jack

Rushing into buying a fly rod is absolutely the worst thing to do. Going away for a week? Borrow one for the week! Buy a rod that "fits" you, not what the name on the shaft says or what someone in a store, with a vested interest in any "brand" has to say. Take the time to put a line on something, cast it, feel how it loads and recovers with you casting it. Having a rod that "doesn't fit", makes casting feel like work, which fly fishing isn't supposed to be. j

If you are indeed using the motor for trolling, then your only option is an electric with maximizer. Couple of things that a maximizer does: -Substantially reduces battery draw at very low (trolling) speed. Up to 4 times less battery drain for the same amount of rated thrust. -Infinite speed control, maximizer allows you to adjust your motor speed down so low, that you can actually visually count the revolutions of the prop. If you are trolling, you want "dead-slow". (If you want the semi-technical explanation for how "it does it", just ask, otherwise I'll save everyone the long, drawn out yada, yada.) Maximizer equipped electric motors are more money. Over 4 years you will recoup that money on new deep cycle batteries that you haven't had to buy. One thing about boat batteries: keep them in a fully insulated battery box(including the bottom). The insulation provides separation from the sometimes cold bottom of the boat, which will draw the stored power from your battery, very quickly(like setting a battery on a cold concrete floor), it will also absorb a lot of vibration when boating or transporting, which tends to weaken the lead plates inside the battery. j(Spent 4 years on MinnKota pro-staff)

"buy one of those rods, abuse the crap out of them , pay a few more bucks , get another one and away you can go...get my point now?" Precisely what I have against "unconditional" warranties. All the people that take care of their stuff, pay up front for the no-minds that abuse the hell out of really good stuff and shrug it off with "it's an unconditional lifetime warranty". I wrote the warranty conditions for the rods that my company manufactures, what I did was combine TFO's "pay a little bit" for a lifetime, with an unconditional 1 year. A "lifetime unconditional" by any manufacturer is basically an insurance policy with a one time premium included in the retail price. Didn't want to go there. j

Don't blame the McClerk in the box, too much. He is not paid or allowed to make ad hoc decisions, that's what managers do. He was probably reading the "policy" word for word. Boxes can afford to let one or two slip, they get volume discounts, have big $ "understandings" with suppliers and can afford to sweep a problem aside, because there is another customer in line. Small shops can't afford to do that. They had better pay attention to their individual customers, that's what the customer is doing there and paying for. Warranties are a real bone of contention and your experience, Wolfie, are exactly what warranties are for. It is up to the manufacturer to make it easy on consumers. Look at the difference between Sage and TFO. Why is TFO so popular in Alberta? They have a large distributor in Calgary, right? Warranty replacement is no fuss, no muss, just fork over the $25 and a new section or rod is in hand. Sage? You pay a premium price and in the case of breakage, there is a wait, unless the dealer takes it upon himself to do the exchange(but that's the dealer, not the supplier.). St. Croix is good stuff, but their warranty policy is really behind the times. I was on their pro-staff for 3 years, tried to get them to streamline things, took them 3 years to change not much of anything. j

I ordered mine in the AM and received notice that it was shipped via USPS, same day. If you do order, stipulate USPS shipping. UPS and FedEx will both rip you for "brokerage", even though none is required. j

Nail polish remover, these days, has a bunch of undesirable additives(for thinner), go with straight acetone, a drop at a time. j

Headed for Steelhead Alley in NW BC in October, for my very first stab at steelies. Was advised by an addicted steelhead junkie that "skating" October Caddis are "it". So, here for your approval: I've been also told to tie it with a riffling hitch to accentuate the skate. j

Unless it's a rainbow or steelie the same size and strength as a salmon! Oh... THAT one ! j

Got those for "dog salmon"(chum). Thanks j

What "attitude" ?? j

Get thee behind me, Satan !! 15-20 lb Northerns on 10lb fluoro tippet off my 1268 spey works just fine for me, Wolfie. And that way I can retain my "purist, elitist" membership ! LOL! j

j

Thanks Lorney, appreciate the "direction". j

With the tenkura in mind, I "high-sticked" the Elk and Granby this year with the prototype Wind Warrior 11' 3/4wt spey, in August, using a level fly line and leader. Enjoyed the experience at the time, but my decision on the 12' is probably "onefootitis". I have a bundle of various length furled leaders, courtesy of a very generous FFC member, who sent them out. That and the challenge of messing around, trying out new stuff to see what works. Small streams are "out" for me until after Bella Coola coho the 3rd week in September, anyway. No rush. j

Ohhhhhh, God help me! I just bought an Iwana 12' 5:5 cuz I just had to have one! http://www.tenkarausa.com/product_info.php/products_id/53 I did not order the line and leader to go with it, because I kind of wanted to experiment with various options, myself. I now await it's arrival and the inevitable judgmental question from "She who keeps count": "Sooooo, you have how many fly rods, NOW????" Cool part is that she no longer asks "Why ?" j

Doing the "Pike on the Fly" thing in a couple of weeks, and already have a couple of Moby Nets(Whale and Crane), but wondering what "da guys" use for slough sharks? Thanks j

Just got back from my annual "Pink Run" trip to Bella Coola. While I was down there, this embryo of an idea began. Why not at least attempt to share "The Valley" with others? My random thoughts: "Northern" Coho Run Time: 3rd week in September(not those itty bitty Southern cousins) Rivers: Atnarko and Bella Coola, many points of access Accommodations: Hosted by Gnome Home RV Campground for 45-50 tents, campers, small trailers(I'm absolutely sure I can negotiate a group rate with the owner). Our Proposed Hosts An excuse to go to one of the world's most scenic valleys, drive one of Canada's most spectacular and historic roads, fish one of BC's best salmon rivers and for rookies, learn to spey fish, not just "cast". Yes, "It's a long way from here"['i](That's why it's like it is, Silly), The distance from Calgary, Alberta to Bella Coola, British Columbia is approximately 550.3 miles (885.7 km). Yes, "I usually go somewhere else at that time" (so do something new next year) Yes, "It would be an expensive trip" (So carpool and share expenses) "I don't know if I can get time off." (It's over a year away, for crissake, start now) "My wife won't let me." (Suck it up, or invite her along for the trip of a lifetime) I've had a couple of guys contact me about this "idea", with some pretty significant suggestions for an "event" From an equipment show & tell, to organized spey fishing lessons(on the river), to making it a week-long shindig so as many people as possible could attend at some point. It's going to be ponderous and repetitive to keep bumping this thread, so: IF you think you MIGHT take a stab at attending OR You have constructive ideas to add to the venue(with the full intent to help out), SHOOT ME AN EMAIL with your full contact info: flyfishing2009@gmail.com So I can keep a record of everything then start making arrangements. I have posted this on the Spey Page of FlyBC so it would be a joint "thing". (No, not THAT kind !) j j

"A friend of mine had to give up fishing in BC because there was no room in his budget for the high cost of a license plus $20 per day" So, if your friend doesn't go and his friends don't either, isn't that called "reducing pressure" ? Isn't that your "information" right there? Sure, some people will actually read the regs and rationalize that a "classified" water will be a better fishing experience. Doesn't that say something? I haven't counted out of province cars, just how many boats and people are actually on the river. It isn't as crowded, there are a LOT fewer privately-owned drift boats with a rower and two "friends". People have to get over the perception that new regulations are all about being "against" or "targeting" some specific group and that they are "victims" of persecution. Prior to the new regs, the Elk was a bloody, unregulated gong-show with illegal guiding absolutely rampant. How does government regulate "rod days" on licensed guides and let other have free rein? It can't. They had to institute measures to preserve the Elk River "experience". Yes, local licensed guides had some input, but certainly not more than fisheries biologists and conservation officers. Back to the subject: In order to reduce pressure on specific waters, shouldn't some of the more sensitive areas be "guide free"(like the Thompson River in BC) ? Shouldn't all guides be regulated and allotted rod days on waters that they apply for? How can a province protect at least some of the resource if it's all just a free-for-all ? j j

It has been pretty obvious to anyone who fishes the Elk on a regular basis that the classified water restrictions have reduced the illegal guiding substantially. The non-resident and non-resident alien boat numbers are minuscule compared to 5 years ago. The fish stocks have substantially increased, the "fishing experience" has improved dramatically. I subjectively believe all the measures have contributed to the improvement of the resource. The bottom line is: The fishing experience on all parts of the Elk River have improved since the restrictive regulations, period. Want to improve a fishery in Alberta? Find a way to reduce the fishing pressure or at least spread the pressure around. So what gets your attention? A "Pretty please act responsibly" or "It will cost you extra to fish here and you're restricted to 3 days on each river." Do you actually want to improve things or do you want your own corner of paradise and exclude everyone else? What's wrong with additional fees for special waters, if 100% of those fees and licenses go directly back into the resource? What's wrong with provincial taxpayers who maintain the fisheries department infrastructure, year 'round, getting a fee break? Want to establish a fee structure punitive to BC residents in order to "get back" at "them" ? Get at it, it's your resource, but a better reason is to protect and enhance the resource, don't you think? j

Had a Lowe 1032, hated it. j

"that's why it's so important to go out and cast the rods instead of listening to the full page ad in the magazine." AMEN, in spades, Tim. With any fly rod, it must fit the person, not the other way around. Fly fishing is recreation, NOT "work", so no matter what name is on the rod, if you have to work to make it cast properly, shouldn't it stay on the store rack ???? There are lots of rods out there, some are actually meant to fit your style and good or bad habits. j

WS and other large chains do not carry "the whole line" of anyone's stuff. But they buy enough volume of the select, popular models that they do carry, to "earn" a healthy discount from the suppliers. I also have my suspicions(any builder will have the same suspicions) that some "retail prices" are essentially driven by the U.S. market and what the traffic will bear. The whole thing drives me nuts at times, Colin. I'm sure it does you also. I spent most of my past two winters glued to a CAD program that is mirrored in the Amundson design and engineering dept. putting together the very best rod that I can, factoring in all the peripheral issues and still coming out with a design that will work the way I think people will want it to work, be able to supply it to dealers for a price, so they can sell it at a fair price, then I look at some of the sloppy crap that passes for a supposedly "high end" rod that wouldn't cast a line without a harpoon gun and wonder what people are thinking when they oogle over 'a name". OK, I'll get off my soapbox, now. :derby racer: j

The average fly rod warranty return is 4-6%. Some companies(TFO, Amundson, several others that I know of, choose to manufacture 3% extra components to satisfy warranty claims either through distributors or dealers warehousing. The cost of that extra manufacturing is peanuts, warehousing and shipping to the customer is equal to 4-6% of wholesale cost for one year warranty. Many dealers will purchase replacement tip sections for certain models and keep them in stock. Lifetime warranties with cost of shipping and handling born by the user are not much more(about 8% of wholesale). But some manufacturers, using insurance actuaries, have calculated that a customer will potentially break a rod three times in their lifetime and the cost of replacements is factored into the wholesale price, up front. This is in addition to the extra shipping and handling fees that one pays to exchange a broken section or rod. This is where everyone pays for the guys that adhere to the "It's got a lifetime warranty so i can be careless with it" philosophy. I personally despise "unconditional" lifetime warranties because I believe it rewards the irresponsible and punishes the people who "take care of their stuff". j

My pet peeve "issue". Having built rods for a number of years and in that time used many different grades of components, as well as currently designing select fly rods and doing product development for Amundson Fly Fishing, I think I have a handle on costs, including production labour, company overhead, advertising, promotions, etc, etc, that go into the "retail cost" of a fly rod. What really is the major parts of the retail price of a fly rod? -Promotions -Advertising -Warranty -Retailer Credits for discontinued models I haven't listed "Dealer Margin" because I don't think they are unreasonable, considering the cost of educated staff who are at your service when you walk into a shop. I think that the costs for promotions and product giveaways are obscene. I think most of the time you pay "up front"(included in the retail price) for "lifetime warranties" that most times are not "lifetime".(Even though 'twas I who developed/instituted the Wind Warrior Lifetime Warranty) If a company discontinues a rod model, dealers are issued credits so they can "blow out" the old model stock, so they don't get hosed like you do if you bought a rod and 6 months later they are being blown out the door for 1/2 price. Remarkably, some outfits manage to do this every 5 years ! "Made in USA" labour? Down near the bottom of the equation, as much as outfits would like you to believe otherwise. The cost of skilled labour in Asia is not "a bowl of rice and piece of fish per day" like the perpetrated myth, either. In fact, in relation to the cost of living, skilled labour is Asia cost about the same as in North America. Work ethic and production is much higher and the level of practical technology is much higher. Oh, I could go on and on!! j

Just to see, I went out on the lawn and tried a 3wt and 4wt WF line...... both are non-starters, no "load". 5wt Sharkskin "Magnum" loaded the rod nicely. Thanks Tim. j