Greg

Did anyone else catch the article in this month's American Angler about the swiss banning catch and release fishing? I think it was mentioned once before on the forum but this article really goes into it in depth. Regardless of whether or not you practice catch and release - to ban it is the craziest thing I've ever heard. That just makes a limited resource even more scarce........ From what the article said PETA is the force behind the ban. Which seems kind of backward but their motivation is evidently to eventually ban all sportfishing. The article also stated they (PETA) are more powerful in Europe than here in the States. Greg

I use fluoro 90% of the time even with dry flies. I've found when I use 6X or 7X with a dry fly the tippet does sink but not so fast or far that it drags the fly underwater. I used Rio fluoro for some time but switched to the Orvis brand a few years ago. I like it just as well and it is quite a bit cheaper. Greg

The teton Tioga is a really nice reel in that price range. I have a couple and they are my favorites. Greg

I know this has been said before but I just don't understand the animosity between those that catch and release and those that don't??? I'm a catch and release guy and so is my wife. But I've got nothing against anyone keeping legal fish - trout or otherwise. When I see someone that has kept a big brown or bow it does bother me a bit but so what? I would never question that person's right to keep a legal fish. And as someone that has fished Taney since the late 70's - catch and release does work even in stocked fisheries like Taney. During the 80's and 90's just about the only rainbow you could catch on the upper lake was a freshly stocked 12 incher. After the slot was put in the avg size increased dramatically. Obviously a lot of these released bows are surviving. Which is a good thing (in my opinion). Trav I hope you get your boat going soon too. Greg

Just my opinions here but I prefer a moderate to moderate fast action for all of my fishing. As such the St. Croix Avid and Sage Launch are right up my alley. The TFO rods just don't fit me. The Pro and Ticr feel like a broomstick to me. I have owned both the avid (older model) and lauch and they are both exceptionally nice rods. For what you are thinking about I would think a 6 wt would be the best choice. Greg

10pointer I'm with you. Simms gear has never let me down. I don't have the G3 vest but I do have an older guide vest. I really like it. It's held up very well for me despite some hard use (and I bought it used from ebay!). drew - no one probably needs as much storage as Simms guide vests provide. But it's still nice to have all that room. Problem is that I tend to accumulate all kinds of crap until the vest gets up to about 50 lbs. When my back starts hurting I know it's time to thin it out LOL. Greg

It's usually very busy. Sometimes a zoo but it can clear out by the actual holiday (labor day) as folks start heading home. This year I think it will all depend on if they are still generating 24/7 or not. Greg

I've been following that one too. It was sad buy there's more to the story than just that. There are 2 sides to the story and the moderator (John Wilson) thought it was overall a good discussion. But let's not start that topic here!! Please!! Greg

I completely agree. But there are those that would have you believe that fishing at Taneycomo for stocked trout is so easy. Which just isn't true. Greg

Dangerous subject though (politics). At work at times I've had to put a moritorium on talking about politics just because of the trouble it can cause. Greg

I just flat out don't understand why some people got so upset on that other thread? No one really said anything offensive. So a few catch and release proponents wished he would have tried to release that big brown. So what? No one was knocking the man personally or saying it wasn't his right to keep it. Almost every single person congratulated him. I'm catch and release too. But I have never put someone else down for keeping legal fish. I kept a lot of fish when I was younger. But I just get more enjoyment now out of putting them back. And it just feels right to me. And bigredbirdfan you're right this probably doesn't NEED to be rehashed. And here I am contributing to the "rehashing". Greg

I saw a study some time back that you actually cause less harm to a trout by landing it by hand as opposed to a net. Especially if it is done carefully. But the study said either way is OK if done carefully. I can't remember where I saw this but it was a study done on trout mortality and catch and release. This particular study did show that most released trout do survive. Personally I carry a fairly large net but only use it on bigger fish. I hand release all the smaller trout or other fish. I generally wet my hand first and just barely lift them out of the water (don't squeeze) then twist the hook loose (if it is debarbed it is much easier). Sometimes the fish squirms loose but it just falls a few inches back into the water and I just start again. With bigger fish I use a net but if the net is wet first and the netting is a soft material I think the fish will ultimately be fine. I hope that helps. Greg

Tim what size of beetle were you using? And do you sell those in your shop? Thanks, Greg

I think people just need to realize that a catch and release fisherman (I'm one) are just always going to wish that a fish like that was revived (if possible) and released. Most of us don't mean it as a critcism when we make statements that "we wish the fish had been released". It's just how we think. I think we all realize everyone's right to keep legal fish. I certainly do. This argument gets old. Can we just put it to rest? I congratulate the fisherman that is the subject of this thread on his catch of a lifetime. Greg

The water seems to me to be up somewhat from what is normal this time of year. But it's still very fishable. I wasn't using a lot of weight to get the nymphs down. Clarity - the water was just slightly off color. Greg

Had not been to Bennett for several months. My son (13 years) and I made the trip up Sunday evening. Very hot when we arrived at 3:30 PM but it cooled off nicely. We started out below the dam/waterfall and fished down past the bridge. The fishing was OK for that first couple of hours. My son caught 3 or 4 and I landed 6. My son decided he'd had enough about 6:30. He settled in with a book and I fished the area above the fall. My son quit too soon. The fishing was red hot for me that last couple of hours. Probably 20 fish in that time span. A lot of fun. I tried various flies. A mohair leech (caught 1), a dry (18 griffin gnat caught 2), and the rest were caught on small #20 nymphs (zebras and pheasant tail). Several good sized fish (15 to 16" range) and many that fought extremely hard. Some people run down hatchery bows but I find them a lot of fun. And they can be fairly selective at times. Greg

I had never really thought about it. But based on my experiences there could be more fish stocked in zone 2 than zone 1. I fish both areas ten or twelve times a year. I always seem to catch more fish in zone 2. But I like zone 1 as well. I think the stream is beautiful up there and on a lot of days you can have part of the river to yourself. And I agree that the anglers up there don't tend to crowd you out as much. Greg

I consider myself a fly tackle junkie. But I had never heard of that brand. I googled it. It looks like a fine reel. Greg

I'm going to put a plug (or review) in here for RDP fly rods. The owner/proprietor is a member of this board. I bought a 5 wt rod from this gentleman over a year ago on a whim. Over the past year I've come to like the rod more and more to the point that now it's my favorite rod. Even over a couple of much more expensive rods. RDP rods are priced right and his standard blank (sevier tiger eye) is awesome. This blank is a more moderate action (which I prefer) but still has a lot of backbone. RDP fly rods will customize any way you want. I don't know if anyone else on the board likes custom fly rods but I really do. I like being able to pick the wrap colors and I like my name on the rod. Here's a link: http://rdpflyrods.com/ I plan to buy another at some point. He certainly didn't ask me to post this review on the board. I just wanted to. I'm attaching a recent pic of my rod as well. Greg

I've not ever stayed at the Circle J - but I've been by it several times and considered staying there. Without saying too much and offending anyone - we (my wife and I) have decided against ever staying there. Greg

Thanks for the report John. I almost came down on Sun. Now I wish I had. Greg

Nice fish. I had no idea there were still so many smallmouth up there. I would have thought the water up by the dam would be too cold for them and they would have migrated down to the lower lake by now. But evidently not. Greg

Don't feel bad. I've seen this animation before and I still have problems with the knot. I can kind of tie it. But I can't get the finished loop small enough for my tastes and when I do get it small enough it doesn't hold. Greg

Well done and I'm looking forward to seeing the replica in your shop. Greg

Dano - by a dropper rig do you mean a multiple fly setup? If so I did use that part of the time. But mostly my flies were just heavily weighted. I tied them up the night before and wrapped a lot of lead on the hook before tying. That and I also used several split shot a few inches above the fly. And a big indicator. All that makes for some pretty difficult casting. Not for everyone and I wouldn't want to do it every time out. But it was still fun for the most part for a few hours. Something I forgot to mention in the prior report was how hard the fish fought and how vibrant their colors are. I guess the high water is good for something! And it should make for some great fishing once they finally stop generating 24/7. Greg