep ya coming back . – Sid …waiting for DaveS’s next installment in the "Two Dogs Fucking" saga.

Response:

Brought it into my flyshop (Coleman’s), No charge, not even shipping. Not bad for a bunch of them jamokes & scaramouches.   Meow. <vbg Joe F.

<SPLORK VANG MU — Scott Reverse first field of address to reply

Response:

    Fuck Redington and all the re-labled imported crap they sell. I will never spend another penny on their crap.

Did you consider calling them and asking about obtaining the original?   They are a pretty good group of guys to work with and I bet you could have received the original hardware.  The stuff may be re-labled, but it’s not all crap.

Response:

    Since everybody else is telling rod replacment stories, here’s my latest one.     A couple of years ago, I donated a 8′ 2wt Redington to a clave raffle. The rod was almost new, I’d fished it for less than hour. This was a custom built rod by a fairly experienced rod builder (me). The first time Willi took it out, the tip section snapped off. I returned the rod to Redington and recieved the entire rod back, along with a new tip section, so I was able to re-use all the old parts and face no out of pocket expenses, other than shipping.     Willi gave the rod to Warren last year. Warren didn’t even get it out of the tube; on a flight to somewhere, Warren got to his destination and removed the rod from the tube and found the tip section snapped off. I again returned the rod to Redington and they replaced it, but this time they kept the original, forcing me to buy all the parts I’d need to finish it. The parts they returned miked out exactly the same as the ones I sent in, so I think this is their not-so-subtle way of "taking care of" a problem customer (assuming they keep records of multiple returns).     Fuck Redington and all the re-labled imported crap they sell. I will never spend another penny on their crap.

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

Tom, I’ve used the warranties on a number of products. 1. Patagonia waders. – Replaced with a new pair.  Initial estimate for replacement was 3-4 mos.  Ended up getting a new pair within a month. 2. Patagonia wading boots. – Replaced with a new pair. 3. Redington waders. – Replaced with a new pair.  Purchased first pair when I thought the Patagonia waders would take 3 mos to be replaced. 4. Scott Fly Rod – Repaired within a week. —  Nice shirt. Do they sell mens clothes where you bought that?

Response:

  Just for fun, I managed to break the same   six weight again on my very next trip to Minnesota (this on a 32" long   channel cat that ate my clouser and proceeded to tear up about 100 yards of   river, break my rod tip in two places at the landing point with violent   twisting, and then drove the hook into my thumb just for grins). The only rod I ever broke on a fish was on a Catfish too (no warranty though). They are POWERFUL fish. It was a Cat close to twenty pounds that took a tiny fly I use for Crappie. Willi

Response:

Brought it into my flyshop (Coleman’s), No charge, not even shipping.

Not bad for a bunch of them jamokes & scaramouches.   Meow. <vbg Joe F.

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

Only once so far.  Cabelas Three Forks 3wt rod.  I busted the tip in the screen door.  They replaced it, didn’t even ask how it broke. I also have the Three Forks boot foot waders, in which I get wet (damp) from the knees down every time I use them.  Can never figure out if it’s from leaks or perspiration, so I just keep using them. Bill

Response:

I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now.

I don’t own one, but a buddy has broken three in the last 18 months, all of which were replaced without hesitation or question. It’s amazing, but I also know about five other guys who won’t touch any other brand and have not ever broken one. -G

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I fell against a tree holding my Scott G906 last year.  The section just ahead of the grip was crushed.  Scott replaced the rod without question and I got GREAT service.  I’ll buy a Scott every chance I get.  Not only for their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! I read with interest the posts about Sage’s Lifetime Warranty, since about  a month ago I made my first truly absurd flyfishing purchase, a Scott S3 5 weight 4 piece (I was able to get a $200.00 discount from the retail  price, but that alone says how expensive they can be). All my previous experience has been with a fly rod from Walmart  (literally), and an old St. Croix Legend 4 weight rod (what they now call an Imperial). With these rods you could lift a bowling ball without worrying about breaking the rod (well, not quite).  I used to wonder why other flyfishers broke rods so often, when I never really worried about it. One day with my Scott S3 showed me how fragile a fly rod can be.  I was playing a brown trout (best fish of the day) with too much of a jerking motion, and snap, the rod broke just above the first connection. I just finished composing my letter of woe to Scott, and after lunch the  rod will be mailed. I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now. Memphis Jim (I can’t turn on the TV without seeing Elvis). Broke a Scott STS 10 weight last year on a 12 lb. Blue Fish.  Sent the rod to Scott and got it back in three weeks!  I own several Scotts! Ssteve

Response:

I am interested in the experiences of other Scott rod owners with their warranty program, and whether Scott will be around 5 years from now.

I’ve never used Scott’s warranty, but I have fished mostly Scott rods for about 25 years (I have 9 Scott rods right now). Only one was ever broken, but that was prior to the warranty program’s existence and the replacement was paid for by the airline that broke it. — Charlie…

Response:

@posting.google.com: Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

I bought an Orvis Far and Fine.  There were some epoxy drips on the guides that bothered me.  I sent the rod in, complaining of a workmanship problem.   Got the rod back repaired in a timely fashion. Bashed a Lamson reel on the bed of Penn’s Creek–yes, I was holding it at the time. Something got misaligned, and the reel bound. Brought it into my flyshop (Coleman’s), fully expecting Carl to tell me he needed to send it back to Lamson, and that I’d have to pay for the repair.   Carl got the reel back.  They repaired the misalignment, and replaced the spool, but included the old scuffed, but fully functional spool.  No charge, not even shipping. — Scott Reverse first field of address to reply

Response:

I have found that my best fly rods (Orivs Trident) are far more delicate than any other fly or spinning rods I have ever owned.  I am thankful for the warranty and I am happy to pay an additional $100 just to get it – it has paid for itself three times over this year – and the year is not over yet!!!

If I had a car that spent so much time in the shop, I wouldn’t be calling it my "best car". Despite lifetime warrantees, a good rod shouldn’t break if someone breathes near it.  Seems like Orvis is having some QC issues. — Scott Reverse first field of address to reply

Response:

How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

Never broke a rod.  Busted the crank off an old reel once.  Put it back on with epoxy and it’s still holding ten or twelve years later.  Lost the tip section of what appears to be a 70s vintage Sears glass rod off the roof of a Geo Tracker somewhere between Milwaukee and Penn’s creek.  Still got the butt.  Haven’t investigated the warrantee or applicability of any insurance. Wolfgang

Response:

Although I dont have a Scott, I do have a few Orvis rods with the same type of warranty.  This has been a bad year for me.  In April I broke my six weight when I slipped down a snowy hill and drove the tiptop into the ground – Orvis fixed it no questions asked.  Same week I broke my 8 weight fighting a fairly good pike in a fast moving current. Sent it back in the same package as the six weight.  Just for fun, I managed to break the same six weight again on my very next trip to Minnesota (this on a 32" long channel cat that ate my clouser and proceeded to tear up about 100 yards of river, break my rod tip in two places at the landing point with violent twisting, and then drove the hook into my thumb just for grins).  Called Orvis, told them I was a dumb ass – they said that’s fine… send it back. I have found that my best fly rods (Orivs Trident) are far more delicate than any other fly or spinning rods I have ever owned.  I am thankful for the warranty and I am happy to pay an additional $100 just to get it – it has paid for itself three times over this year – and the year is not over yet!!! YMMV Joe C.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! If you stop running across them you wont need to use that guarantee so much Clark Amen, Clark.  If these guys werent’t so busy breaking and crushing their Scott rods, maybe James Barna wouldn’t need a $200 discount to buy a new rod… Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

1 St. Croix LU rod blank, tip section – replaced free of charge (broke in use) 3 STH casette spools – replaced free of charge (cracked) I’ll add that these were replaced by or through my local fly shop.   I don’t even know what the warranty is/was. Joe F.

Response:

Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter.

I had a T&T VE 907S-3 break about 6" from the tip on the 2nd day of use in Denmark this year. They repaired it under warranty, albeit slowly. — Charlie…

Response:

their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine!

If you stop running across them you wont need to use that guarantee so much Clark

Response:

their service, I prefer their action over most rods I run across. — Wayne To Fish is Human…To Release Divine! If you stop running across them you wont need to use that guarantee so much Clark

Amen, Clark.  If these guys werent’t so busy breaking and crushing their Scott rods, maybe James Barna wouldn’t need a $200 discount to buy a new rod… Perhaps a new poll is in order: How many ROFFians have ever had the opportunity to test the warranty on their gear?  Rod, reel, waders, whatever.  30 Day warranty, lifetime warranty, no matter. Tom G

Response:

Question:

Michael: I know I may be venturing into dangerous territory with this next question, because I’m a catch & release practitioner about 92% of the time. But, are any of these fish edible? I seem to recall reading something about a toxin in bonefish caught in that part of the world. Doug

Bonefish and tarpon are no good for the table at all: absolutely stuffed with small bones.  That’s probably why there seem to be more of these two species around than the more edible fish.  Jack are pretty tasty indeed and so long as you only eat the smaller ones <4lbs you won’t get the cigatera (spelling??) poisoning.  Apparently the larger fish have more toxin accumulated in their flesh and are best to be avoided.  A really nice fish to eat is any snapper:  the mangroves will be full of them upto 5lbs or so. Baracuda are also a good eating fish,  but again only eat the smaller ones <8lbs to avoid the cigatera poison risk.  The toxins originate in some algae or other that the little reef fish eat.  The toxins don’t affect the fish, but gets accumulated in fish flesh.  When a baracuda eats the flesh of fish that have been eating the algae, the toxins are transferred to the baracuda. The toxins have a fairly nasty effect on humans that can last for years, so it is best to avoid eating big reef predator fish in these tropical waters. Regards, Michael.

Response:

Michael: Thanks for the info! Doug – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Michael: I know I may be venturing into dangerous territory with this next question, because I’m a catch & release practitioner about 92% of the time. But, are any of these fish edible? I seem to recall reading something about a toxin in bonefish caught in that part of the world. Doug Bonefish and tarpon are no good for the table at all: absolutely stuffed with small bones.  That’s probably why there seem to be more of these two species around than the more edible fish.  Jack are pretty tasty indeed and so long as you only eat the smaller ones <4lbs you won’t get the cigatera (spelling??) poisoning.  Apparently the larger fish have more toxin accumulated in their flesh and are best to be avoided.  A really nice fish to eat is any snapper:  the mangroves will be full of them upto 5lbs or so. Baracuda are also a good eating fish,  but again only eat the smaller ones <8lbs to avoid the cigatera poison risk.  The toxins originate in some algae or other that the little reef fish eat.  The toxins don’t affect the fish, but gets accumulated in fish flesh.  When a baracuda eats the flesh of fish that have been eating the algae, the toxins are transferred to the baracuda. The toxins have a fairly nasty effect on humans that can last for years, so it is best to avoid eating big reef predator fish in these tropical waters. Regards, Michael.

Response:

Michael: I know I may be venturing into dangerous territory with this next question, because I’m a catch & release practitioner about 92% of the time. But, are any of these fish edible? I seem to recall reading something about a toxin in bonefish caught in that part of the world. Doug – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In late July, I’ll be visiting friends in Puerto Rico (southwest part of the island), and I’m curious whether anyone here has done any beach/jetty fishing there. What kinds & sizes of fish might I expect to find? I need this info so I can evaluate whether my existing equipment will be appropriate, or whether it’s time to invest in something different (always a pleasurable idea!). Doug if anything there are probably going to be some jacks (bar, horse-eye & yellow) lurking around beaches & jetties.  These can be had on 7 weights at a minimum, although if you have anything heavier than this (10 weight is preferred as there may be small tarpon ~  <60lb  around), then take that in preference to the no. 7.  For catching  jack,  you will need at least 150 yards of backing on your reel, preferably more, and I recommend 30lb gel spun braid for backing.  Jacks are absolutely excellent fun on a fly rod, and a 10lb fish will be a severe opponent:  don’t let them get snagged up in a coral head, or else you’ll lose some line and possibly damage your flyline too.  Flies are more or less steamers (deceivers and so on) 2" – 4" in length, and you need to be able to fish as deep as 15 feet or so at times, so be sure to have an outfit that can cover surface waters to 15 feet as appropriate. Simply fishing for jacks is enough fun for me in tropical waters, though you can suppliment the jack with occasional forays into the bonefish flats or tarpon mangroves for variety.  I take a 4 piece 9 foot 10 weight rod with a big 10/11 reel with me to tropical waters.  I also have an 8 weight 9′ 4 piecer as a back-up / bonefish special. For leaders I simply use a 6 foot length of 15 lb mono for the jacks on the surface, and tapered leader (8lb tippet) for bonefish,  and a reverse tapered leader  for the tarpon (i.e. 5 ft  20lb leader butt section and 1 foot 60lb shock tippet.  Tarpon have very abrasive jaws (no teeth as such, but very finely serrated) that can seriously chafe away at the tippet. For fishing deeper down the choices are a sinking polyleader attached to your regular floater, a commercial sink tip, or a variable tip line / shooting head assembly  (though I have not yet tried this, I like this concept and will be aiming to have one reel that is comprised of a big reel that also has a lot of backing and a decent drag, and upon which I have a length of running line terminating in a loop.  I wish to have a number of shooting heads that singularly link up to this loop so that I can have one reel that will fulfil a great number of roles). Flies vary from 1 to 2/0 in hook size.  It is sensible to be sure to have a pair of polarising sunglasses so that you can see into the water better; with these you can study where the fish are and watch how they behave when they see your fly being presented to them. Have fun,  and tightlines, Michael.

Response:

In late July, I’ll be visiting friends in Puerto Rico (southwest part of the island), and I’m curious whether anyone here has done any beach/jetty fishing there. What kinds & sizes of fish might I expect to find? I need this info so I can evaluate whether my existing equipment will be appropriate, or whether it’s time to invest in something different (always a pleasurable idea!). Doug

if anything there are probably going to be some jacks (bar, horse-eye & yellow) lurking around beaches & jetties.  These can be had on 7 weights at a minimum, although if you have anything heavier than this (10 weight is preferred as there may be small tarpon ~  <60lb  around), then take that in preference to the no. 7.  For catching  jack,  you will need at least 150 yards of backing on your reel, preferably more, and I recommend 30lb gel spun braid for backing.  Jacks are absolutely excellent fun on a fly rod, and a 10lb fish will be a severe opponent:  don’t let them get snagged up in a coral head, or else you’ll lose some line and possibly damage your flyline too.  Flies are more or less steamers (deceivers and so on) 2" – 4" in length, and you need to be able to fish as deep as 15 feet or so at times, so be sure to have an outfit that can cover surface waters to 15 feet as appropriate. Simply fishing for jacks is enough fun for me in tropical waters, though you can suppliment the jack with occasional forays into the bonefish flats or tarpon mangroves for variety.  I take a 4 piece 9 foot 10 weight rod with a big 10/11 reel with me to tropical waters.  I also have an 8 weight 9′ 4 piecer as a back-up / bonefish special. For leaders I simply use a 6 foot length of 15 lb mono for the jacks on the surface, and tapered leader (8lb tippet) for bonefish,  and a reverse tapered leader  for the tarpon (i.e. 5 ft  20lb leader butt section and 1 foot 60lb shock tippet.  Tarpon have very abrasive jaws (no teeth as such, but very finely serrated) that can seriously chafe away at the tippet. For fishing deeper down the choices are a sinking polyleader attached to your regular floater, a commercial sink tip, or a variable tip line / shooting head assembly  (though I have not yet tried this, I like this concept and will be aiming to have one reel that is comprised of a big reel that also has a lot of backing and a decent drag, and upon which I have a length of running line terminating in a loop.  I wish to have a number of shooting heads that singularly link up to this loop so that I can have one reel that will fulfil a great number of roles). Flies vary from 1 to 2/0 in hook size.  It is sensible to be sure to have a pair of polarising sunglasses so that you can see into the water better; with these you can study where the fish are and watch how they behave when they see your fly being presented to them. Have fun,  and tightlines, Michael.

Response:

In late July, I’ll be visiting friends in Puerto Rico (southwest part of the island), and I’m curious whether anyone here has done any beach/jetty fishing there. What kinds & sizes of fish might I expect to find? I need this info so I can evaluate whether my existing equipment will be appropriate, or whether it’s time to invest in something different (always a pleasurable idea!). Doug

Response:

Question:

George Gehrke: shithead. …seems a bit ungentlemanly…

Get it straight, George. I’m the fucking putz. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

…i hope to have a good granite chisel soon… i think it might be useful with some of my "signature" fly ties as well. jeff (chiseling out more mutants for the masses)

Somehow it seemed so difficult, all attempts just fizzled, this was mainly due it seems, to the fact that they were chiselled, he swore, he cursed, he begged and cried, at last he exclaimed "Dammnit!", how can you get proportions right, in such little bits of granite?". He sweated, learned, and tried again, until he knew some tricks, but no matter what he tried to do, his dry-flies sank like bricks, he tied flies for trout, and bass and pike, and even some for bream, and though he did his level best, results remained a dream.. Years went by, and then at last, enlightenment slowly dawned, frustrating hours and days of work, a new idea then spawned, he tied a whole new series up, and then he went a swapping, all now agreed his perfect flies, were beautiful, simply topping. Time came then at last for him, to pass on the gentle art, this time comes at last you see, to every poor old fart, his pupils marvelled at his skill, his flies even caught bones, how he managed this you ask?  He stuck to chiselling stones! TL MC

Response:

George Gehrke: shithead.

…seems a bit ungentlemanly… jeff

Response:

George Gehrke: shithead. …seems a bit ungentlemanly…

Yeah, but it would make a good epitaph for him just as written. <g — Charlie…

Response:

…i hope to have a good granite chisel soon… i think it might be useful with some of my "signature" fly ties as well. jeff (chiseling out more mutants for the masses) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – George Gehrke: shithead. …seems a bit ungentlemanly… Yeah, but it would make a good epitaph for him just as written. <g — Charlie…

Response:

I happen to think of another answer to your concerns David.  You’re just going to have to take me the way I am.  Someday, you’re going to miss me baby and all this originality and talent!  You’ll be laughing all the way to the river of no return. George Roff & Company "the gang’s all here!" (why fix something when it isn’t broke?) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – George, I say this with true concern – no hate or disgust:  Get some professional help, not with your writing, but with your head. Dave

Response:

David,  trust me.  There is nothing wrong with my head, just too much on my plate.  I have enough E-mail proving how incorrect  your concern is, but I know you to be sincere. Stay loose and don’t sweat the details David.  Roff has too many editors and not enough good writers.  Can you help by contributing something? George – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – George, I say this with true concern – no hate or disgust:  Get some professional help, not with your writing, but with your head. Dave

Response:

George, I say this with true concern – no hate or disgust:  Get some professional help, not with your writing, but with your head. Dave

Response:

Mike, I’ll keep this short and sweet.  You are a serious waste of my valuable time. No one in ROFF needs your kind of  criticisms.  You can’t take criticism yourself and you don’t know how to give advice in a constructive manner.   It must be your ethnic nature and educational back ground?  Therefore: there are no other reasons for me to have a civil conversation with you now or in the near future. By the way, I write just as well as you or anyone else,  given the time.  These seems to elude you entirely because there are many sportsmen (world wide) who disagree with your views and what you stand for.  You’re a competent fly tier. Why don’t you stick with what you do best?  (because you are politically inept, you lack social abilities and graces, besides being a total failure in "people skills")  Take night courses in these subjects then give it another go in  four years.  I cannot offer you better advice Mike. Take care.  End of conversation. George Gehrke "who isn’t interested in those who make personal attacks in public places"

Response:

Nobody gets paid for anything on ROFF. You are not Hemingway, and a number of people would be more than happy if you kept your gratuitous, barely comprehensible, and over-long ramblings, to yourself. Bullshit is bullshit, free or not.  In this case it is not free, it costs money to send tens of kilobytes of rubbish through the ether, some more some less, but it costs everybody money. I can accept that some things must be very bitter for you, this shines through in every post you make, like dim streetlamps glinting reluctantly from the oily whorls on  pools of sewage,  but that

Question:

Peter Charles: (snip) It is this kind of anecdotal experience that causes me to question some of the absolutism found in some scientific studies.

More anecdotal stuff:  Go fishing in Labrador and you are bound to catch a big brookie with portions of it missing, having been the intended meal of some hungry pike or laketrout.  I’ve caught several big brookies that had their dorsal fins missing, along with a nice chunk of their back, and others with scars on their head and belly.  But they all survived. Dave

Response:

More anecdotal stuff:  Go fishing in Labrador and you are bound to catch a big brookie with portions of it missing, having been the intended meal of some hungry pike or laketrout.  I’ve caught several big brookies that had their dorsal fins missing, along with a nice chunk of their back, and others with scars on their head and belly.  But they all survived.

Good point.  Another example is Great Lakes trout or salmon that have the scars from lamprey attachments.  Those cuts were obviously bleeding enough to feed an eel, yet they also survived.  I’ve always doubted the idea that a bleeding fish will necessarily die (this just does not make much sense in terms of their survival.)  But I don’t have anything other than anecdotal evidence either.

Response:

My father brought home a 23 pound Pike from Minnesota years ago that had a huge scar on both sides of it’s body that was the result of a considerably larger Pike getting a death grip on her.  The wound was mostly healed, and the fish put up a great fight, so it clearly wasn’t weakened.   Some have said that the bleeding won’t stop.  That is simply wrong.   Some have said that if the gills are cut, then the bleeding won’t stop.  That may be true in some circumstances, but certainly not in all circumstances. Is it possible that these stories about certain death are created by "bleeding heart" folks who need justification for bringing a fish home to the table? My experience matches Peter’s with juveniles being more delicate, and with larger fish surviving tremendous injuries. Last year at Great Slave Lake my son Andy caught a blind pike.  The fishes eyes were entirely gone, but it managed to find his fly and put up a presentable fight.  It was only 6 or 7 pounds, and uninjured by the fly so we released it.  We couldn’t guess how it lost it’s sight. Frank Ammoto(sp?) wrote an article about steelhead fishing in BC long ago where he caught a steelhead that didn’t put up the usual fight.   When he landed it he discovered that literally half of it’s head had been bitten off by a seal.  This fish was 100 miles upstream from the nearest seal. Chas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – More anecdotal stuff:  Go fishing in Labrador and you are bound to catch a big brookie with portions of it missing, having been the intended meal of some hungry pike or laketrout.  I’ve caught several big brookies that had their dorsal fins missing, along with a nice chunk of their back, and others with scars on their head and belly.  But they all survived. Good point.  Another example is Great Lakes trout or salmon that have the scars from lamprey attachments.  Those cuts were obviously bleeding enough to feed an eel, yet they also survived.  I’ve always doubted the idea that a bleeding fish will necessarily die (this just does not make much sense in terms of their survival.)  But I don’t have anything other than anecdotal evidence either.

Response:

Is it possible that these stories about certain death are created by "bleeding heart" folks who need justification for bringing a fish home to the table?

I watched a fish bleed to death in Yellowstone this summer.  I was kind of mad that I couldn’t keep it because it was a cutthroat, but wrote it off as bug food and essential nutrients going back into the river.  It did die though.  There was no mistaking it.  No big deal really.  I am sure some other critter was able to enjoy a nice fish. Unlike "some" people, I am not tormented by this. I wonder if water temps, time of year, etc make much of a difference. Perhaps in colder waters, their metabolism is moving slower and the bleeding eventually stops compared to warm water, faster metabolism, etc. I do know that fish don’t have much of an circulatory system compared to other animals and so deep wounds may not even bleed at all.  Think about it.  When you clean a fish, how much blood do you get and where are you getting it?  I don’t draw blood when I lop off the fins of some perch and don’t strike blood until I lop off their heads or when I open them up to gut.  Just a few thoughts and not scientific answers. . . . — Warren Findley www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

When you cut the gills of salmon to bleed them, do you use a box cutter?

That’s supposed to be a joke?? You remain one sick fuckin’ puppy.

Response:

Along this line, it is now advocated by some that C&R bass fishermen brink along a hypodermic needle to "fizz" the air bladder of bass caught in deeper whater. Bass can not readily adjust their swim bladders so when they are released, they float on top. This has resulted in extreme mortality in some tournaments. There is a very specific location for the placement of the needle through the skin, so you need to familiarize yourself with the anatomy thoroughly before doing it.

Tim, This came up recently either on ROFF or ROFS. If ROFF sorry for the repeat of the site. http://www.leadertec.com/Catch_release.html Kiyu

Response:

Frankly, I don’t know the scientific name for fish slime but I would like to know it.  You don’t suppose there is someone here that can find the term here in ROFF Scott?

Well, as an erstwhile medical practitioner, I usually call it icky goo. When you cut the gills of salmon to bleed them, do you use a box cutter?

Has it ever occurred to you to wonder why so many people would rather consort with fish slime than with you? Still not Pete

Response:

Sure, they do die, I’ve seen that often too. I bet the water temperature has a lot to do with it.  Dry Falls Lake is a selective fishery in Eastern Washington that has a nice collection of 14 to 24 inch rainbows and a few nice browns.  One year it was warmer than usual around opening day, and I could see twenty or thirty dead fish on the second day of the season while the morning of the first day there were none.  I was sure these were fish that had been injured when they were hooked and released.  Other years there were no dead fish on the second or third day.  I’m sure it wasn’t any difference in the anglers or the education or the fish.  It had to be environmental. Today I was fishing for Silvers on the Cascade river and snagged a hard fighting 7 pounder.  All the skin and flesh was gone from the top of his head, right down to the bone.  That’s an area of about four square inches.  He put up quite a fight, and I released him unharmed.  The wound was red around the edges, and the rest was clean white bone.  The only likely perpetrator was a seal, and that had to have happened thirty miles down stream at the mouth of the Skagit.   All this is cold clean water, I’m sure that helped. As for that horible feeling that the fish has died, I don’t get that either.  It is wonderful to see all these dead pink salmon providing the nutrients our rivers have been starving for over the last several years. Chas Still thinking about carpooling to the Pike clave… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I watched a fish bleed to death in Yellowstone this summer.  I was kind of mad that I couldn’t keep it because it was a cutthroat, but wrote it off as bug food and essential nutrients going back into the river.  It did die though.   … snip . . — Warren Findley www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt

Response:

I’m not sure I understand humane in this context, so I’ll just leave that part alone.  My understanding is that the fish taste better if you keep them on a stringer for a while so they can work out the built up lactic acid, and then bleed them as completely as possible. Why do I care about the slime on a fish I’m keeping?  (That’s an honest question, not a sarcastic comment)  I’ve noticed that fish I’ve gutted in the field and packed on ice seem to build up a heave slime layer by the time I get them home.  I wonder if the "slime glands" are like our hair folicles and keep functioning after the body has died. Chas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve also cut the gills of salmon intentionally to bleed them when I was keeping them.  With the fish on a stringer in the shallows I did this half an hour before leaving.  There was a lot of blood in the water initially, but it stopped.  Some of the fish were still holding themselves upright and finning, and needed to be cut again to finish the bleeding. IMHO, when you are going to keep a fish, humanely kill it and be done with it.  There may be some blood later, but my understanding is that this is the best way to preserve the slime layer. Scott

Response:

I’m not sure I understand humane in this context, so I’ll just leave that part alone.  My understanding is that the fish taste better if you keep them on a stringer for a while so they can work out the built up lactic acid, and then bleed them as completely as possible.

just bleed them… it’s all one needs to do.  and you can thwack them on the head and then bleed them (and they’ll bleed fully dead) chris

Response:

I do know that fish don’t have much of an circulatory system compared to other animals and so deep wounds may not even bleed at all.  Think about it.  When you clean a fish, how much blood do you get and where are you getting it?

Not much.  Maybe that’s the answer.  Fish just don’t have that much blood. Other than a major artery or the gills, they just don’t bleed much.  When you do cut the gills, they can lose such a high percentage of their blood so quickly (relatively speaking) that it’s sometimes fatal.  Maybe it’s not a blood clot issue at all.

Response:

More anecdotal stuff: Some people survive shotgun blasts, and others are killed instantly by mishandled .22s loaded with .22 shorts. Sometimes game animals are killed with one (particular) shot, other times, they aren’t.  Of course some fish survive mauling, etc., while others die from seemingly minor wounds.  Why is anyone surprised, or doubt it happens?

Because people have written here in the past, in absolutely certain terms, that fish’s blood won’t clot, and once it starts bleeding, it won’t stop, and the fish will die, period.

Response:

Because people have written here in the past, in absolutely certain terms, that fish’s blood won’t clot, and once it starts bleeding, it won’t stop, and the fish will die, period.

Water, itself makes clotting difficult due to dilution.  The hot-match-heat procedure catercizes the wound and clotting isn’t necessary, don’t you see? George Gehrke

  george.vcf

1K Download

Response:

The hot-match-heat procedure catercizes the wound and clotting isn’t

necessary, don’t you see? I see the beauty of releasing bleeders in to an 11 inch cold handle cauterizer… — TBone

Response:

Because people have written here in the past, in absolutely certain terms, that fish’s blood won’t clot, and once it starts bleeding, it won’t stop, and the fish will die, period. Water, itself makes clotting difficult due to dilution.  The hot-match-heat procedure catercizes the wound and clotting isn’t necessary, don’t you

see? Catercizes.  Yes, I think I see now.

Response:

I suspect you’re right.  I think the main reason I keep them on a stringer is that I like to get them on ice as soon after they die as possible.  If I’m going to keep fishing, I’d rather keep the fish fresh by keeping it alive.  I know that’s not what I said before, but in that context I thought the delay might have some value. Thanks Chas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – just bleed them… it’s all one needs to do.  and you can thwack them on the head and then bleed them (and they’ll bleed fully dead) chris

Response:

The best way to preserve ‘the slime layer’ is to never touch a fish with dry hands nor do you let it flop on dry ground. Frankly, I don’t know the scientific name for fish slime but I would like to know it.  You don’t suppose there is someone here that can find the term here in ROFF Scott? When you cut the gills of salmon to bleed them, do you use a box cutter? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve also cut the gills of salmon intentionally to bleed them when I was keeping them.  With the fish on a stringer in the shallows I did this half an hour before leaving.  There was a lot of blood in the water initially, but it stopped.  Some of the fish were still holding themselves upright and finning, and needed to be cut again to finish the bleeding. IMHO, when you are going to keep a fish, humanely kill it and be done with it.  There may be some blood later, but my understanding is that this is the best way to preserve the slime layer. Scott

  george.vcf

< 1K Download

Response:

In the world of CATCH & RELEASE, some get a bleeder which often is no more then a small hook hole or pin prick into a gill.  There is a way to stop the bleeding. Arm yourselves with a film can of kitchen matches.  Glue onto the sides a sheet of very fine grained sandpaper.  Use the hot match head, with flame still going but put it out by applying the charcoal heated (sulfur based) head against the wound.  Catercizing a little wound like this often stops the bleeding immediately and the fish may be released in good health.

Along this line, it is now advocated by some that C&R bass fishermen brink along a hypodermic needle to "fizz" the air bladder of bass caught in deeper whater. Bass can not readily adjust their swim bladders so when they are released, they float on top. This has resulted in extreme mortality in some tournaments. There is a very specific location for the placement of the needle through the skin, so you need to familiarize yourself with the anatomy thoroughly before doing it. — TBone

Response:

Good point.  Another example is Great Lakes trout or salmon that have the scars from lamprey attachments.  Those cuts were obviously bleeding enough to feed an eel, yet they also survived.  I’ve always doubted the idea that a bleeding fish will necessarily die (this just does not make much sense in terms of their survival.)  But I don’t have anything other than anecdotal evidence eithe

I’ve seen many trout that have had huge scars and chunks of flesh missing that have survived quite well, but *every* trout or salmon that I’ve seen bleeding from the gills has died within minutes, often within seconds. 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:

I’ve also cut the gills of salmon intentionally to bleed them when I was keeping them.  With the fish on a stringer in the shallows I did this half an hour before leaving.  There was a lot of blood in the water initially, but it stopped.  Some of the fish were still holding themselves upright and finning, and needed to be cut again to finish the bleeding.

IMHO, when you are going to keep a fish, humanely kill it and be done with it.  There may be some blood later, but my understanding is that this is the best way to preserve the slime layer. Scott

Response:

Peter Charles: (snip) It is this kind of anecdotal experience that causes me to question some of the absolutism found in some scientific studies. More anecdotal stuff:  Go fishing in Labrador and you are bound to catch a big brookie with portions of it missing, having been the intended meal of some hungry pike or laketrout.  I’ve caught several big brookies that had their dorsal fins missing, along with a nice chunk of their back, and others with scars on their head and belly.  But they all survived. Dave

More anecdotal stuff: Some people survive shotgun blasts, and others are killed instantly by mishandled .22s loaded with .22 shorts. Sometimes game animals are killed with one (particular) shot, other times, they aren’t.  Of course some fish survive mauling, etc., while others die from seemingly minor wounds.  Why is anyone surprised, or doubt it happens? TC, R

Response:

In the world of CATCH & RELEASE, some get a bleeder which often is no more then a small hook hole or pin prick into a gill.  There is a way to stop the bleeding. Arm yourselves with a film can of kitchen matches.  Glue onto the sides a sheet of very fine grained sandpaper.  Use the hot match head, with flame still going but put it out by applying the charcoal heated (sulfur based) head against the wound.  Catercizing a little wound like this often stops the bleeding immediately and the fish may be released in good health. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but practice makes perfect This IS a choice which is better then nothing at all. George Gehrke

  george.vcf

< 1K Download

Response:

I’m trying to imagine handling the fish’s gills carefully enough to find the wound, then striking the match, blowing it out, and getting it inside the fish to cauterize the wound.  All this needs to be within 30 seconds so the air on the gills doesn’t do the dastardly deed. Interesting idea, but a bit far-fetched. I don’t have any proof in the case of trout, but I’ve seen that bleeding pills in Pike aren’t always lethal.  On a couple 30 fish days up at Great Slave Lake, we had 3 or 4 fish that we released despite the bleeding.   The bay we were fishing had a bare mud bottom only about 3 feet deep, so we could see the fish on the bottom.  They developed a red spot on the bottom from the bleeding.  As we came over those areas later, we noticed the spots, but the fish were gone. I’ve also cut the gills of salmon intentionally to bleed them when I was keeping them.  With the fish on a stringer in the shallows I did this half an hour before leaving.  There was a lot of blood in the water initially, but it stopped.  Some of the fish were still holding themselves upright and finning, and needed to be cut again to finish the bleeding. I’m sure these cuts aren’t good, but I think at least some fish survive them. Chas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is a multi-part message in MIME format. In the world of CATCH & RELEASE, some get a bleeder which often is no more then a small hook hole or pin prick into a gill.  There is a way to stop the bleeding. Arm yourselves with a film can of kitchen matches.  Glue onto the sides a sheet of very fine grained sandpaper.  Use the hot match head, with flame still going but put it out by applying the charcoal heated (sulfur based) head against the wound.  Catercizing a little wound like this often stops the bleeding immediately and the fish may be released in good health. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but practice makes perfect This IS a choice which is better then nothing at all. George Gehrke [ george.vcf ] (Attachment)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m trying to imagine handling the fish’s gills carefully enough to find the wound, then striking the match, blowing it out, and getting it inside the fish to cauterize the wound.  All this needs to be within 30 seconds so the air on the gills doesn’t do the dastardly deed. Interesting idea, but a bit far-fetched. I don’t have any proof in the case of trout, but I’ve seen that bleeding pills in Pike aren’t always lethal.  On a couple 30 fish days up at Great Slave Lake, we had 3 or 4 fish that we released despite the bleeding.   The bay we were fishing had a bare mud bottom only about 3 feet deep, so we could see the fish on the bottom.  They developed a red spot on the bottom from the bleeding.  As we came over those areas later, we noticed the spots, but the fish were gone. I’ve also cut the gills of salmon intentionally to bleed them when I was keeping them.  With the fish on a stringer in the shallows I did this half an hour before leaving.  There was a lot of blood in the water initially, but it stopped.  Some of the fish were still holding themselves upright and finning, and needed to be cut again to finish the bleeding. I’m sure these cuts aren’t good, but I think at least some fish survive them. Chas

Chas, I don’t have the range of encounters that you have mentioned but I can talk about a few instances.  We are taught that fish have no platelets and all bleeding inevitably leads to death.  I have hooked deeply small trout on C&R or slot limit streams that I was required by law to release and I have watched these bleeding fish die.  Yet I have also hooked a landlock salmon under the jaw, caused a very nasty, distinctive wound, had it bleed, released it (as required by law) and caught it the very next day on the same fly.   I have also caught smallmouth with fresh, bleeding mouth wounds opposite to the site of the hook puncture, that I had obviously caused having hooked and lost the same fish some time earlier (I was the only fisherman there.) These experiences have suggested to me that fish with major bleeding will die but a minor bleed is not necessarily fatal.  I also agree that pike with minor bleeding wounds will usually survive.  In my experience, most pike that are brought into a boat are returned to the water with at least some bleeding.  They thrash so much that even with experienced handling, it’s hard to keep them from banging into something that will cut them.  If mortality from these casual bleeds was 100%, C&R mortality for pike would be probably in excess of 50%. Nobody talks about pike as being endangered. So obviously, C&R mortality has to be running a lot lower (as suggested by virtually all studies – however flawed.)   Therefore, bleeding is not necessarily fatal – hardly scientific but definitely within the experience of this fisherman.  I have also caught steelhead with a fungus growth covering wounds inflicted during the migration, from nest building, and from fighting.  If steelhead died from the first bleeding wound, there wouldn’t be very many steelhead around. It is this kind of anecdotal experience that causes me to question some of the absolutism found in some scientific studies. Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

Question:

Today I finally found the time to head up to Boone and fish for trout. It had been nearly two months since my last visit. Fortunately, I was able to bring along an ex-ROFFian celebrity guest which had the added bonus of providing Waldo a bit of motivation to join us for the day. I think I can safely speak for all of three us when I say that we had a great time. After taking care of a few errands in the area, Celebrity Guest and I met Waldo at his house at about 9:30am and headed to the Watauga. We decided to fish the delayed harvest section for a while as we waited for the sun to come out and (hopefully) bring the fish to the surface. As it turns out, the fish never did really get into the swing of taking dry flies, so we (well, those of us with no scruples anyway) were relegated to fishing with nymphs. The stockers were unusually picky and much more of a challenge than normal. Not a bad thing at all, but in the end we did manage to catch a respectable number of fish. At about noon we headed to a wild stream that has quickly become one of my very favorite places on earth to fish. The water was running high and *cold* but relatively clear. I was actually glad that I had let Celebrity Guest borrow my nice breathable waders and that I had chosen to wear my neoprene backups. We fished some absolutely stunning stretches of water. Despite the fact that I’m practically only half the age of my fishing partners, I was the only one to take a spill. I didn’t get wet, but I did manage quite a shin shiner. Once again, dry flies did not produce (although Waldo and Celebrity Guest stuck to their dry fly guns with seasoned determination) but a few fish could be had here and there in the deep pools with small Prince nymphs and a couple of–ahem–sinkers. It’s interesting how different things are at this time of year than they were last year at this time. The water is much higher and colder which has likely delayed the dry fly action by several weeks. Or maybe that has nothing to do with it; who knows. Despite the predictions of rain showers, the weather was great. An almost eery cold front pushed its way into the area right as we were breaking down our gear (at about 3:30pm) and by 4:00pm it was butt cold outside. A good day on the stream and the company was most excellent. Can’t wait to do it again… –Steve

Response:

  Um, I need a ruling on the above: is it White Fish that he’s fucking, or is he a White Fucker who preys on fish?

Jeff preys on white fish.  What he did with them after that is still his little secret <g HTH. — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

Sure, but just in a sarcastic manner…. Shut up  white fish fucker!

Um, I need a ruling on the above: is it White Fish that he’s fucking, or is he a White Fucker who preys on fish? /daytripper (Thanks in advance

Response:

So if I designate myself as the "Best fly fisherman to ever live" will you guys start referring to me as that?

Sure, but just in a sarcastic manner….

Response:

Sure, but just in a sarcastic manner….

Shut up  white fish fucker! — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

Ya really think Zimbo’s breathables would fit the dwarf?  

Maybe they cut one leg off of Waldo’s old waders and made him hop from boulder to boulder. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Well hell’s bells, are you going to tell us who it is? It was Vern Ursenbach.

Cool! I always thought Vern was perfectly proportioned to fish those little NC streams. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

Ya really think Zimbo’s breathables would fit the dwarf?   (You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to rewrite that to avoid some sicko double-entendre.   e.g. Do you think Vern would fit in Zimbo’s

waders?) I am sure he could reside in one leg of Zimbo’s waders very comfortably <g — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

"Paul Goodwin" wrote I do believe that if he was goint to tell us he would have.    So it must have been the dwarf.

Ya really think Zimbo’s breathables would fit the dwarf?   (You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to rewrite that to avoid some sicko double-entendre.   e.g. Do you think Vern would fit in Zimbo’s waders?) Joe F.

Response:

Charlie Wilson: "Paul Goodwin" wrote I do believe that if he was goint to tell us he would have.   So it must have been the dwarf.

<splork  But I missed the computer!!! <g Dave

Response:

It was Vern Ursenbach. You are joking right? Hell yeah he’s joking. It was the American Sportsman.

Oh, you mean Curt Gowdy

Response:

It was the company that I help start (The American Sportsman’s Club" OR it is "The American Sportsman’s Series" that was directed by my good friend, who recently died, Burr Smidt who lives on Manasee Road in Sarasota Florida.  He has done a lot of production works that were outstanding, especially those done with his wife, Renee’ Valenti Smidt. The American Sportsman was a popular Television Series twenty years ago. Guests included Bing Crosby, and many other Hollywood American Sportsmen.  It was THE PREMIER Outdoors Program all others try to top. None have done it to date Warren. George     Hell yeah he’s joking. It was the American Sportsman. WhoTF is the American Sportsman? — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

– (C) George Gehrke 2001 http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html     fine bamboo flyrods & blanks

Response:

GROSS! George was using that tag for a while last year. So if I designate myself as the "Best fly fisherman to ever live" will you guys start referring to me as that? Why does it remind me of the old saying "You can hope in one hand, crap in the other and see which one gets filled first" ?.?.?.? — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

– (C) George Gehrke 2001 http://www.gink.com/shopcart/index.html     fine bamboo flyrods & blanks

Response:

    Hell yeah he’s joking. It was the American Sportsman.

WhoTF is the American Sportsman? — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

George was using that tag for a while last year. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Hell yeah he’s joking. It was the American Sportsman. WhoTF is the American Sportsman? — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

George was using that tag for a while last year.

So if I designate myself as the "Best fly fisherman to ever live" will you guys start referring to me as that? Why does it remind me of the old saying "You can hope in one hand, crap in the other and see which one gets filled first" ?.?.?.? — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

It was Vern Ursenbach. You are joking right?

    Hell yeah he’s joking. It was the American Sportsman.

Response:

It was Vern Ursenbach. You are joking right?

You’ll have to ask Mr. Wilson about that… –Steve

Response:

"Paul Goodwin" wrote I do believe that if he was goint to tell us he would have.   So it must have been the dwarf.

Somehow I doubt Mrs. Dwarf would let him roam that far. /daytripper (My money’s on wayno…)

Response:

Well hell’s bell’s, are you going to tell us who it is?

Response:

I do believe that if he was goint to tell us he would have.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well hell’s bell’s, are you going to tell us who it is?

Response:

"Paul Goodwin" wrote I do believe that if he was goint to tell us he would have.

   So it must have been the dwarf.

Response:

Well hell’s bells, are you going to tell us who it is?

It was Vern Ursenbach. –Steve

Response:

It was Vern Ursenbach.

You are joking right?

Response:

<snipped nice TR for space? Glad you had a good time.  Perhaps you can broker a deal for their extra water to help fill up our rivers and resevoirs to keep California in electricity this summer. Was Wayno the celebrity guest? <g — Warren Findley "The vice or virtue of any form of angling lies not in the method but in the man." Author Hugh Falkus

Response:

Question:

One of the most valuable "how to" books on fly fishing I have had the pleasure of reading is "The Cast" by Ed Jaworski. He has recently published a new book, "Troubleshooting the Cast", a paper back book which addresses 32 common casting problems. The book is well written, and the diagrams are easy to follow and uncluttered. I got my copy in the mail this last week and have been using some of his techniques to work out some kinks on a pond here in Kansas, especially I problem I have casting weighted flies. I highly recomend those of you who might have a little casting kink check it out. Your friendly gear whore and singlemaltmeister. Wayne

Response:

How much was it and where can I get it on-line? — Vern My ROFF page: http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/ResortRd/v_deloy/ROFFintro.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One of the most valuable "how to" books on fly fishing I have had the pleasure of reading is "The Cast" by Ed Jaworski. He has recently published a new book, "Troubleshooting the Cast", a paper back book which addresses 32 common casting problems. The book is well written, and the diagrams are easy to follow and uncluttered. I got my copy in the mail this last week and have been using some of his techniques to work out some kinks on a pond here in Kansas, especially I problem I have casting weighted flies. I highly recomend those of you who might have a little casting kink check it out. Your friendly gear whore and singlemaltmeister. Wayne

Before you buy.

Response:

The back cover lists the price $12.95 and I bought mine at amazon.com Wayne

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How much was it and where can I get it on-line? — Vern My ROFF page: http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/ResortRd/v_deloy/ROFFintro.html One of the most valuable "how to" books on fly fishing I have had the pleasure of reading is "The Cast" by Ed Jaworski. He has recently published a new book, "Troubleshooting the Cast", a paper back book which addresses 32 common casting problems. The book is well written, and the diagrams are easy to follow and uncluttered. I got my copy in the mail this last week and have been using some of his techniques to work out some kinks on a pond here in Kansas, especially I problem I have casting weighted flies. I highly recomend those of you who might have a little casting kink check it out. Your friendly gear whore and singlemaltmeister. Wayne Before you buy.

Response:

The back cover lists the price $12.95 and I bought mine at amazon.com

I just ordered one from there. My wife hates ‘one click’ ordering<g. — Charlie…

Response:

One of the most valuable "how to" books on fly fishing I have had the pleasure of reading is "The Cast" by Ed Jaworski.

Hey Walt, is this available at EZFlyfish? Joe F.

Response:

One of the most valuable "how to" books on fly fishing I have had the pleasure of reading is "The Cast" by Ed Jaworski. Hey Walt, is this available at EZFlyfish? Joe F.

Hi Joe, It will be indirectly available later today if my damn isp will properly function. I’ve started a "collection" of recommended books available through brbg/ez in association with amazon. Here’s the link to main page: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg-3.html Here’s the link to where this title will be located (if I can make a successful upload): http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg-gen-ff.html Walt

Response:

Question:

My wife is pushing us to make plans to go to Florida in Feb, and I’m wondering if anyone knows when the FF show (Sommerset, NJ) is. Thanks. LV Before you buy.

Response:

The Somerset  FF Show is Jan 28 -30

Response:

The ‘Flyfishing Show’ in Somerset, NJ takes place the weekend of January 22nd and 23rd. It may even begin on Friday sometime but of that I’m not certain. The show is being held at the Garden State Exhibit Center, across from the Holiday Inn and next to the Doubletree Motel. If I remember correctly it is right off Exit 10 on Route 287.

Response:

Question:

And Sandy, while occasionally getting snippy with one or another poster on roff, doesn’t hold a grudge forever and ever and go on and on.  Something to be learned there, I am sure.

Well, he can dish it out too, Rick.  The reason I really want to track him down in Montana is that I was his principal victim in one of the all-time great ROFF scams.  Do you remember (say, 1996 or so, on April Fools day) when Sandy posted an extended "quote" from the Missoula newspaper, reporting that the Big Hole had disappeared into the Rhone Puolanec (spelling ?) mine?  Perhaps it was because I had fished in that vicinity, but I fell for it completely.  By the end of the day, half the population of Pennsylvania had heard the "news". After I fish with him and buy him a few brews, I intend to wring his scrawny neck Mark Faulkner, holding a grudge forever and ever.

Response:

 Chained flies are far less prone to tangling than dropper flies, plus they are easier to cast. Try fishing a large grasshopper as a strike indicator (bobber) that catches fish, followed by one, two or three nymphs. Why use a pink foam indicator when you can use a grasshopper?

  I use this method, but three _dries_ daisy chained  has me wondering Drag must be a problem or is the water type such that drag is not an issue. Seems to me three dries on loops would be a nightmare to cast. One large and two small might be workable . Got to try it when I am full of patience. Harry

Response:

take a quick look at http://www.montana-riverboats.com/bhsf.html

An X- rated picture, that’s for sure. Mark faulkner

Response:

God bless the Parachute Adams!  Usually my first (and only) choice. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was down at Silver Creek, south of Ketchum Idaho last week. For those who don’t know, it’s a semi-famous spring creek, loaded with birds, big fish and well-equipped, competative-agressive flyfishermen. It is a beautiful stream. Moreover I was lucky to get there just in time for its legendary Brown Drake hatch…which only lasts for 5-10 days. (now over).   The big drakes hatch at night, starting just at dark, limited to those parts of the stream with enough silt to support their silt-loving nymphs. PUNCHLINE:   As dark approached, I shared the stream with wall-to-wall fishermen. It reminded my of openning day in New Jersey. I almost left. But once the hatch started, I forgot all complaints. Billions of mayflies as big as your thumb brought thousands of fish to the surface. The birds went nuts. I fished three dry flies simultaneously, and outfished everyone in sight. I caught a fish every third cast for nearly two hours.   I had a huge drake on, followed by a stimulator, followed by a #12 parachute adams. The drake made it easy to find my fly in the diminishing light. But nearly all the fish I caught took the #12 adams…despite the presense of billions of #4 mayflies. A few took the stimulator. Only one fish all   night took the big drake pattern. Everyone else around me fished big drake patterns, and despite the profusion of bugs….most of them worked hard for 2-3 fish. I must have caught close to 30. That’s fishin…

– I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing.

Response:

God bless the Parachute Adams!  Usually my first (and only) choice.

I have to agree with that…the Adams seems to work pretty much everywhere. I caught a nice fat 18" rainbow on X creek just the other day using a #18 adams. -Greg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was down at Silver Creek, south of Ketchum Idaho last week. For those who don’t know, it’s a semi-famous spring creek, loaded with birds, big fish and well-equipped, competative-agressive flyfishermen. It is a beautiful stream. Moreover I was lucky to get there just in time for its legendary Brown Drake hatch…which only lasts for 5-10 days. (now over).   The big drakes hatch at night, starting just at dark, limited to those parts of the stream with enough silt to support their silt-loving nymphs. PUNCHLINE:   As dark approached, I shared the stream with wall-to-wall fishermen. It reminded my of openning day in New Jersey. I almost left. But once the hatch started, I forgot all complaints. Billions of mayflies as big as your thumb brought thousands of fish to the surface. The birds went nuts. I fished three dry flies simultaneously, and outfished everyone in sight. I caught a fish every third cast for nearly two hours.   I had a huge drake on, followed by a stimulator, followed by a #12 parachute adams. The drake made it easy to find my fly in the diminishing light. But nearly all the fish I caught took the #12 adams…despite the presense of billions of #4 mayflies. A few took the stimulator. Only one fish all night took the big drake pattern. Everyone else around me fished big drake patterns, and despite the profusion of bugs….most of them worked hard for 2-3 fish. I must have caught close to 30. That’s fishin… — I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing.

Response:

— I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing.

        atta boy, richard; an early entry into the quarter-finals of the john asadi amazing post of the year award. wayno

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – God bless the Parachute Adams!  Usually my first (and only) choice. I was down at Silver Creek, south of Ketchum Idaho last week. For those who don’t know, it’s a semi-famous spring creek, loaded with birds, big fish and well-equipped, competative-agressive flyfishermen. It is a beautiful stream. Moreover I was lucky to get there just in time for its legendary Brown Drake hatch…which only lasts for 5-10 days. (now over).   The big drakes hatch at night, starting just at dark, limited to those parts of the stream with enough silt to support their silt-loving nymphs. PUNCHLINE:   As dark approached, I shared the stream with wall-to-wall fishermen. It reminded my of openning day in New Jersey. I almost left. But once the hatch started, I forgot all complaints. Billions of mayflies as big as your thumb brought thousands of fish to the surface. The birds went nuts. I fished three dry flies simultaneously,

and outfished everyone in sight.

I caught a fish every third cast for nearly two hours.   I had a huge drake on, followed by a stimulator, followed by a #12 parachute adams. The drake made it easy to find my fly in the diminishing light. But nearly all the fish I caught took the #12 adams…despite the presense of billions of #4 mayflies.

Hatch. A few took the stimulator. Only one fish all night took the big drake pattern. Everyone else around me fished big drake patterns, and despite the profusion of bugs….most of them worked hard for 2-3 fish. I must have caught close to 30. That’s fishin… — I am who I am.  I am who I’ve learned to be.  I am Nothing but a trot line fly fisherman.

______  I’m pleased you had a happy evening kind sir.  I wish I knew why they took the Adams instead.  Curious. — Mr. G. "Gink Keeps It Up" http://www.gink.com

Question:

Gruezi! Anybody out there have recommendations on decent streams in Switzerland for flyfishing? I am particularly interested in streams around Zurich, but would love to hear any other recommendations you might have. TIA, Sid

Response:

Eine sch

Question:

Hi I need some help.  Does anyone know where i can find some flyfishing clip art?  I neeed it for our TU newsletter.  Please e-mail me at Thanks for the help. Jamie Hart

Response:

I need some help.  Does anyone know where i can find some flyfishing clip art?  I neeed it for our TU newsletter.  Please e-mail me at

I need same type of info.  I e-mailed this type of request to TU national over a month ago and haven’t heard anything from them. Please post a reply to the Newsgroup. Tight Lines, Gerry

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I need some help.  Does anyone know where i can find some flyfishing clip art?  I neeed it for our TU newsletter.  Please e-mail me at Thanks for the help. Jamie Hart  Get a life!!!!

Response: