DonAndersen

Tako, You got that backwards. First you drop 40 points and then you become a Flames Fan. I dropped 60 points and never watch hockey. Tried once - fell asleep during the final game of the cup - score tied. IQ now <40. catch ya' Don

Taco, I adjust as well to most rods. Think it may be a function of getting close to "overthehill". Silver Doctor, My head won't take it. Bamboo building is a craft. No artsy stuff involved. Just a lot of repetitive grunt work, lots of thinking and a sack of doing. You should watch a good machinist if you get a chance. Now there is art! Curiously, a lot of cane guys I know are real anal. Dentists, surgeons, airline pilots, engineers and the like. They don't mistakes or folks die. catch ya' Don

GopherBoy, I agree with whatever you meant and am going to the basement and hide till Feb is over. Don

CDone, Perhaps the way to deal with assembly vs builder is to look @ my personal experience. I assembled my first fiberglass rod in 1969. Bought the parts on Friday and was fishing it Sunday. Total time about 4 hours. Blank, handle, guides & reel seat were premade. I supplied glue, varnish, a Campbell soup box to hold the rod while wrapping, a tea cup to hold the thread, a dictionary as a thread tensioner and some masking tape. Total tooling about $2.00. Instructions were provided on a single sheet of 8.5*11 paper. I started acquiring the equipment for build cane blanks from scratch in 1978. That took 3 years while I got forms, the dipping tank, binder, sharpening system, workshop built, tempering oven constructed and on and on. Total tooling about $5,000. Then I purchased a lathe and milling machine. Whoops, there goes another $15,000. And then I got the parts needed like cane, cork rings, ferrules, guides, wood inserts, threads, nickel silver round stock for reel seats and on and on. Damn this is getting expensive @ another $5,000. And then to start. First to chose a taper and translate into a blank. Then to understand what the taper was designed to do. Well, that took about another 28 years so far and it's done yet. And after all of the $'s outlay, I finally got a single bamboo rod that I fished once and bust it over my knee as it was crap. Only took another 10 or so years to have some understanding of tapers so I could get close to what a decent fishing rod is all about. Of course, all the while that the taper learning was going on, I was increasing my skills in construction, experimenting with glues, oven tempering temperatures and the like. To sum up, takes about 50>70 hours to make a cane fishing rod - I can crank out a graphite in about 4>5 hours while watching TV. While I realize that I'm building rods whose construction techniques by in large haven't changed a lot in the past 100 years, I get a kick outta the travels and learning. Further, there are more cane rod builders out there now that there ever was. Putting fancy thread wraps etc on some ones else's idea of a decent fishing pole is similar to painting flames on a 56 Chev. Really makes it go faster. Don

Al, Graphite scrims come in various tensile strengths from 400,000>700,000 psi. Then depending on scrim design with the incorporation of fiberglass for hoop strength, pattern dimensions, scrim thread orientation, + the various construction operations, the design of a decent casting graphite rod is one tough cookie. I know I wouldn't want to try it. There are so many variables. Further, the scrim itself was changing driven by the aerospace industry. Just when you had a scrim you liked, along came the manufacturer of the scrim and discontinued the line. The aircraft industry drives the graphite industry. Just imagine how many graphite fishing poles that could be built out of a F117. From early 1970's to present, the graphite rod guys have had a moving target to shoot at. At the same time, they were attempting to grab market share. Hence they also were exploring the how's and why's of graphite technology. That's the primary reason why some graphite rods are junk and others not. Plus graphite has some interesting design problems. In order to make the blank cast light weight lines, the OD of the tip had to get progressively thinner. This resulted in a lot of breakage. For example, a tip top of 3.5/64 = 0.047" OD. Now subtract a mandrel of perhaps 0.015" leaving you with a layer of graphite of 0.032" thick divided between each side equals 0.016". The builders of the blanks, in some part, can get around this by increasing the tip OD and shaving the amount of graphite further down the rod. To sum up Al, I haven't a clue. There are so many variables to making a decent graphite rod. regards, Don

Reg, As far as I'm aware there have been few folks try rolling their own tubular rods. The cost of the mandrels is quite high. The scrim is tough to get. As far as I know, the only person that I can think of that built a tubular rod was Don Phillips who wrote the Technology of Fly Rods. He made boron rods. I talked to Don and he said that he'd only built a few. Mind you, that was some years ago. Russ Peak also built rods from his own design. I have no idea whether or not he just supplied the design and others translated that to finished blanks or whether or not he rolled his own. Did a net search and found this: http://www.westfly.com/feature-article/old.../feature_14.htm I only build cane rods presently. Got a bunch of Orvis, Fisher, Winstons around here somewhere. Haven't used them in years. Got a St. Croix a few years back that hasn't seen a line more than 1/2 dozen times. Guess I'm a grass type of guy. regards, Don

Let's list the things that have been done in 2007 to effect your fishing that were either lead by or resulted from Govt actions: 1] Recognizing that the oil sands region is an industrial waste land and normal environmental regulations will not apply. 2] Police Outpost Lake regulation changes 3] Fiesta Lake regulations > C&R 4] Quality Lake fishing Policy 5] Land use Policy 6] Commencement of listing of the West Slope Cut as a endangered species. And that is but a few from SRD. Other Govt agencies would have their own list. Like it or not, the Streamwatch program wouldn't be in existence W/0 Govt. And certainly, some folks have been able to effect the direction of Govt. The big effect is @ the ballot box. catch ya' Don

Tim, I frankly perplexed by 2 of your comments. 1] Graphite rods don't have swing weight to bend them any appreciable amount w/o a line. Twitched them every which way and I can't seem to tell a lot other than they are stiff. If someone wants to see the slope of the rod, place the tip against a solid object and place a bend into the rod. You can often tell where the designer put the "meat". 2] Rods load the same whether or not you fore cast or back cast. Don

Fishietales, Looks like a reasonable imitation of the Callibaetis nymph. Don

Folks, Looking over things that are viewed and a Flames post gets >1400 whereas a post about what really effects your fishing [the election] gets much less. Tells a lot about what is important to us - well make that you. Don

Peter, When I'm looking for a rod, I first determine what size of flies I'm going to cast with it and the type of fishing to be done which determines line weight & rod length. Then I head off to the fly shop with the line of that weight and cast some fishing poles till I find one the suits ME. One big advantage I've got, I can and do rip the crap guides/reel seat/handle off crappy looking/poorly made rods and replace them with better quality parts. So, price is not a limiting factor. The cheapie might cast better for me that the more expensive rod. Casting [and ultimately fishing] is the only determining factor. catch ya' Don

Guys/Gals, For the beginners out there, line weights expressed by the writing on the rod you are considering is what the manufacturer says it is. It is the best line weight for the rod? Maybe or maybe not! The line weight is a starting point. From that starting point, it's up to you to determine what line weight works best for YOU. All the clap trap about overlining fracturing a rod is crap. What it will do is slow it down somewhat making your timing less critical. Now you have to wonder how rod manufacturers determine line weight? 1] The rod suits the designer. 2] The rod line weight fills a market niche. How do I know this. Unlike nearly all on this board, I build rods - from scratch [no I don't buy blanks and install parts and call myself a rod builder - the folks that do this are assemblers]. I determine line weight that suits me. It suits most but not all of my customers. Some will over and some underline my SUGGESTION. But a suggestion it is. Your casting will determine the right line weight for YOU. Got a friend who some years ago was complaining loudly about the 4wt. he'd bought. Damn thing wouldn't cast worth crap. He dropped the problem in my lap. Took out a set of reels [ got lines from 2>9 wt on reels] & starting playing with the rod. A 6 wt. finally got the thing performing correctly. Called him and he tried it out. He was amazed and asked what I'd done. When I explained the line weight increase, he was shocked that I would do such a horrid thing to his fishing pole. But he switched a 6 wt. Then he bought a 2 wt. Same problem - took a 5 weight line to make it perform correctly for ME. He tried it and again was surprised at the line weight increase required. But to this day, he refers to the rod as his 2 wt. although it hasn't had a 2 weight on it for years. Be careful out there. Lot of BS about what line weights suit what rod. catch ya' Don

Mudflap, A size #20 or less Mustad R50 hook c/w black thread body, 1 turn of 0.010 lead wire @ head with a couple of turns of herl. Fish it using a tiny yarn indicator made of steelhead yarn inserted into your tippet knot. The lead is required to "just" get the midge under the surface about an inch or so. If you wish view an article on using the yarn see my site @ http://www.telusplanet.net/public/dmanders/ Don

There is a lot of easts 1] East of Calgary lies the great CDN desert 2] East of the desert is past the curve of the earth - danger located there - people escape from there - don't go there - EVER Don

This was sent to Global News Weather Guys: Hi, Don't know if you know or not but nothing marks you guys as "newcomers" to Alberta faster than the use of the phase "Alberta Clipper". After all, the phase first appeared in the east - like down east - way east - like in Detroit. Your not closet 'mericans are you? If you ID the fast moving low as an Alberta Clipper, how about naming other weather phenomena. The ugly low that comes across Washington State should perhaps be known as the Washington "Washer", a low coming from the Pacific as a Pacific "Pisser" or failing that a BC "Blaster". And God help us all for the high pressure areas coming from Alaska that you guys charitably call "An Arctic High Pressure Area" which could and should be called an Alaska Aberration or A$$hole. This would only be fair as nearly all the real crappy weather in Alberta was delivered in one form or another by a US State. How about giving credit where credit is due. regards, Don Andersen

Guys, I use Wilkinson Sword double edged blades. Last about the longest. Use them mostly for rod work. See: http://www.wilkinson-sword.co.uk/index.php?id=1308 Classic blades. Don

Give it your best quess!!

Guys, I do understand your dilemma - been there. Still, there are many ways to get involved without huge outlays of time or money. Ever thought about writing a letter to somebody with regard to a transgression on your fishing resource. Most of you have printers. A envelope, stamp and a single sheet of paper maybe less than 1/4 the cost of a latte. But, when you kids are grown and your fortune made - I hope you can see your way to keep your and your kids fishing resources as part of your priorities. And all the old farts, lets get things changed before it's too late. catch ya' Don

sirocco, Beware! They are probably chinese crap. They are not sharp! You'd do better to trim your deer hair with a rock. Don

Taco, Are you serious about a Phillipson rod. I know of one that might be able to be bought. I think it has nickel silver ferrules. Not a 2 tipper though. regards, Don

In an interview in the British magazine FlyFishing & Flytying September 2006 edition, Allan Frake of the Environment Agency says when asked what is the greatest danger of angling. "Complacency", he said. "Individual anglers posing on the moral high ground as protectors of lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, but actually doing very little to maintain and improve them for future generations." Again, he came back to the Wild Trout Trust, a classic example of a group of keen aglers getting together and really making a difference to the environment. As he points out, there are two equally respectable ways of involving oneself in it's work - by joining in, rolling up your sleeves, getting your waders wet and your hands dirty; or if you cannot do that, by helping provide the funds to enable others to do it. So, which group are you? The users & abusers or the somebody who cares? Thought this might fit right in with Streamwatch's request for funds. catch ya' Don

Guys, I don't get it. Always thought the women's favorite colors were green - like money or dark grey like a Mercedes 450. What's with the pink. Money ain't pink!! Don

Cast.. Grocery stores. Don

Lundvike, A lot of private companies do fish population studies. It's legal to own - just need permit to use it. Of course, it would clear out the drunks from your hot tub. Don

What do ya' mean no trollers. If those guys from Edmonton can't troll, they'd never catch any fish. Mind you, they can't afford Sage rods. If they could, then they'd learn to cast. catch ya' Don