Rolan Duffield

The rod looks great, though I have a comment for you. Don't use any of the commercial laquors or furniture finishes for coating any type of Fishing rod. Many of these type coatings become hard and very brittle over time. A Fly rod flexes during use and the brittle finishes will crack and peel over extended use. Go to your local Fly Shop and buy a small container of Flex Coat or any finish designed for this application. These finishes have plasticizers incorperated in them and are designed to permit flexing during use. The best way to apply these finishes is to dip a couple of your fingers in the finish and rub the finish on the rod. It will smooth out easily. Rolan

I've been using the regular Fuji single foot guides for years and really like them for casting ease. Wouldn't even consider using any of the snake guides anymore. I would be concerned with the small size of these micro guides as I doubt if the guide size is large enough to provide friction free and smooth casting. Of course this depends on their size in relation to the line diameter. Rolan

Good report Paola Cat. Thats how we fished nymphs back in the old days (50's, 60's, etc.) as we didn't have or know about strike indicators. This is actually a better method to use in moving water conditions. What your watching is the belly in your fly line for any change in the angle or movement. I was using this technique during the high water conditions. Rolan

Thanks for sharing, Phil. I'm sure we will be seeing her more in the future. She inspires people. Rolan

Very interresting and well written article. Nice job Phil and Marsha. Rolan

If your starting out to learn fly tying -- DO NOT buy a kit. These are mostly cheap junk. Buy yourself good equipment and it will last you many, many years. My Thompson Model A vice is still going after 50 + years. Here's my recommendations for equipment. These 4 tools are all you need for 95 % of fly tying. A good vice Scissors -- (fly tying sissors with a narrow point.) A good Bobbin. Thats the tool that holds the thread. Make certain it holds the thread securely and has a polished tip. You don't want one that abrades the thread when tying. Hackle pliers. Try to find a good book that teaches you how to use materials and provides some of the basics for fly tying. Learn how to make a "whip finish". Thats the technique used to tie off the fly when finishing it. Recommendations for the streams you want to fish should only come from fly shops in those areas. If you have a fly shop in your area, they likely can help you get started. You need to find out what type flies to tie, size of the flies and colors are all important. Rolan

X I'm here.

ecce38: I'm not familiar with the Photographic Society Northwest, however, about 60 years ago when I first became interrested in Photography I learned a lot from a similar society. It was the Photographic Society of America at that time. I don't remember if we had regional groups at that time. We submitted prints to an experienced moderator who cretiqued them. Then this group of prints was circulated to each person, who had submitted prints, for their comments. This was a great learning experience for me. I'm sure you will really enjoy the experience and learn a lot about the basics of good picture taking. I still have several of those original prints and comments of my pictures. Be sure to tell us about your experience and congratulations on winning the Travel Catagory. Rolan

Don't scare me. I envisioned you had changed locations for Lilleys Landing. Rolan

Phil: I'll have an assortment of flies for you when I arrive on the 9th of Sept. I won't be able to participate this yeat due to previous commitments. I really enjoyed the time with them last year. Wish we had more notice. Rolan

Great pictures. Many thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I envy you. Rolan

If you will send me your name and address, I will send you a general writeup for building a Fly rod. The same techniques can be used for building a spinning rod. Rolan

Sounds like a great adventure and fishing trip. I'm sure you will make a great team and provide a lot of fun for your clients. You just don't find better Captains than Bill and Phil. Wish I was about 10 years younger. Rolan

If you need a rod for traveling you don't have many options. However, if you're wanting a good sensitive rod then go with one that doesn't have any joints. I know that's not practible with a long fly rod though the more joints you add will negatively affect performance. A two piece fly rod would be my preference anytime. Anytime you add a joint you will sacrifice some rod action and rod sensitivity. Any joint will take away from the optimun performance. Look back on some of Phil's and Bill Bablers reports using spinning rods. they always prefer a one piece rod as it's easier to feel the strikes. Perhaps you think it doesn't make a difference for daytime fishing, however, I'll bet it makes a lot of difference with the rod for feeling strikes in nightime fly fishing. Rolan

Randall: I would just put a new tip on at the shortened rod tip as Ness indicated. You'll never miss 1.5" and you won't loose a nicklle's worth of rod action. Splicing it at that juncture will not help the rod action. Rolan

Great Trout Richard. Congratulations. I can see Walts frustations as he's a great competitor. Rolan

Bman. Yes I knew there was a tree somewhere around there though I couldn't locate it. Thought it might have floated off. You couldn't see it with the high water levels we were experincing. The top was just barely at water level when they lowered the water to using 2 turbines. We saw the top of it in time to avoid a problem. We floated near there as that is a good area to fish at times. Thanks for your concerns. Wish you would have introduced yourself. Fishing was the poorest I have seen in some time. Jigs just wern't working at all. Our best lure was Peppy (gray scud). You just needed to get it on the bottom to have any chance of success. I believe that the high water, the low pressure conditions and the continual rains are having a major impact on fishing conditions. Thouroughly enjoyed the time spent with my oldest son. That was priceless for me. He's never had an interest in fishing until last fall. We spent 3 days fishing together and he caught a fair amount of fish. It doesn't get any better than that. In spite of the tough conditions he stayed with it all day, every day. My great friend, Phil, invited us croppie fishing and Phil helped Richard, giving him some valuable lessons on using the spinning rod. Many thanks buddy. Rolan

I have a Ranger 207 Cherokee aluminum boat with a 115 Yahama. Will be at Taney next week with one of my sons, Richard. Rolan

Here's a very good article about batteries you might be interrested in. http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html 100% charge -- 12.7 volts --1.265 specific gravity 75% charge -- 12.4 volts -- 1.225 sg. 50% charge -- 12.2 volts -- 1.190 sg. Rolan

Great Pictures Phil. They're very interresting and good photos too. You did good. Rolan

It's my understanding that they are not required to post anything about ethanol in their gas. The Missouri govenor signed into law requiring 10% ethanol. Hope they never increase that amount which I hear is being considered. What a waste of resources and we loose mpg as well as increasing problems. Where's the savings? Recently read an article that indicated it takes 6 gal of water to make 1 gal of ethanol. Rolan

Boated to the dam Tuesday afternoon. Didn't see any other boats on the lake fron Lilleys to the dam. I believe they were running three turbines. Wind was fierce at 25+ mph. Tried to use the spinning rod with a white 1/4 oz jig. The wind was blowing so hard that it was impossible to see the line and any strikes. I tried two floats and finally gave up and moved down to the Lookout area. Floated from Lookout to Fall Creek. Still didn't have any strikes on the 1/4 oz. jig. Tried white and sculpin colors. Decided to try my luck with the fly rod. Rigged it with a long leader and pink 1/50 oz jig. Also used a weighted "Peppy" scud (gray) 15-20" below the jig. Finally caught 5 trout in the 11-12" size on Peppy. Interresting part was that not one trout was caught on the jig. I tried pink, white, sculpin and ginger colors. Wednesday the wind continued blowing hard, so I stayed in the Lookout to Fall Creek area where some areas were slightly sheltered from the wind. Had slightly better results with the fly rod and only landed one trout on a jig. I did have to replace a couple of Peppy flies that were tore up. Tells me I wasn't seeing strikes though I did manage to catch a 16" Rainbow. Thursday the wind died down although the rains came and stayed all day. Peppy was still the fly that worked although you really had to pay close attention to see any semblence of a very light strike. In spite of the conditions, I really enjoyed the trip and a chance to enjoy a little flly fishing. Rolan

Boated to the dam Tuesday afternoon. Didn't see any other boats on the lake fron Lilleys to the dam. I believe they were running three turbines. Wind was fierce at 25+ mph. Tried to use the spinning rod with a white 1/4 oz jig. The wind was blowing so hard that it was impossible to see the line and any strikes. I tried two floats and finally gave up and moved down to the Lookout area. Floated from Lookout to Fall Creek. Still didn't have any strikes on the 1/4 oz. jig. Tried white and sculpin colors. Decided to try my luck with the fly rod. Rigged it with a long leader and pink 1/50 oz jig. Also used a weighted "Peppy" scud (gray) 15-20" below the jig. Finally caught 5 trout in the 11-12" size on Peppy. Interresting part was that not one trout was caught on the jig. I tried pink, white, sculpin and ginger colors. Wednesday the wind continued blowing hard, so I stayed in the Lookout to Fall Creek area where some areas were slightly sheltered from the wind. Had slightly better results with the fly rod and only landed one trout on a jig. I did have to replace a couple of Peppy flies that were tore up. Tells me I wasn't seeing strikes though I did manage to catch a 16" Rainbow. Thursday the wind died down although the rains came and stayed all day. Peppy was still the fly that worked although you really had to pay close attention to see any semblence of a very light strike. In spite of the conditions, I really enjoyed the trip and a chance to enjoy a little flly fishing. Rolan

The 4 piece rod would best be used for Traveling where you need to conserve space. I personally believe this type of rod will not perform as nice as a 2 piece rod. Anytime you add joints to a rod you sacrifice some rod action. The joints make the rod stiffer in those areas and diminish the overall casting quality. I'll prefer a 2 piece rod -- anyday. Rolan

Thanks Bill. Your reports are always appreciated and factual. I really enjoy them. Rolan