DutchDryfly

I do not understand the need for softer rods, as you are not fishing for finicky trout when CN. When fishing CN I use no leader just one piece of mono (Stroft ABR 9.4 lb) and attach two dropperlines to that (Stroft ABR 8 lb) I have had very little violent takes, due to the fact the fly is going at the fish instead the other way around. Rob

For a CN rod I would go for a 10 feet 3/4 weight just as you already mentioned. The action should be fast and powerfull. Fast action rod will be more able to pull the heavy nymphs from the bottom at the end of the swing. Remember that with CN you don't cast. So I would advice the Z-Axis 4100-4.

Well, as I also needed a faster and longer SH#4 for Czech Nymphing, after consulting Gary I ordered the Gary Anderson Hybrid 1193-5 & 964-4 with matching Elixer line. Now I just have to wait till the rod arrives. Clock seems to slowed down a whole lot since I called Gary. He wanted me to call for getting me the right rod after all it is axpensive. I told him it was not as expensive as the rods are overhere. For example the Z-axis switch will cost me USD 1050 and leaves me with only 1 rod. Local shops are complaining that everybody is now buying on the internet, where the prices are at least 1/3 less. Go figure.

If this $150/person includes travelcosts I will be there !!

Not yet, but I think I need some more information to make a decision. You guys have it easy, great rivers and lots of rods. Here we have almost no doublehanders, so all info is gathered from the net.

Well after more thinking about where and what the rod would be used for, I am now thinking of the Deer Creek 5/6. After doing a search on Internet I found that it will be a nice trout rod for the fishing I tend to do with it. The only thing I am not sure about is the line on it. I found some reference to a CND 5/6 but we do not have those lines overhere. Main thing I read was that the line should be somewhere between 430 and 450 grains. So what lines would you recommend for this rod. Please list as many as possible so maybe I get lucky and will be able to buy it local.

Unfortunately there are no open good rivers in Belgium after the third weekend in September. There are some spots still open, but usually those are the sewers with no decent fish. The season will open at the third weekend of March, so just have to wait a little longer. Planning on going to Scandinavia in July for four weeks and thinking about a stay at the end of the season in the place you call your homewaters.

Well, after much reading about the two handed crowd I am certainly thinking about buying a rod. As it is used to fish for trout on medium rivers and Czech nymphing I was thinking about a switch rod. So far I have narrowed it down to the following rods, Beulah Switch 4/5, Z-Axis 5110-4 and the one I really like Gary Anderson Hybrid 1193-5 & 964-4 or the 1194-5 & 965-4. As I do not know much about those rods, the only one available to see overhere is the Z-Axis, I would like some recommendation and input. Rob

The dry fly only is only in place in our lease. We did that because the adjacent clubs can fish our waters when their waters are non-fishable. We have only a small part and are paying the stocking ourselves, so we do not want any damaged or dead fish because of Czech nymphing or fishing with heavy streamers. And it gives us the chance to identify and kick some poachers, they will even poach our waters when we are fishing. As for the tying bench, I have a dinner table for four and am by myself, so part of that table is already reserved.

BBB, you are correct, only the prices in Belgium are not that high. The maximum price is around 60 euro a year. The land is owned by a hotel, but the owner is doing nothing with the river. We are renting his part of the river and in conjunction with the club that is owning the adjacent land and river, we organize clean-ups and also put new fish in the river. Our part is strictly C&R and dry fly only. Lady, if you know the landowner and he has not rented the river to a club, you can fish with his permission AND the State license. There are also parts of the rivers that are public, but they are most of the time not the best parts. Rob

Greg, the distance from my home to the rivers in Belgium I fish is about 300 km one way. I used to drive early in the morning to Belgium, fish and drive home in the evening. But lately I feel I am getting older and it is getting harder to do it in one day. Hence the new ride. The two species I fish for are brown trout and grayling. With a few friends we have leased a part of the river Ambleve Catching those

Well, after my vacation was canceled I had some money to spent. What better way to spent it on something that can take me every weekend to the rivers in Belgium and also provide a sleeping place. I better learn to speak some French, as I am planning to be at least three out of four weekends a month fishing in Belgium, starting from the third saturday in March (opening day).

I am currently using Stroft and will not go back to my old brands. It is everything I want in tippetmaterial.

Exactly what I do.

Well, I have to say ( or more properly write ) it is an entertaining post. I have no clue why people in North America are just dying to go to court. But I have noticed the same behavior starting overhere. It is allright to post positive comments about flyshops, but the negative ones will be deleted. That is fine if someone is abusive in the negative post, but telling that the service was bad and the reasons why you feel like that should be allowed, without getting sued. How is that for the information freeway of today's world? I understand that moderators do not want to get sued, but your laws should be changed. Rob ( who really likes the freedom of speech )

May be practical in Scandinavia, but not in the rest of Europe. If you cast like that, anchoring the line, all fish at a distance of 75 meter will be gone.

Glad to hear the Clean-up was a success. Hopefully next year it will coincide with my vacation and I will be there for sure. Rob

Found this on Ebay for those not willing to tie anymore: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...=ADME:B:EF:US:2 May be an idea to get some members together and bid for Casting for Life? That would make a nice donation for those ladies. I can not pursue this as I am on a well deserved vacation next week, but I am willing to donate $ 100.00. Rob

Before anything else, measure the wing. When you are satisfied, take your scissors and cut the hair even with the eye of the hook. Without moving the hair, take one and a half turn of thread, and start pulling upwards without loosing the grip on the wing. This will flair the hair in front of your fingers to form a nice head. Now take one turn through the flaired hair at a 45 degree angle. Whipfinish in front of the head by pulling the hair up and remodel the head afterwards.

I tied with Hans myself, and following the video will, after some practice, create the nice caddis you see on the video. They also fish very well. You can use the wing also on the other caddis patterns, not only on the CDC one. I was planning on showing how to tie them on the Clean up, but that is not going to happen. Rob

Make that three weeks. But I can tell you that if I call in sick, I will have some doctor at the door within 2 hours. Courtesy of the boss. Well, it all has to happen next year and for an extended period. Something to look forward for, again. Rob

I was a department-manager, but when we implemented a new system I slowly moved in to the IT-team. All other people in the team are externally hired, so the company relies heavily on me. I already warned them several times about the danger of having all the knowledge in the hands of externals, but they won't listen. Now we have to implement a new version of the system and two other companies we bought. And don't be afraid, I have many days left and they will be transferred to next year. Also I get a written statement that my vacation next year will not be cancelled and I get to choose what time and how long I am taking off. Also besides them paying for my cancelled vacation I get a bonus toe ease the pain, but still have to wait for the amount as we need that to be discussed further. And they agreed with one week off in september, which will probably be spent in Austria. So in a way I understand why, but I would have been more happier if my vacation was not cancelled. Especially with the weather and reports I read here. I spent my last 4 vacations fishing in Alberta and BC and always had rain, wind and snow. Legally they can cancel the vacation, that is why I want a written statement so next year I can fight it if they decide to do it again. So next year you will see me and for an extended period.

Well, I finally got an answer but not the one I was hoping for. After much preparation, starting with the booking of my vacation on december 18th 2006, do the tying and looking at what rivers to fish, I was ready to fly into Calgary on the 17th. Now 12 days before take off, my boss deceided to officially cancel my trip. I am, in his words, to valuable for the testing of a new system, which by the way should be running already. They got word from the headoffice that everything should be working before the 1st of october. So no vacation for me this year. I do get compensated for the lost vacation, but I rather had gone. Next year I will definitely be over, as I negotiated that I get an offical statement that I have first choice and there will be no cancelling anything. So thanks for everybody's help and next year we will definitely fish together, Rob

I am not in desperite need of it now, still have a patch. But I am sure once I am over some of the flyflingers would like some nice caddis, which will be one of the ways I will repay them for taken me out. The other one will be beer. About 30 cm will be sufficient to last a couple of years, I don't loose many flies. It is the only thing I can not get overhere, so no worries. Thanks in advance for the offer, Rob

I was told to go for the hair on top of the spine. Because these are the straightest ones. You don't want patches with curved hair you see so often in the flyshops. I will gladly pay for the shipment and also sent some Elk&CDC flies back. Rob