LB&M

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SOLD PENDING FUNDS If anyone is interested in breaking into fly fishing I just posted a couple of graphite rods for sale in the classifieds. The price is good and with these two rods you could do (almost) everything.

Sold pending funds Well, once again I returned from Colorado without using either of my two Orvis fly rods. I always grab a glass rod so have decided to sell these two and let someone who will use them enjoy them. They are: 1. Orvis Rocky Mountain 7 1/2' 3 wt 2 piece 2. Orvis Silver Label 8 1/2' 6 wt 2 piece Both are absolutely mint. I've had them for several years and used each about three times. They have been stored in their original cloth sleeves inside their hard cases in my gun closet in my den. They are not entry level rods. Orvis used to use their premium blanks with a little less fancy hardware and sell them for a little less. I have some additional photos but I'm not very good at taking them. I can email the photos if anyone is interested. I'm asking $80 each or $150 for both and I'll throw in an old Cortland USA reel I got from somewhere. Shipping would be extra but I don't think it would be too bad. The rods are in Oklahoma City if someone in the area wished to see them. I can also bring them to the Tenkiller (U&L Illinois) area when I come in a couple of weeks. They are advertised on a couple other forums in this area. Thanks for looking.

I don't know either but I plan on doing exactly that in a couple of weeks. In addition, I plan on a day on Baron Fork for smallmouth and a day or two for trout. Right now I'm thinking of the 21st through the 26th (depending on the weather) I've got old and modern glass rods from 3 to 9 wt (minus an 8 wt) I'll be bringing, plus a graphite 9 wt. I'm trying to work up a streamer that will represent a rainbow trout right now - haven't got there yet.

I'm back from a high country trout trip and already getting keyed up for something else. September is supposed to be a good time for smallmouth so I've been thinking of a trip to Baron Fork for a couple of days. I know nothing about that area and would appreciate any info some of you might have relative to good access points for wading or floating around in my kayak. I'm always by myself so a float trip is out of the question. I've got a new glass flyrod I'm anxious to try out. I'd probably bring my camper to one of the COE campgrounds on Tenkiller and maybe put in a day on the lower Illinois for trout.

Well, I read this thread when it was fresh and thought I would really like to try for Stripers. Never done that. Then, after looking at it a couple more times I thought I am going to try for Stripers. Several years ago, before I retired I was assigned to a Field Office in the DFW area. One year I decided to work part time behind the gun counter at Bass Pro over the holidays just for the fun of it. It was fun but also lots of work. When the holidays were over I was named the best "Temp" for the holiday season. That's sort of a long story to tell you I was given a rod and reel combo (that they probably couldn't sell) Anyway I ended up with a Gold Cup 8'3" 9 wt rod and a White River reel. I put some Cortland 444 WF9/IS line on it and promptly put it in my closet. I have used it a couple of times fishing for White Bass out of my Lund. After reading this I watched Ebay and won a new Martin multiplier reel for about half what they sell for. It came today and I traded the 444 onto it. It's not a fancy setup but casts well in my back yard and I really like the multiplier on that heavy rod. (It's Chinese of course so don't know how it will last.) I can't wait now to get down there and try to find some of those deeper holes. I am going to have to wait a little tho' as I have to watch my $$. My wife and I are heading to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado for a week or so in about a week. I hope to relearn some fly casting on the Chama in NM and Conejos and upper Rio Grande in Colo. When I get back I'll take the camper down and stay for a couple of days and see what I can do. I do have a question tho'. Is it feasible to use a kayak to get back and forth around the deeper holes down there? When there is no release is the current workable for my kayak? Thanks, Floyd ps - I also tied up some Bob Whites to try on the trout.

9.76 lb largemouth caught May 09 Lake Eufaula, OK while crappie fishing with a 1/16th oz Crappie Pro jighead and a watermelon/chart Charlie Brewer crappie slider in about a foot of water. Line was braid with a 6lb fc leader. Jumped completely clearing the water 4 times before I brought it into the boat. Never had a big largemouth jump like that before. Released unharmed.

Thanks all. I think I will leave the kayaks at home. This will be a trip to just kick back a little following a northern NM/southern Colo trip. I will bring the flyrods tho'. It will be a good opportunity to get to know a new TFO finesse rod that should be here in a couple of days.

Have a great trip -- take some photos! I'm heading out to Chama NM later in August to base there, fish some northern NM streams and hit the upper Rio Grande and Conejos in Colorado. Love it this time of the year.

My wife decided she wanted to go to the War Eagle Fair in October. It's been several years since we were there. Anyway, this time I reserved a RV site at Withrow Springs State Park for a few days so we can just kick back. In the past I haven't really paid much attention to War Eagle Creek. The park brochure says they have canoe rentals. My questions are: Is it worth taking my kayaks along in mid October or will the creek be too low? And...Is it worth fishing this creek then? I'll probably take a flyrod anyway but just wondered for planning purposes. Thanks, Floyd

I have a Diamondback fiberglass rod called the Diamondglass. About five years ago I was talking with Ed Story of Feathercraft on the phone and asked him if he had any recommendations for a glass rod. I had lived and fished in Colorado in the 70s and early 80s mostly using a couple of old Fenwicks (long gone now) I was thinking about buying myself a retirement present. Ed said he really liked the Diamondglass 8' 4wt and his customers really spoke highly of it. I don't own lots of rods but already had a couple of Orvis rods 7' 3wt and 8.5' 6wt so I thought the 4wt would fit in well. Since then I have used it more than my Orvis rods and really enjoy it. There is no doubt it is my favorite. It is way lighter than my old Fenwicks (at just a little over 3 ounces) The largest fish I have caught on it was a 6.6lb black bass on a tiny dry fly when fishing for Bluegill. It handled the bass with ease. I got mine for around $250 but I think they are a little more pricey now. Anyway, it's a great rod and I really enjoy using glass again. It's going to Chama, NM next month for some use on the Chama River, upper Rio Grande and Conejos rivers in Colorado and all sorts of little creeks. I'm another potential customer.

I have a small shoulder bag that I use for all sorts of hunting and fishing. You can throw fly boxes in, plano plastic boxs for lures, water, maps, thermos, rangefinder, binoculars -- you name it. It's about the size of a small fabric briefcase and is light (unless you really load it down) I carry it in my kayak for fishing and it's easy to just throw over your shoulder when you get out to wade. It's actually lighter (most of the time) than an old Woods River Fly Bag I have. I got mine at Sportsmans Warehouse a couple of years ago. It looks very much like this from Cabelas. Probably the same bag. I paid about $25 for mine. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...rset=ISO-8859-1

Thanks for the welcome. Actually I thought about the seat riser but after just a few hours in it I preferred the lower center of gravity to that of a canoe. If I get another canoe in the future I'll probably drop the seat. I have no problem fly fishing out of the low seat with either an 8' 4 wt or 8.5' 6wt. Just takes a little getting used to. But then, I used to fish out of a float tube in Colorado. That's really low! Spinning tackle is a breeze in the U12!

A friend of mine has started using a Ping Pong paddle for skulling while fishing. He swears by it. I haven't tried it yet but plan to. (need to waterproof it good)

No problem --- what it boils down to is personal preference. I find the concept of the Pack great! I just don't care for the application of that concept. I don't dislike canoes - may get another someday. Been around them for over 55 years. But I really like my Ultimate 12 hybrid and it's my current preference. Hope to see you out on the stream someday.

I've been around that area for years and there is no place there I would take the family except Marval and it is very expensive. Fin&Feather, a little farther north, is not bad. I took my young grandkids to Marval for a weekend a couple of years ago and they loved it because there was so much for them to play on. I wouldn't make a habit of it. And I was in an RV! There are so many places like that with poor accommodations - that's the reason I camp. Lots of decent campgrounds and I would rather sleep in the bed in my camper than in a motel anyway. After staying in motels for many years on the job, large city and small town, I really appreciate my own clean bed and shower.

I'm fairly new to this site and just noticed this thread. Here is my take on it. First I should say I'm in my upper 60's and use mine for fishing streams, creeks and small lakes. I used a Old Town Osprey for many years and really liked it. Now I use an Ultimate 12 and, for me, it is much better than the canoe. Extremely stable and a great fishing platform. The fact you are sitting low takes a little getting used to but that is where the stability comes from (along with the tunnel hull) I don't stand in mine and have no problem fly fishing from it. I don't load mine down with much of what you see in "fishing" kayaks. I found the comments about it being heavy a little surprising but I guess compared to a Pack it is a little heavy. I have no trouble loading mine alone on top of a very large 3/4 ton diesel pickup. One of the features of the Ultimate is the removable seat. It pops right out and reduces the weight considerably. I just like (for my needs) the hybrid kayak design of the Ultimate. I have taken it on some float trips in Oklahoma and on the White in Arkansas and it handles great. My wife has a Wilderness System Tarpon 100 and I like to fish from it better than the canoe. But the Ultimate blows it away. I do not take extended, camping float trips. If I did I would take a canoe (but not the Pack) for the cargo capacity. Kayak fishing is very big in Texas, the Gulf Coast and California. You rarely see anyone in a canoe or Sit in kayak in their tournaments. The SOTs rule. This is just my opinion based on my experience and the way I use mine.

You may not have seen me. I saw you from that little observation deck they have there. I was wet wading, tan shorts & ball cap w/tee shirt. No vest - I had an old Wood River bag. I have fished buggers lots with very little luck. Must be the way I'm fishing also, but probably just that I don't keep them on long as I have more confidence in nymphs.

Very nice fish! Saw you down there early. What fly were you using?

This is my first post on the Illinois river section of the site. I had a cabin in the Cookson area for about 10 years and fished the lower Illinois some. In ’95 there was a life changing event for me which caused me to not want to go there any more so I sold it. Wish I still had it. Anyway I spend quite a bit of time in the Eufaula area crappie fishing. My wife has to be there Wednesday for a meeting so I’m setting up the RV for a day or so. It’s way to hot to take a boat to Eufaula so I thought I would go over and spend the day on the lower Illinois. I need to warm up my fly casting skills for a planned trip to New Mexico in late August anyway. I’ll probably fish it some more this year unless the water gets too warm again. Hope to meet some of you on the river one of these days. If you see an old fat guy sitting on the bank resting his back just say “Hi”

Hello – I’m a new (old) guy joining the forum. I’ve watched it a bit and it appears very informative. I have been retired for about 5 years in Oklahoma City after spending 20+ years in the US Army and another 22+ years as a federal investigator. I spent quite a few years in Colorado when working, so have fished several spots in southern Colorado. My favorite is the upper Rio Grande near Rio Grande reservoir out of Creede. I learned to fly fish as a youth on Black Fork Creek in SE Oklahoma and learned basic fly tying while in Colorado. Don’t do either near as often as I used to because of arthritis in my hands and some back problems. Several years ago I had a cabin at the Cookson area of Lake Tenkiller so I fly fished the lower Illinois a fair amount. Haven’t been there for a number of years but plan on going for the day Wednesday. I’ve got a week planned in Chama NM next month so need to hone my fly fishing skills some before I go. Last summer my wife and I took a kayak trip on the White River with some friends. While there I discovered the Buffalo and plan on going back there when the crowds die down this fall for a little kayak fishing for goggle-eye. If you see an old guy out on the streams who is sitting on the side as much as fishing say “Hi” Floyd LB&M (laid back and mellow)