alhuger

That's cool, I hope they do well. It's a frightening time for retail.

It's been a while since I've read the welcome message so I cannot recall it's contents, does anyone know if it offers new links of useful content to the new fly fisher? I ask because being relatively new to this hobby I can still recall reading things here or learning things on the water with new, more experienced fly anglers, that I realized I had been doing horribly wrong on my own when fishing alone. Fish handling is one of those things. I think it might be handy for someone (I would be happy to volunteer) to put together a list of useful links to the beginner fly angler they could read when they join the board. I know I'm getting a little short watching pictures of hypoxic fish up on the rocks or ice but I cannot help it's because people do not know any better. I know I certainly did not at one time. al

Is this the same shop that was supposed to be carrying Loop gear?

Thanks Tool!

All, I have got a problem where I often screw up my forward stroke, it does not always follow a straight path and the result on the cast is not pretty. Typically when this happens I get a tailing loop which snags my line and blows my presentation. When I am out on the water I hate to have to re-factor cast after cast particularly because if I am steelheading or fishing for salmon as my time is really finite and valuable. I only get the opportunity to hunt big fish every so often and I want to spend that time fishing, not fixing my cast. What I have been doing to train myself out of it is just practicing the mechanics of the stroke with just the handle section of the rod. It allows me to see right away if my forward or back cast have deviance any of type. It helps me get used to what a good cast should feel like in terms of arm movement. It also helped me to get used to pulling down with my bottom hand versus my instinctual habit of pushing with the top hand (I fish skagit, not long/mid belly). It's been a useful tip, I would suggest it to anyone facing the same or similar issues. This along with concentrating on anchor placement (and SFD) have been the two biggest factors to helping me manage my cast into something more consistently fishable. al

I use a 15 foot 11 weight for my 100+ foot casts targeting the plentiful 6-7# monsters that hold in mid-river lies. That's right, 100+ feet, it's all in the Underhand folks. When I'm not fishing my big stick (which I do, at least 275 days a year) I *hit talk people and brag incessantly on FFC. It's a simple life but I enjoy it.

What line did you end up going with for it?

Are they native to the area?

As always, thanks guys.

Thanks guys, I am going to try to make it down as well.

All, I am looking at tying some bow river buggers but the collar and head represent a challenge to me as I really do not know how to spin dear hair. Does anyone know of a good online demos/resources I could use? al

HI Jack, It is a 2925 which is somewhat longer I believe. If I recall right it was a limited edition. I could be wrong of course as I do not have the specs in front of me. Thanks for the advice on where to market it, I had not though about farther east. I am thinking with the current market I may end up holding on to this thing for a quite a while. It's a stunning boat but way more than I personally need. al

Agreed, now is not the best time. I am actually going to sell it in the spring. I will post the details when I have all the specs but it's a Harbercraft Kingfisher 2925 with a 150 outboard and a 9.9 kicker. Less than 30 hours on the boat. It's brand new.

All, I've recently been given the responsibility of selling a more or less new high end fishing boat (not commercial). I have never sold anything like this and have 0 idea where to start. Does anyone have any ideas where I should list or where I would even start to figure out value? Any advice would be appreciated. al

There are plenty of coastal rivers which are well suited to the long rod but are pretty narrow compared to the bow for example. It's just more efficient and less costly on your body to manage the line plus tips in fast deep coastal water if you need to get down and plan to fish all day long day in and day out.

So I picked up some Still Water Solutions marabou against my better judgment ( which is generally in short supply) and I was really impressed. I just finished tying up a bunch of royal blue and teal alaskabou flies with some DNA thrown in and it was great. The amount of usable plumage was much higher (as was the price) compared to some other products I have tried. I am only one bag in so I do not know if the quality will last, but here's to hoping... It's so much nicer to tie with good materials it really makes for a much nicer experience. al

I broke down and bought breathables this year which are heavy multi layered gortex and they are great, having said that I still think my good old neoprenes are warmer. The breathables give allot more mobility for me though and have the added benefit of not making me look like an octogenarian. I would echo that I think felt on ice is a dodgy proposition, I have studded boots and they are great. al

I have a tonne, more than I will get to I know so here are a few which come to mind: 1. Stay solvent for the year so I can actually fish. This does not look like a good year. 2. Land a Chinook in tidal water or close to it on a swung fly. 3. Fish the 'upper stretch' on the two rivers I've been meaning to explore more, the Adams and the Seymour. 4. Spend some time just watching for risers and maybe getting my dry fly game started. 5. Learn to czech nymph. 6. Sell all my extra gear. al

Tool, I would agree, the Decho seemed softer to me and not as fast as the DC series. Marc had his lined with the 7wt AF 40+ which seems to work well for it. It was nice to cast one without having to buy it first :> As for the 8, I can see using it for heavy tips but for me I prefer lighter rods for the bow, I also cannot cast +100' feet regardless of rod type in any event. My fishing is limited to anything I can reach within 75 feet more or less (reliably) and at that I usually find I am hooking up closer in. I find it's harder for me to set a trout at distance under an indie with my setup. My hookup rate is (for obvious reasons) much better on the swing. al

I would tend to agree, it's a nice casting rod. After fishing today with my 5/6 I really felt like it was overkill. Winter fish (on the bow) just seem to have so little fight in them that fishing a 5/6 felt nearly as stupid as fishing an 8. I suspect I will drop down to the 4.

Ditto, best to you and yours Gordon. As to the rest of you as well, Merry Xmas. al

I have been fighting the urge to pick up the new Dec Hogan Echo 4 weight spey. Has anyone here had a chance to fish it? Does it compare well to the rest of the Dec Echo line? Also, for those of you looking for some good winter reading I would suggest picking up Dec Hogan's Passion for Steelhead. I just started reading it and I am really enjoying it. I usually find books like this to be horribly written but this certainly seems like an exception. It's not Haig-Brown but it's a pretty good read. al

I have seen that used in tying demos, looks like neat stuff. Can it be found locally?

Speaking a former NRA, I would. The Bow is truly an awesome fishery. We are seriously blessed with nice water.