trout fanatic

Okay, I have some questions that I would love to have answered. I have heard time and time again from all sorts of reputable sources that nuclear energy is cheap and safe. It poses no problem to us. I fully realize that the "times have changed" and ways of dealing with chemicals and such are safer than say 40 years ago. That being said why don't we: 1. Encourage all states to use more nuclear energy. 2. Pass a law that says any state that does use nuclear energy HAS to dispose of its waste within the confines of its own borders (it is safe isn't it) I am really tired of hearing how safe it is than discovering that places like New York (or California or Missouri for that matter) sends their nuclear waste to New Mexico or Nevada. If it is so safe we should be expected to live with its byproduct and not expect our neighbors to grovel in it.

I have been a supporter of drilling for more oil for quite awhile-but with reservations. Drilling for oil IS a form of mining and I am concerned that any oil drilling legislations will wind up with all sorts of tacked on legislation that will allow big mining operations to mine pretty much anyplace they want. Drilling may have come a long way but it doesn't seem to have reached Pennsylvania or W Virginia yet. All kinds of mountain stripping and leeching problems exist throughout that area (this is with respect to mining particularly not necessarily drilling). I have serious reservations that big mining operations or the friendly politicians they have in their back pockets will be able to control themselves. Quite a problem, isn't it?

Welcome to the board scudman. That is quite a first post and I am envious. Congratulations.

Dano: Please re-think your position. Can you imagine our great great grandchildren studyin history in school and learning that WW III was started cuz some freakin cook served up some sloppy eggs? Is that what you want? Course on the other hand, eggs is awful easy on the budget. Got me some ponderin to do

I think I'll vote for Bill Dance. He's a good ol boy (gooder than bubba ever was), provides comic relief in his outtakes and catches bigger bass than either Obama or McCain. He could teach them religeous fanatics how to catch big bass and they would spend all their money in wal-mart. Which would in turn make Zebco the largest company in the universe and improve our economy. Wonder who is runnin partner would be????????

Brooks: There are lots of flies that are incredibly effective in the trout parks. When I started I found out very quickly that midge patterns are some of the best. I agree with every poster here on the advise they have given you so far. 7X it is. Zebra midge (google it-incredibly easy to tie) white, red or black (hmm now that I think of it Olive kicks butt too) size 16 or smaller. I have settled on a 16 because it is easier for me to tie them on but 18's and even 20's are sometimes the bees knees. Other patterns work well too (I am very fond of the partridge and orange wet fly-not very hard to fish but it does take a technique). Dry flies work well as someone stated earlier try cracklebacks (again sizes 16 or smaller-although I have had success on 14's always keep a few of the bigger flies around for when the trout get persnickety) Elk and Deer wing caddis flies work well in almost any color phase (I know Bennett has a black caddis hatch from time to time and the other parks may too). When all else fails, egg patterns. For me this pattern is feast or famine, I catch one on every cast or none at all-don't know why that is. I am sure someone else will chime in with other patterns. Hope this helps

Chief. I read (but not completely or carefully I might add) the link you provided. As far as I was concerned Clinton was a coward that ran away from a war. He had pull from powerful people in just the right places and used it like he used everything else. Just from my experience however, I personally think the story about the Fort Bragg incident is a load of crap-I can't imagine it happening that way. After all, as unpopular with the military as he was, if he DID want to make an appearance at an installation (I'm thinking photo op here) why wouldn't he just go to Andrews AFB in the district where he has his own personal honor guard? No he was unpopular but not to the extent that folks were out to get him (and I guess that is what the reference was about. We made our displeasure felt in other ways. Unfortunately he didn't notice it in the 96 election but Al Gore did in the 2000 (check the military absentee ballot)

Chief: My source is me (Iam military retired and served in the military both during peace time and at war. I can tell you that every military installation I was at or had friends at (my brother is also retired military) suffered a shortage of manpower in the 90's. We had the same missions and the same amount of work to be done-we just did it with fewer people (translation LOTS OF OVERTIME). So if it is a documented source you are looking for I am not familiar with where to find it other than a famous quote made by Bill Clinton that should be easy to find (especially for Clinton fans). It went "I loathe the military". I did not add a word they were all genuinely his. Pretty easy to see where I cast my vote.

A large amount of the surpluses we "enjoyed" during the clinton years came as a result of his slicing and dicing of the military. He made no secret of his loathing (I am retired military and trust me-we loathed right back) of the military and the money that it takes to run one. I for one, feel a heckuva lot more secure today than I did in the 90's.

I echo JJ's sentiments. THANKS.

Didn't even have to think about it. I voted yes, as well. Good Idea!!

What!! Fishin without a license--Grrrr--Git-a-rope

Dano is right. It was a great speech and I give kudos to the speech writer. Obama is also a tremendous speaker-but them ain't his words comin out of his mouth. They are telling us what they think we want to hear and we clap.

I am a card carryin, flag wavin cynic. I don't trust ANY of them and believe even FEWER of them. I sho up at the polls and vote my conscience. I am thinkin that gramps had it right (bury your money in the back yard and tell the bastiges that you don't have any). I too find myself more and more voting for a person of one party in order to keep the person of the other party from getting my vote (as opposed to voting for someone that I actually respect). Tis a shame

It wasn't that it couldn't fight any harder-it just seen that fancy hardware you was usin and surrendered!

Thought I would bring this old thread back to life because I just received my new Konic 3.5 last night. I wanted the sealed drag for winter steelheading and this reel seems to fill the bill nicely. A little to early to give any performance reviews as it doesn't have a fly line on it yet but it certainly is a substantial reel. Drag is tree stump pullin solid. A little on the plain jane side but that is of little concern to me. Will keep you informed on its progress. If this thing is anywhere near what it appears to be, I may have a stable of them. Just a footnote for those who are interested in such things, there are no markings on the reel or box to indicate country of manufacture so I suspect it is of offshore breeding.

Big red. True oil is lighter than water but my point was an illustration. A toxin is a toxin and if it is in a waterway, having a zebra mussel ain't gonna make it all go away.

First, a couple of things (and keep in mind I am VERY passionate about this topic so I admit up front I am BIASED). I notice the article quoted mentions 1991 as a reference. That is a long time ago and I guarantee you that things have changed. I highly doubt that the gentleman who wrote it lives on the lake. Secondly, appearances are deceptive. A clearer lake does not mean a cleaner lake. I doubt that zebra mussels dig motor oil. I personally think that the powers that be must levy heavy penalties against shipping lines who enter fresh water and empty their ballasts full of salt (and lord knows what else). The states that border the great lakes did a tremendous job in the 70's in levying penalties against heavy industries that polluted the lake. Most of them went out of business or relocated (Diamond Shamrock-one of the biggest violators of all is now in Houston-I pity Houston). The downside to this however, has been the loss of jobs. Most of the cities that border the lakes are in economic downturns. They need the few jobs that the shipping industry provides so I am not holding my breath expecting miracles. In fact I expect this debate to continue on great lakes forums for decades to come.

From what I have learned of zebra mussels, phil hit it right on the head. These little guys are filtering machines. They eat much of the zoo plankton and much of the other matter that small baitfish feed on. Fewer baitfish ultimately end up as fewer fish period. The fish returns throgh the various weirs on the great lakes show fewer returns every year. While the fishing is still good (great by some standards) it is not nearly as good as in years past. We knew back in the early 60's when the sea lamphrey invaded the GL that there was a problem. We chose not to deal with the direct cause (ballast water) and instead poisoned them. It has turned into a political fiasco. Lamphreys=zebra clams=gobies=???.

About 4 or 5 years ago I ordered a feather-craft catalogue on line. After waiting several weeks and not receiving it I called them on the phone and asked the person who ansered to please send me one. Ed apologized and sent one right out to me (after talking for another 10 minutes about fishing). It was only after I hung up the phone it hit me that I just called a fly fishing company and not only did I get a real live person to talk to I Got the Boss! Feathercraft does indeed have some special qualities. I am so sorry for Ed's passing but I am glad the business is in good hands. I will be placing an order soon.

Concur with Dano, almost all of my midge patterns (cept the floaters) get a healthy coating of SHHAN. Good stuff

Ha Ha. Stimulate the economy my eye. I know what a new rod stimulates-us fisherman!! Good luck on your Taney trip

As I alluded to in a previous post, I had ordered a Redington RS4 10 foot 8 weight for steelheading this fall. My ever so friendly UPS guy dropped it off today and I quickly slapped a reel on it to give it a trial run. I have never cast a fast rod before so I didn't quite know what to expect. I started out with about 15 feet of line out and just cast it back and forth getting used to the tip flex then stripped off some line and and cast the whole dam thing! This was a feat that I repeated each time. The line I used was an old SA WF 8 line so realistically I was only casting 62 or 63 feet but I was very impressed as there was no effort on my part at all. Cmon fall, hurry up an git here!

Well, my internet searches took care of my little problem and I thought I would post the results on this thread. I went to flyandfloatfishing.com (sorry, I don't know how to drop the link for you) and clicked on videos. Voila!! about the 5th video down was a very detailed description on how to build a sink tip in easy to understand segments. Hope this helps someone else

Thanks for the tip Dano. I am going to get a new 8 weight line anyway so I am just bouncing different ideas around. But it just so happens I have an old floating 8 weight layin around just beggin to be played with so I think I will get some Rio T-8 and cut it to different lengths and see what happens