troutchaser

I rarely agree with Darwinian theory, but in this case it may have merit.

I don't think that's a state law, Phil. If it is, it's not enforced. On my way to church, yesterday, gas was $2.69 per gallon. On the way home from church, the same station was $2.75! That was in 3 hours.

But are you willing to pony up the $$$ to attract higher caliber individuals? Unfortunately, in a capitalist society, teaching is one of the bottom rungs on the ladder of financial "success". Improvement will not come through testing and monitoring as much as through better teachers. Better teachers will not come until they have better financial incentives. And that won't happen until we're willing to pay them what they're worth. Unfortunately, the bulk of our country's population is aging past the point of direct involvement and/or reaping the results of our education system. The result is that the tax base for our public schools is unwilling, in most cases, to fund these schools. I guess what I'm saying is you get what you pay for.

I'd like to share one aspect of standardized student testing that is absolutely positive. My daughter is a 3rd grade student in Springfield's Public School system. She is in a looping class, meaning they study with the same teacher for two years. There is a 4th grade class they study with, as well. 4th grade students who have a weakness in math, for example, will study with students from the 3rd grade in small 4-5 member groups. On the other hand, if a 3rd grader excels in, say, reading, they would study with a group of 4th graders at that same aptitude. Either way, the student is put with peers who are at the same level of progression in any given subject. This solves two major issues for the school system. First, students rarely get bored from a lack of challenging work. Second, children who need extra assistance in learning can receive it, since there are two teachers working on the same subject together. The results have been astounding. I sat with these two teachers for a long time discussing the past results of this pedagogy. There measureable results speak for themselves. They aren't able to use MAP (standardized) tests to measure, due to the anonymous nature of the tests, but they do use the district approved measurables. I believe one of the issues may not be in the tests themselves, but in the methods used to teach children. One of the most revealing and disheartening results these teachers could quantify (via survey, this is a post-graduate research project for both teachers) is the direct correlation between the level of parental involvement and the students' performance. Children with parents who include themselves in the teaching process through homework tutoring, class involvement and teacher-parent communication consistently score higher and excel in basic subjects faster than their peers. Bottom line: students who are challenged properly in all subjects, as opposed to being taught at the level of the lowest performing student in the classroom, will perform significantly better on quantifiable, results-oriented testing. Odd how the most obvious solutions are sometimes the most difficult to implement.

If the U.S. relied on the sorting, pigeon-holing tests similar to our german cousins, I would be a neon sign repairman, according to the results I received in 8th grade. Our public educational system allowed me to pursue the educational course I wanted, rather than what a test recommended. I now hold a graduate degree in business, I've successfully run an entrepeneurial venture, I've worked as a financial analyst, and I'm currently in the software industry. Imagine the undiscovered talents and unfulfilled dreams that would lie forever dormant if we assigned our youth to vocations recommended solely by test results.

You know, it's interesting to see this topic written out. I've seen the various skin materials in the fly shops, but I considered it kind of like cheating. I don't know why I thought that, though. I guess it boils down to a personal definition of what makes it a fly. On some other forums I visit, they'll shred you like a pack of wolves for calling a zebra midge a fly. To share my personal view, I would refer you to the analogy of the stagecoach driver's interview. The first interviewee came in and he was asked, "These canyon roads are really narrow. How close to the edge can you drive?" He replied, "Why, I can get within a foot of the edge with no problem." The second interviewee was asked this question. "I could get within 6 inches of the edge and probably keep her upright" was his reply. The third interviewee, when asked the same question, replied "I wouldn't know how close I could get. I'd rather stay as far from the edge as I can." Guess who got the job. I just don't believe in tempting fate or in bending rules. That's not to say that SilverMallard's point isn't valid. I think that defining what constitutes a fly is up to personal interpretation right up until someone with granted authority draws the line for you. Oh, yeah. Here's a great trick I saw at Bennett Spring a couple of years ago. Instead of putting the licorice in your fly box, keep it in your mouth. Then, when you tie or re-tie your fly, use a liberal amount of spit to lube the knot. It works wonders with a white chamois worm in the flies only zone.

I just called the marina. They're going to go take a look and see what's up.

Good to hear you were catching fish. I heard fishing was hard right now, since the water was high, fast and murky. How deep did you have to go with the zebras?

Welcome, Woodchuck. I think you'll enjoy your new addiction I highly recommend you cast several rods before deciding which one to buy. That way you can find the rod that best fits your casting style. I'd also recommend signing up at Bass Pro for their Friday morning casting lesson. It's not much, but it's a start. Browse this forum and look for good information. Most of us are full of lies and tall tales, but we manage to pull out a nugget of good information once in a while. Also, check out some fly fishing websites like www.flyanglersonline.com for some really good articles. They have a beginner's section that is really good. Again, glad you're here.

June 1st suits me just fine.

Wow! Byooteeful fishy! Way to go, KD.

Of course. In my experience, the difference is that these animals are not as inclined to be in such close proximity with humans. Nah. I don't think we need to do anything about them. I'm not even recommending the delisting of wolves. 650 breeding pairs (in Idaho, last count) is dismally small. I don't believe opening them up to hunting at all because I think predator hunting is unethical. But any animal, whether wild or domesticated - be it a wolf, bear, lion, dog, etc. - that becomes a destructive or life threatening intruder should be removed. Whether that removal includes that animal's death depends on the immediate danger. In the case of the wolf that whelped in my brother's out building, he called and had the Feds remove her and the pups to be relocated. He could have destroyed her and no one would have been any wiser to it, but he believes, as do I, in a greater good. A bigger picture, if you will. As to the Indian comment, my great-great-grandmother is on the Dawes roll. I know all about this issue.

Well said, Al.

I haven't fished Crane Creek in years. My wife's grandfather used to own the land along the creek just north of Swinging Bridge road, South of town. I would sure like to go back and fish it some time. Let me know when you're going back and I'll meet you there. Oh, yeah. I'm surprised to hear it's running with so much water. It's been really low the past few years.

Too true, Don. I have a brother who lives in Southeast Idaho on the edge of a midsized city. He has dealt with wolves recently. One used his storage building to have pups, and a pack of them killed one of his hunting dogs and blinded and maimed a very expensive horse - on his property. His neighbor has had it worse - he lost a horse and several breeding dogs from his kennel. According to the Federal Agents, the wolves have been using the irrigation canals to travel great distances. Unfortunately, the canal runs along the back of my brother's 5 acre property, so the odds of this happening again are fairly good. Neither of these men have a "deep hatred for the wolf" as some would have us believe. But when you have 4 children under the age of ten, the idea that such an animal is prowling nearby is a bit unsettling. I would definitely call such actions described above as wreaking havoc. I think both sides of this issue have validity and merit in their points of debate. Remember, though, that some people are fighting on both sides of this issue. I bow hunt and fish in Idaho with my brother regularly. We both stand in opposition to portions of each side of this debate. I feel wolves should not be allowed to roam freely wherever they choose. When human lives and property are tresspassed, threatened and destroyed without provocation, these wolves do become a nuisance. However, those that wish to see the wolf exterpated in order to use Federal land for profiting enterprise should be prepared, as most conservation-minded outdoorsman are dead set against domestic livestock on wild land because they are so completely destructive. Like I said, both sides have merit. JS, you've mentioned several facts with which I agree. But Westerners don't hate wolves. Some pockets of very vocal opponents may feel this way, but they don't speak for the majority. As to my earlier statement, considering my examples above, wolves leaving protected lands IS an issue.

[Post Deleted] In retrospect, I have decided to delete my original post. While it explained my very sound reasoning behind my earlier statement, I don't wish to create a hostile atmosphere in this forum. Besides, I'm more interested in fishing than wolves, anyway.

Yup. And it usually requires scuba gear to get close to them.

Aluminum welders don't work for peanuts, but if you don't mind paying the price, It would sure be worth trying. You'd probably have to cut the transom down. Depending on the model, it might be a few inches wider at the stern than at the midpoint.

After the recent rains, should we expect to fish during generation? If so, can you point me in the direction of some good advice for doing so? (i.e. Is it possible to wade? What flies/tactics produce during generation? Are there places to avoid for safety's sake?) Any links or past threads you know of would be helpful.

It seems like a lot of work to me. I was just recalling some old memories, and this one seemed like a good topic for opinions.

When I was younger, my Dad took me to Taneycomo to fish from the public docks. While we were there, we saw a guy rowing a small jon boat upstream. he seemed to be making good time, but my dad thought he was nuts. Is it possible these days to row on Taneycomo? I'm thinking that the unpredictable nature of generation would make this a risky proposition, but then again, I've never really rowed a boat much. I'm more of a canoe guy, myself. Any thoughts?

No way. I like to think they're all just jerks out to try to ruin my day. Besides, basking in self-righteousness does wonders for my ego. Actually, John, I hope your wife is OK. Nothing ruins a fishing trip more than when strangers cause problems. Unless you drop your dad's keys in the water, but I'll save that one for another thread.

"In North America, humans were never wolf prey, and there are almost zero recorded instances of non-rabid wolves killing humans in North America." Al, you're right. They haven't killed, but they have attacked quite often. "I always get a kick out of people in this part of the country who see coyotes and say they saw wolves. Trust me, when you see a wolf, if you've spent much time around coyotes, you'll know the wolf is different. " I agree with this statement, as well. In Idaho, the opposite is true. If you've seen one, it was probably a wolf. They're much more brave. The coyotes run at the sight of trucks - they know these machines bring men with guns. You might get a glimpse of one if you see him before he sees you. That is, unless he gets caught in your dog pen eating the table scraps. (Happened to my brother while I was staying out there. Scared the holy cr@p outta me!)

Not that you would care to know, but the issue out west concerning the wolves is not that they have been reintroduced to Federal land, but the fact that they're leaving these protected areas and wreaking havoc in other places.

Inconsiderate people certainly test my "Christian meekness factor" regularly. Hey, Al. When people block the aisle with their carts, you can do what I used to do. pick something really random off the shelf and put it in their cart when they aren't looking. The more off-based and wacky, the better. Adult incontinence products in a thirty-something's cart is sure to incite embarrassment at it's discovery. My wife won't let me do this any more, since my kids are around and watching what I do. She wants me to be a good example. Can you believe that?