ness

Andy: When I see DG I don't wonder where they're from, I think flaming Lawrence liberal Cricket: I hope you know I was just pokin' you in the eye. IMO, it's best to take a more direct approach. If some dude comes to my door, I want to know why he's there fairly quickly. If I get a letter full of praise, I wonder if it's sincere. I'm probably jaded, because I get 'sold' to all the time, and have for more than 20 years. To me, the best salesmen are the best listeners, not the best talkers. They listen, learn what's important, and work to get me what I need. They build trust through their actions, not through their words, and that takes a little time. So, getting back to the topic -- I'd most likely go to the door and just be upfront about what I want, and let the conversation go from there. If the guy looked pissed I was even there, and gave a quick no, I'd probably apologize for the intrusion and move on. If the guy was open to discussing it, I'd let him talk and try to learn what he expects or would like from me.

Absolutely right, Chief. I've got MO and KS game thief numbers in my phone, which also has a camera. If I see somebody break the rules, I will tattle. Another thing I have done, and suggest other do too, is call the number when you're seeing evidence of poachers. Worm containers, Powerbait jars, whatever. Call them and let them know there are violations taking place. That doesn't guarantee that something will happen, but it improves the odds.

I'm not opposed to writing a letter -- I've done it too. But, like in a face to face, I'd get right to the point. Gushing over a beautiful property, or offering to clear the culvert are fine, bringing up a disabled friend may all be sincere, but you'd lose a lot of folks by the end of paragraph two. How about: Dear Resident, Can I fish in your pond? I'd pay for the privilege. Cricket.

Honestly? It's too wordy for my tastes. I've got people trying to sell me stuff all the time, and I have a pretty good sniffer for BS. I believe I detected some there :^) I'd just go up to the door most times, look him in the eye and get right to the point. I'd make time for smalltalk or make an offer after that, if the guy seemed like he was in the mood. Otherwise, I'd give him a smile, thank him for his time and walk slowly back to the car, sulking.

Dear Cricket, Your second letter was more than Mr. Jones could take. I found him in the driveway, still clutching the letter in his hand. He despised Dale Carnegie, hated the disabled and was proud of our culvert. Forever in your debt but you still can't fish here, Widow Jones

Dear Cricket, I see you read the Carnegie book. Stay outta my yard, Mr. and Mrs. Jones

I've been getting e-mails about those concerts, and would love to do one but there has always been a conflict. Lots of good bands, as I recall. Nice to see a good report on them

Coldwaterer hit the nail on the head. Enforcement is the issue, not the rules. I don't know what the fines are now, but I'd bet they're enough to be a deterrent if only they'd get imposed occasionally. To those that say the poachers don't care about the rules, you're right. But they would if they got stuck a time or two.

The colder the water, the more dissolved oxygen it's capable of holding. So, shallow, standing water would tend to have less than spring-fed moving water. See? Coldwater -- can you give me an example of a menial ant task?

Geez, you're making this too easy.

Good info Dano has there. I started out with a kit, and I've still got most of the tools and materials. Tools don't get used, materials are down in the bottom of the box somewhere. I do use the rib from the cheap Indian hackle as antennae on a couple patterns. Anyhoo -- the vice, bobbin and scissors are the three tools you have to have. I started out with a Thompson AA, but graduated to a Renzetti Traveler after a couple years. I've only got the cheap brass and wire bobbins -- I've never felt like I needed to upgrade. I tried several scissors but have settled on Wiss Clip. The never leave my hand when tying, thanks to the ring finger rig. They have replaceable blades, but they've gotten fairly cheap so I just pitch them now. Like Danno said, get with a friend or take a class. Pick a fairly easy pattern (like a mohair leech, woolly bugger, Copper John), learn it and go from there. I've got an old book by Eric Leiser that teaches the basics of each style of fly (dry, wet, nymph, streamer). It's dated, but still good material.

Wrench -- thanks for the description. That's certainly creative, and something I wouldn't have come up with. I bought some balsa and foam. That's kinda where I wanted to start. I'm not gonna carve and perfectly-shaped indicators, but both materials float. That's about how far I've gotten. But I like the orthodontic rubber band idea for holding on an indicator. Stay tuned

Flatlander? Not sure what you mean. If a flatlander is someone who's never fished with ... Wait a minute. This is the boat review forum, right?

Wow Cricket -- I was just about to jump on you for misspelling agnostic, when a little birdy told me to Google ignostic first. I never knew that, which is what this thread is about. Glad we went full-circle on this without Chief showing up or anybody getting pissed.

Look you idiots. Ghosts don't throw bleach bottles at the wall. I'm surprised I even need to say this. Obviously you had a mild case of polter-guys.

Yeah Rat -- I'm game. I'll need help with the boot though.

It's gonna be a little of everything. Leeches, pheasant tails, hare's ears, copper Johns, hoppers, stimulators, Adams, Thunder creeks, Clousers, and others. Fly boxes are pretty sparse right now. I'm also farting around trying to develop an indicator system that's easy to make, easy to adjust, durable, cheap, etc. Or, maybe I'll just buy some.

I always wondered why they needed an old/scary place to live. Has anybody ever seen a ghost in new construction? I also wonder why all the ghost-chasers on TLC always have the lights off and use night-vision equipment. Is it so the ghosts don't see them and hide? Hmmmm. So many questions.

I think I'm gonna close the file on this investigation into the paranormal. Next?

Flyfishmaster -- thanks for that link to the earlier article. That's an interesting approach, and solves the problem of repositioning the indicator. I've got two kids in braces -- it's about time I got something out of it.

Wayne -- I'm with you on this stuff. I think part of the problem just comes down to bureaucratic thinking. MDC has a huge income due to their constitutionally-guaranteed slice of the tax revenue. So, they feel like they've got to spend it, and spend it now, or they'll risk losing it. Too bad they can't spend it on more rangers to protect what we've got, but I guess they've gotta be able to point at the new stuff. BTW -- the CCC program is being replayed on the Topeka PBS station tonight, so I'll get to see the whole thing.

Ergot? Psillocybin? Peyote? That would explain the visions.

Good -- that's the right way to look at it. I retract my earlier statement.

So, I'm listening to Little River Band yesterday, and the guy says, 'If there's one thing in life that's missing, it's the time that I spend alone sailing on the cool and bright clear waters.' Kinda hit home, in a girly way. I really enjoy both solo and with friends, but it's in different ways. Some of the places I fish aren't meant for more than one person. When I'm solo I'm setting the schedule and the pace. Also, I'm more likely to slow down and take a look around when I'm solo. When there's someone else along there's often a part of me that's trying to figure out whether he wants to speed up, slow down, go home, whatever. I'm mostly looking at him, not my surroundings. My best fishing (and hunting) partners are the ones where there's a karma, and it just flows, and everybody's happy. There are a number of people I just don't fish or hunt with anymore because the karma ain't there. As a matter of fact, I told a long-time friend (30-years) and hunting buddy I'd take a pass this year on the pheasant opener with him because of this very reason. Anyhoo, back to canoes -- a well-built solo canoe is an extremely pleasant way to go. And that doesn't mean you have to go alone.

Hey Cricket, Judging by your avatar you were born post-Momo. I just checked, and there's a Wikipedia article on him. Just click here-> Momo