Question:

I just want to say thanks to all of the participants in the past weeks issues.  Listening to everyones feelings and knowing that I am not alone in my distraction.  I just need to make something!!! So its out to the shop I go to build some blanks for some new turned bowls. I also have to make a material list for the new shop addition!!!  25 X 11 for a dark humidity controled storage area. While I am changing my focus from last week’s event’s, my outrage and desire to see those responsible fry is still very strong. Well I hear some Black Walnut calling. O, I’m going to go out later and do my part to stimulate the economy. Need a new pair of hip waders. Later Tom in Oregon

Response:

Right there with ya Tom, I made sawdust all day yesterday and didn’t miss that TV one little bit. David – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I just want to say thanks to all of the participants in the past weeks issues.  Listening to everyones feelings and knowing that I am not alone in my distraction.  I just need to make something!!! So its out to the shop I go to build some blanks for some new turned bowls. I also have to make a material list for the new shop addition!!!  25 X 11 for a dark humidity controled storage area. While I am changing my focus from last week’s event’s, my outrage and desire to see those responsible fry is still very strong. Well I hear some Black Walnut calling. O, I’m going to go out later and do my part to stimulate the economy. Need a new pair of hip waders. Later Tom in Oregon

Response:

O, I’m going to go out later and do my part to stimulate the economy. Need a new pair of hip waders.

Yep, winter in the Northwest is quickly approaching – btw, maybe you ought to locate the shop in a hill.   — Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html

Response:

One thing that I like about woodworking (or making anything else for that matter) is that it keeps me away from TV, which is a good thing IMHO (too much biased crap on TV nowadays) — replace n with s to reply — Tai Fu NAR# 76089 L1

Response:

Well Owen, I’m in Aloha and there just ain’t no hills on my land. Looking forward to several days on the wilson river though, hoping for some decent fishing. All the while remembering those who are no longer with us. The bowl I finished yesterday was started and dated 9-11-01. I had just dated it when my wife told me what was happening in New York. Tom in Oregon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – O, I’m going to go out later and do my part to stimulate the economy. Need a new pair of hip waders. Yep, winter in the Northwest is quickly approaching – btw, maybe you ought to locate the shop in a hill.   — Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html

Response:

I agree Tai. Last week end we did not listen to any broadcast TV. Just watched a bunch of movies.  Partly due to to much information and being overwhelmed by it all, but mainly needing some time to reflect and try to sort out our feelings. Tom in Oregon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One thing that I like about woodworking (or making anything else for that matter) is that it keeps me away from TV, which is a good thing IMHO (too much biased crap on TV nowadays) — replace n with s to reply — Tai Fu NAR# 76089 L1

Response:

Question:

On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

At the Maine Clave in September, the Lakewood Camps staff prepared sack lunches for people who didn’t want to interrupt their fishing at mealtime. I recently found the remains of a stick of cheese from one of those lunches in the bottom of one of the front pockets of my vest. I left it there for good luck. –Steve

Response:

Pretty much was Ken has said, except for the camera.  My most important tool is a knot tying tool, although if I lost it I could use my hemostats to tie the clinch knots. I also carry a stick of "Mean streak", a magic marker for coloring the last 12 – 16 inches of tippet white.   Dave LaCourse Pirate and Bottom Dweller

Response:

"Peter Charles" wrote Different fish  species usually means different stuff but the constants are: snip Peter

Nice list Peter, I also carry: Albolene Tippet material Extra leaders antiseptic Ernie

Response:

two condoms, a wine opener, a yashica t4super, two rolls of film (one b&w, one 400asa fuji print), and a waterproof copy of the kama sutra.

Two, huh? Who’s the other guy? –Steve

Response:

I also carry a stick of "Mean streak", a magic marker for coloring the last 12 – 16 inches of tippet white.

Interesting. I’ve never heard of doing something like that. I’m assuming that’s to make the tippet more invisible when fishing dry flies, no? Is that for mono tippet or only for flouro? I thought the darker colors were more invisible so this is news to me. –Steve

Response:

frog fanny What’s a frog’s ass doin in your vest? Seriously though, what is it?

Frog’s Fanny is a self-described "Double Duty Fly Treatment". I first learned of it this summer from Mary Dorsey’s guide friend who gave me a couple of his "Ray Charles Specials", (even a blind guy could catch a fish on this fly , that had been brushed with this stuff. I was REALLY impressed with it and said so here on ROFF. Turns out Charlie Wilson had discovered this stuff a long time ago and was so impressed he bought a whole case, just in case they ever went out of business, so he sent me a bottle. It’s essentially a very fine powder that you apply with a brush to work it into the dubbing. Highly recommended. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

I also carry a stick of "Mean streak", a magic marker for coloring the last 12 – 16 inches of tippet white. "Zimbo" wrote … Interesting. I’ve never heard of doing something like that. I’m assuming that’s to make the tippet more invisible when fishing dry flies, no? Is that for mono tippet or only for flouro? I thought the darker colors were more invisible so this is news to me. –Steve

Zimbo, In some parts of the country there is a drifting caddis that spins a white line which helps it to drift.  A white tippet resembles this line. Ernie

Response:

On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

I’m a bit of a minimalist, but here goes… – flies (usually in two small boxes) – extra tippet – license – floatant – hemostat – sunglasses – trash bag (for carrying out garbage left by other fishermen) Don’t have a vest, usually use a generic fanny-pack.      - Ken

Response:

Zimbo writes: I also carry a stick of "Mean streak", a magic marker for coloring the last 12 – 16 inches of tippet white. Interesting. I’ve never heard of doing something like that. I’m assuming that’s to make the tippet more invisible when fishing dry flies, no? Is that for mono tippet or only for flouro? I thought the darker colors were more invisible so this is news to me. –Steve

No.  It is used to color the tippet (kind doesn’t matter) to mock the thread of net making caddis worms.  It is a neat trick used on the Rapid and other rivers in Maine.  It works with the green rock worm.  Sometimes the worms (larva) are washed away from their rock, but hold on, not unlike a spider dangling from his web.  Read Gary LaFontaine’sCaddisflies. Dave L.

Response:

On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

in my wader pocket- -spool or 2 of maxima -license -hook file tucked inside front of wader (or if raining in rain jacket pockets)- -one flybox -one shooting head wallet for holding sink-tips vests suck,<G chris

Response:

Nice list Peter, I also carry: Albolene Tippet material Extra leaders antiseptic Ernie

I’ll be you carry yourself very well, Ernie. — visit my web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~royalwulff/

Response:

: Frog’s Fanny is a self-described "Double Duty Fly Treatment". : It’s essentially a very fine powder that you apply with a : brush to work it into the dubbing. Highly recommended. So is it bait or what?  ;-) You never actually say what double duties it performs… JonCook. — Are you a r.o.f.f. newbie? Then see http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~jcook/ROFF/

Response:

On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

There’s no rule that says you need to fill them. What I carry depends on where I’m fishing. For local waters or waters where I think I know what to expect, I have a somewhat minimal fishing shirt I use that has only two pockets. I carry floatant, nippers, and two spools of tippet. I carry two small flies boxes.  Inside of one of the boxes there is some Biostrike strike ind. and a few small weights in addition to flies. I ALWAYS carry a pair of reading glasses. On waters I’m not familiar with, I carry a fully loaded vest but the main difference is more flies. I do try and avoid this because I find a fully loaded vest a pain. Willi

Response:

: Frog’s Fanny is a self-described "Double Duty Fly Treatment". … You never actually say what double duties it performs…

Blurb straight off the bottle; … Frog’s Fanny is not only the best dry fly floatant that you will ever use, now you can really "Match the Hatch" by coating your nymphs with Frog’s Fanny. It will put an air bubble around them that looks exactly like an emerging insect. It floats a dry fly better than anything I’ve ever used if brushed into the dubbing thoroughly, can’t vouch for the "air bubble around the nymph" claim. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

good inventory snipped<

This shows me that I don’t fish often enough.   To give the detailed inventory Ken offers, I’d have to get out my vest and check. I never carry my sunglasses in my vest, they stay on a neck cord.   I don’t usually carry a compass, but I have taken a small GPS on occasion.   Never needed a tape measure (yet).   Don’t carry a Leatherman tool, but have a nifty little pair of curved needlenose pliers. All in all, I carry much the same stuff as Ken, except in my upper right outside pocket are some strike indicators. Nice idea for a thread, thanks TR.<

ditto. Joe F.

Response:

I’ll add ; a small pen lite flashlight, a cheap pair of reading glasses chap stick pocket knife – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with? Inside pockets (5): first aid kit leatherman tool map & compass car keys Outside vest: patch of amadou nipper on a retractable cord hemostat foam fly patch (can’t get barbless hooks to stay on a wool patch) hook hone Upper right pockets (2): leader wallet with spare leaders & licenses floatant frog fanny Orvis dessicant Upper left pockets (2): camera spools of tippet (usually 4X, 5X, 6X for trout) Lower right pockets (2): sunglasses whisky flask fly box Lower left pockets (3): stream thermometer (used to be outside next to hook hone but I lost too many) fly box red Mucilin patch of Cortland line cleaner container of assorted weights (rarely used tape measure Back of vest (two compartments): lunch water bottle rain jacket and a brand new landing net from Float ‘n Fish. Nice idea for a thread, thanks TR.

         Harry Mason     www.Troutflies.com               *** "Quality Flies for a Trout’s Eyes"

Response:

Different fish  species usually means different stuff but the constants are: nippers hemostat hook sharpener magnet-needle-nailknot thingie key to the back of my truck flashlight thermometer bandaids compass matches splitshot strike indicator putty spare sunglasses also usually carry a small camera and a flask of the good stuff Peter Visit The Streamer Page at http://members.home.net/pcharles/streamers/index.html

Response:

frog fanny

What’s a frog’s ass doin in your vest? Seriously though, what is it?

Response:

At first you just put in a few things that you need and before you know it you don’t have any room left. Ernie "TimeRanger" wrote – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

Response:

On a typical day of fishing -, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?

        two condoms, a wine opener, a yashica t4super, two rolls of film (one b&w, one 400asa fuji print), and a waterproof copy of the kama sutra. wayno

Response:

… My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

I use an LL Bean chest pack and usually carry the following: Outside: Albolene Nippers Hemostat Flashlight Insect repellent Leader straightener Mesh Pockets: Tippet Material, sizes depending on stream and time of year, Inside: Goose neck light Compass Reading glasses Sunglasses Extra leaders More tippet material Dessicant 1-1/2" square magnet(instead of fleece patch) Weights Small needle nose pliers Car key Wallet containing licenses Thermometer Hook hone Line dressing Backstrap: Maps (if needed) Spare reel spool w/line Bandana Toilet Paper Wader patch Spare glasses Lunch, light jacket, or rain gear (if needed) In very hot weather, I use a mesh backstrap which carries nothing, so all of the above would be eliminated. Again, good idea for a thread. 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:

On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

In my vest (just going by memory here) Inside Pockets Left Side Leader Wallet (3 packs of 10′ 5x & 7.5" 6x leader. One fast sinking leader) Extra Spool of 5x, 6x tippet Pewter Flask (filled with either Captain Morgan, Talisker or Tequila) Miniature Flashlight Inside Pockets Right Side Eyeglasses Fishing License Bottom Left Outside Pockets Two foam fly boxes – one nymph/emergers, one dry fly Bottom Right Outside Pockets Midge Fly box David’s  Sunflower Seeds (Salsa or Ranch) Middle Outside Pocket Leatherman Tool Spyderco Pocket Knife Top Outside Pocket Split shot Strike Indicators (Yarn and Foam) Outside D-ring left side – Fly floatant – Albolene Outside Right side – Old metal shower curtain ring – holds two spools of tippet Zinger with Snips for tippet Back zippered section – If weather looks bad – store my rain jacket in there.  If it is good weather, will store extra beers. Depending on time of year, In the bottom of it, carry my fingerless wool gloves Back outside D-ring – Net Wear a fanny pack for lower back support, wade belt Outside Pocket Safewater Bottle (In a pinch will also hold 3 beers and a small sandwich) Inside chest waders pocket – On the San Juan, carried my digital camera in a Ziploc freezer sandwich bag bc. — I don’t care who you are, you are not walking on the water while I’m fishing.

Response:

On a typical day of fishing – say on the recent San Juan Clave, what are the things in your vest/chest pack that you would not be without (besides flies)?  My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with? — All fishermen are liars ‘cept you n me, and I’m starting to have doubts about you! www.fishticker.com

Response:

… My vest (el cheapo Wally World special) has about 20 different pockets and an assortment of D-rings.  What sort of goodies do *you* fill these pockets with?

Inside pockets (5): first aid kit leatherman tool map & compass car keys Outside vest: patch of amadou nipper on a retractable cord hemostat foam fly patch (can’t get barbless hooks to stay on a wool patch) hook hone Upper right pockets (2): leader wallet with spare leaders & licenses floatant frog fanny Orvis dessicant Upper left pockets (2): camera spools of tippet (usually 4X, 5X, 6X for trout) Lower right pockets (2): sunglasses whisky flask fly box Lower left pockets (3): stream thermometer (used to be outside next to hook hone but I lost too many) fly box red Mucilin patch of Cortland line cleaner container of assorted weights (rarely used tape measure Back of vest (two compartments): lunch water bottle rain jacket and a brand new landing net from Float ‘n Fish. Nice idea for a thread, thanks TR. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Question:

Wonder if there would be a level of interest in a news feed with pictures concerning RV’ing and camping. I would imagine that The users of this newsfeed have some photos they would like to "show off".

Response:

Right on!  If anyone has pictures to post, please do so.  I’ve always enjoyed looking at people’s photo albums…. However, unless they’re extremely snot-nosed & dirty, pets are 100 times more fun to look at than pictures of children & grandkids – if you know what I mean – And I think you do! Highways are happy ways, so let’s see some pix!                                                         Don

Response:

Right on!  If anyone has pictures to post, please do so.  I’ve always enjoyed looking at people’s photo albums….

Uh, no, please don’t post them here. Binaries (photos, music, etc.) are not allowed on most newsgroups, including this one. Here are two appropriate methods of sharing pictures with folks on a newsgroup: 1. Post them on a web page and then give the URL for anyone who is interested. 2. Indicate that you have them and that anyone who wants to see them should request them from you by private e-mail (not a newsgroup post, please).  You can then send them copies by e-mail. Distributing them this way keeps the rest of the newsgroup from having to download them. (Many newsreader programs don’t translate binary files anyway, so all most folks see is many lines of garbage.) Thanks. GB in NC

Response:

Right on!  If anyone has pictures to post, please do so.  I’ve always enjoyed looking at people’s photo albums…. However, unless they’re extremely snot-nosed & dirty, pets are 100 times more fun to look at than pictures of children & grandkids – if you know what I mean – And I think you do! Highways are happy ways, so let’s see some pix!                                                        Don

WHOA,NELLY, git offa that horse!   Pullease DO NOT post pictures in text-only NG’s!   Will KD3XR —- the Curmudgeon of Sill Hill In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant. Charles de Gaulle

Response:

A better solution is to use a site such as PhotoPoint, or Zing, that offers free uploading and storage of the photo’s, in albums, with the ability to send notices to those who you want to view them. — Flutterby

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Right on!  If anyone has pictures to post, please do so.  I’ve always enjoyed looking at people’s photo albums…. However, unless they’re extremely snot-nosed & dirty, pets are 100 times more fun to look at than pictures of children & grandkids – if you know what I mean – And I think you do! Highways are happy ways, so let’s see some pix!                                                         Don

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Right on!  If anyone has pictures to post, please do so.  I’ve always enjoyed looking at people’s photo albums…. However, unless they’re extremely snot-nosed & dirty, pets are 100 times more fun to look at than pictures of children & grandkids – if you know what I mean – And I think you do! Highways are happy ways, so let’s see some pix!                                                        Don WHOA,NELLY, git offa that horse!   Pullease DO NOT post pictures in text-only NG’s!

True. It might be worth the bother to create another newsgroup  for RV picture posting, the rec.outdoors.fishing.fly newsgroup did that a few years back. That would give a way for anyone to easily post and share pictures without learning how to create a website. Only trouble with a binaries newsgroup is that they all get plastered with spam from porn sites unless they are strictly moderated.

Response:

Question:

This subject has probably been done here before, but I’ll post this anyway. I do about 90% of my fishing in the surf or on jetties for Bluefish, Striped Bass and Weakfish.  The balance is for warmwater species, and when I’m feeling particularly masochistic, I might try for some trout which usually only laugh at me. Anyway, the question is: When is a fly a fly?   Does it have to represent or suggest some stage of an insect’s life?  I’d guess most of you would call the things I throw "Streamers"  or for the English, "Lures", but they are called "Flies" by everyone I know who uses them, even though some of them can be (and have been) cast by ultralight or even light action spinning rods. Here’s some more things to chew on:  What about materials?  Do they have to be natural or will synthetic be acceptable? How about epoxy, a material I love to use because it stands up to big teeth. So far as I am concerned, as long as the offering is too light to be cast by conventional or spinning rods that can reasonably be expected to subdue the fish you’re looking for but must be cast by line weight instead of lure weight, then it’s a fly, even if it is 14" long… — Tight Lines and Fair Winds! Ed

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This subject has probably been done here before, but I’ll post this anyway. I do about 90% of my fishing in the surf or on jetties for Bluefish, Striped Bass and Weakfish.  The balance is for warmwater species, and when I’m feeling particularly masochistic, I might try for some trout which usually only laugh at me. Anyway, the question is: When is a fly a fly?   Does it have to represent or suggest some stage of an insect’s life?  I’d guess most of you would call the things I throw "Streamers"  or for the English, "Lures", but they are called "Flies" by everyone I know who uses them, even though some of them can be (and have been) cast by ultralight or even light action spinning rods. Here’s some more things to chew on:  What about materials?  Do they have to be natural or will synthetic be acceptable? How about epoxy, a material I love to use because it stands up to big teeth. So far as I am concerned, as long as the offering is too light to be cast by conventional or spinning rods that can reasonably be expected to subdue the fish you’re looking for but must be cast by line weight instead of lure weight, then it’s a fly, even if it is 14" long… — Tight Lines and Fair Winds! Ed

Ed, My understanding of the definition of a fly is a "lure" made from fur and feather, of couse synthetic materials are also allowed in conjunction with fur and feather. Darin

Response:

Question:

Thanks. I’d love to go there, maybe next year! Miikeh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Very Nice,         maybe some day I will see my local waters (On your site)   like Hat creek or the Pit River.

Response:

If anyone is intersted, I have a new fly fishing site.  It’s nothing fancy, but I would appreciate any input or suggestions.  It has lots of pictures of streams I fish near my home in Minneapolis and other streams out west.  I also will be posting the current stream conditions for spots as I fish ‘em. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mmhodg/ Thanks. MikeH

Response:

Very Nice,          maybe some day I will see my local waters (On your site)    like Hat creek or the Pit River.

Response:

Question:

Howell Raines’ great book "Fly Fishing the Midlife Crisis" is on sale for only $5.99 at www.bargainbookwarehouse.com. In the stores it sells for $22. I don’t think they have any other fishing books.

Response:

"Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis" I agree that it is an excellent read, and I’m not even at mid-life yet…Clint – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howell Raines’ great book "Fly Fishing the Midlife Crisis" is on sale for only $5.99 at www.bargainbookwarehouse.com. In the stores it sells for $22. I don’t think they have any other fishing books.

Response:

Question:

I’ll be in Portland (weather permitting) from the 15-19 of Jan (This weekend) and I’m looking for info on a spot to try for a days fishing. Preferably if someone is interested in taking me along on a trip, I’ll provide transportation, cover all the costs and in return offer my services up here in Victoria B.C. I’ll fly fish for basically anything that swims and if steelheading doesn’t look good, then I’m up for anything.

Response:

I’ll be in Portland (weather permitting) from the 15-19 of Jan (This weekend) and I’m looking for info on a spot to try for a days fishing. Preferably if someone is interested in taking me along on a trip, I’ll provide transportation, cover all the costs and in return offer my services up here in Victoria B.C. I’ll fly fish for basically anything that swims and if steelheading doesn’t look good, then I’m up for anything.

As of today, Tues 1/13, everything is blown out of shape. Forecast doesn’t look good…but who knows?

Response:

Question:

I am new to flyfishing and heard through a local fly shop that a women’s organization is starting up in the Phoenix,AZ area.  I left my info w/ someone’s husband at the shop but haven’t heard anything. maybe someone out there knows who I can contact. My husband doesn’t really fly fish, but I expect I’ll have him converted soon.

Response:

scribed: I am new to flyfishing and heard through a local fly shop that a women’s organization is starting up in the Phoenix,AZ area.  I left my info w/ someone’s husband at the shop but haven’t heard anything. maybe someone out there knows who I can contact. My husband doesn’t really fly fish, but I expect I’ll have him converted soon. Yes…you sound as if you will. Whether he wants it or not. – "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once."                                                     -Hume

That is exactly my point: if he chooses not to convert from baitcasting, that’s fine, which is exactly why I’d like to follow up on this info.  If he chooses not to join me in my new found hobby, I would like to find a place where friendly FF information is available. I’d like to think that once he sees how much fun it is, he’d like to come along.  If not, that shouldn’t impede my quest for knowledge or a nice walk in a creek.

Response:

Question:

I’ve had my best luck on a white popper or slider with rubber band legs. Muddler Minnows and small black dalhberg divers also work well.

Response:

Walmart has a popper made by Arcarro called a "Miss Prissy". It is a killer for almost anything that will strike topwater. As far as rod size, I haven’t seen a smallmouth that you can’t handle with a 5 or 6 weight.

Response:

MY best luck is down lower with a black woolly bugger size 2 to 8, weighted up front with barbell eyes various weights. on top i have good luck with a Betts bull-it-head, black and silver, similar action to a rapala. good luck karl

Response:

I have had over the years success with Orange Wooly Worms, # 8-10. I also had good luck with white poppers that I made out of balsa wood, size 6. The Wooly worm pattern was an interesting story. My family has a cottage on Charleston Lake, in Ontario. I have spent summer vacation time up there since I was a small boy. One hot, windless, sunny, July afternoon I was paddling slowly in a canoe with about 30 feet of fly line hangin out the back. I was catching perch, rock bass, bluegills, etc., when out of the blue a smallmouth leaped out of the water. A second later I realized he was on my line – after about 15 min, I had about a 4 lb smallmouth up to the canoe. Since then, that strategy has worked a few times. Or course, the sunfish keep me busy if nothing else. While I’m on fish stories, the other method that I use to catch small mouth up there is Black, wooden (only have a few left!) Helin Flatfish with orange spots (musky size) fished in pitch black between 12am and 6 am. Night fishing became a requirement since I have little kids. Once they’re in bed, I go out fishing. For surefire smallmouth fishing up there, though, nothing beats jigs. Rick Frank jigs. Rick Frank jigs. Rick Frank jigs. Rick Frank

Response:

    The Green Crystal Bugger is the best underwater bass fly I have ever used. It works so well in the Potomac and James Rivers I almost hesitate to suggest it’s use. .  It is ugly and guady (sp) and until my fishing buddy put one on and demonstrated it a few years ago, I would never have used such a thing but….. maybe I’m not sucha purist after all.  Maybe we can talk about orange poly egg flies on the Madison another day Hmmm..                                           regards   leo

Response:

I have been throwing the fly after smallies for approximately 15 years. It seems that my fishin buddies and I are always having a friendly discussion over which color seems to be the best.  In actuality, it isn’t really a fly that we’re using but a popper!  Any comments as to what fly/popper and what color do you suggest for this treat?  We fish in Ontario, Canada (Lake of the Woods area) from late May thru late June! I would appreciate any and all comments!

Response:

I’ve found screaming green (as neon as you can get) to be a good bet for smallmouth. Failing that, a nice bright yellow or yellow/black band popper does nicely, too. Have you tried any subsurface action on buggers and streamers? JL 8-Wt Editor

Response:

I have been throwing the fly after smallies for approximately 15 years. It seems that my fishin buddies and I are always having a friendly discussion over which color seems to be the best.  In actuality, it isn’t really a fly that we’re using but a popper!  Any comments as to what fly/popper and what color do you suggest for this treat?  We fish in Ontario, Canada (Lake of the Woods area) from late May thru late June! I would appreciate any and all comments!

In the streams of Kentucky a solid yellow popper works as well as any.

Response:

        No suggestion; but I do have a question about your small mouth rod. What weight and lenght of rod do you fish for small mouth bass?                                         Sincerely,                                         Clint Bailey

Response:

I have been throwing the fly after smallies for approximately 15 years. It seems that my fishin buddies and I are always having a friendly discussion over which color seems to be the best.  In actuality, it isn’t really a fly that we’re using but a popper!  Any comments as to what fly/popper and what color do you suggest for this treat?  We fish in Ontario, Canada (Lake of the Woods area) from late May thru late June!

My experience (and books) is that poppers are excellent locators (to make bass show) but poor hookers.  I get most hits on half-inch poppers with #8 hooks but hook fewer than 50%.  Bigger poppers hook more than 50% but attract fewer strikes (from smallmouth in a river).  How does Bug313 compare? (If a bass strikes twice at a popper without a hookup, I usually get it on a Muddler just subsurface.) —  |          Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Rd., Carlsbad         |  |        Springs, Ont., Canada K0A 1K0; tel: (613) 822-0734       |  |  "What I’ve always liked about science is its independence from |  |  authority"–Ontario Science Centre (name on file) 10 July 1981 |

Response:

   No suggestion; but I do have a question about your small mouth rod. What weight and lenght of rod do you fish for small mouth bass?

Line weight 7 to 9, so as to throw heavy poppers or big streamers when you need to;  length 8.5 to 9 feet.  Very few people have the strength to use efficiently a rod longer than 9 feet, i.e. move the tip (and line) as fast as they can with a slightly shorter rod.  It’s tip speed that counts, not mere leverage. —  |          Donald Phillipson, 4180 Boundary Rd., Carlsbad         |  |        Springs, Ont., Canada K0A 1K0; tel: (613) 822-0734       |  |  "What I’ve always liked about science is its independence from |  |  authority"–Ontario Science Centre (name on file) 10 July 1981 |

Response:

Question:

I am seeking advice on where to fly fish in the Breckenridge area this weekend (18-20 February). Also, most of my fly fishing has occurred on alpine lakes, i.e. I am a relative novice in stream fishing. Thus any advice would be helpful, too. Please add if I will need waders to fish (I don’t have any, but I could borrow some). I really appreciate any help.                 Thanks,                  Matt

Response:

I am going to be in the Breckenridge, CO area this weekend (18-20 February) and would like some advice on where to fish. Also, most of my experience is fishing in alpine lakes, i.e. I have minimal experience in stream fishing. Thus any advice would be appreciated (especially types of flies). Please add if I will need waders to fish (don’t have any, but I can borrow some if necessary). I really appreciate any advice.                         Thanks,                           Matt Linnell

Response: