drew03cmc

Hype and fearmongering? Yes, this is a bunch of neo-nazis wanting to control everything. Show me an IMPARTIAL test as to the effectiveness of these new rubber soles compared to felt. I do not want to see a Fly Fish America article, as they are not impartial. How about something from a university testing this issue? Are they getting away from boot laces too as they are porous enough to transmit didymo also. How about your gravel guards? What about your nylon net? I guess the boot soles are the only culprit. What can you say other than the same party line that TU tells people. Felt soles are the most effective sole on slick rocks, yet, some bleeding heart group wants to prohibit felt. Why don't they spend their millions on developing a felt material that does not transmit these types of invasive species.

I have read that as long as the boots, waders and gear dry completely, they are safe, but you can use a 409 bath to be safe. I feel that most of what is being said as far as aquatic invasive species being transported between watersheds is hype and fear-mongering.

Cricket, everyone on here is all about helping. If you have any questions, let the forum members know, and we will be able to help.

Oui?

The knots that I use are the arbor knot for tying my backing to my spool, the albright knot for tying fly line to backing, nail knot (if the line does not have a loop) to attach a perfection loop to the line, perfection loop (if I am using a tapered leader) for leader to line, double surgeon's knot for tippet to leader and the Davy knot for tying on my fly. I typically use a furled butt section to eliminate the need to constantly add tippet to a tapered leader, but that is another story. Your tapered leaders will begin at over .025" diameter and will taper down to anywhere from .011-.009 depending upon your tippet X rating. I like to use nothing heavier than 4x, and often 5x when I am fishing small wet flies for panfish or bass on a 4wt.

Well, you can compare something like the Lamson Litespeed which has a super smooth, infinitely adjustable conical drag (great for hard running, long running fish), the Galvan Open Back, which has a super smooth infinitely adjustable disc drag and something akin to the Albright Topwater 3/4, which has a click pawl drag. For most warmwater species short of 20# carp and the like, you will be just fine with a click pawl or a low end cork disc drag reel. There are cork drag reels like the Hobbs Creek that can be had for $40. There are also cork drag reels like the Orvis Vortex which are several hundred dollars. Click pawl reels are my favorite on lighter rods like my 4wt and lighter sticks. They are lighter and possess enough drag to keep the spool from overrunning. The Lamson and Galvan drags are great, especially on light tippet or for long running fish. For the fish you are after, any fly reel that is smooth operating will suffice. If you decide to chase large carp on the flats of Table Rock, you may wish for a light saltwater reel, but that is another story for another time. I hope I have not confused you beyond belief, but my best advice is to browse your local fly shop's reels and see how the reel feels under wind and pay (wind it backwards) and see what balances the rod you are going to get the best. If possible, cast the rod with that reel and the line weight, model and taper you would want as well. Here is an excerpt from the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide by Tom Rosenbauer: http://knol.google.com/k/tom-rosenbauer/li...mzrj4t85lit/17#

Go for broke? Brian...some have to pay to go fish too. Dude, you know I am screwing with you. If you get the opportunity and can finance it, check out a Winston WT 8'6" 5wt 3pc. That is one of the all time classic trout rods, but it can handle streamers as well.

I will fish felt until they are outlawed completely (or I wear my boots out). I prefer the felt soles for traction on rocks, gravel and in sand to be honest. Oh well, each person has their preference.

Eric, this link is a great place to start the search for a 5wt. http://www.yellowstoneangler.com/FlyRodCom...nrodtesting.asp Bear in mind, that Yellowstone Angler have a strong Loomis bias. Albright has made a strong showing in all of these shootouts that Yellowstone have done. The A/5 rods are on sale right now for $122.50 and while the 9'5wt is out of stock, the 8'6" 5wt is in stock, ready to ship from www.albrightflyfish.com. For line, I like Cortland, however, many on here will recommend Rio or SA. You can actually get a nice line from Orvis for $30. That is the Clearwater, and is approximately the same taper as the SA Headstart which will help you learn your loading and unloading. Another line to consider is the Northern Sport Aquanova 99. It can be had for less than $15 from ebay. Here is a link to one. They have a forward WF taper that is similar to the Headstart or the Clearwater. On a faster action rod, it can be beneficial to overline the rod, thus slowing it down. Cast both the rated WF line and try the WF+1wt line on it and get whichever one that you are most comfortable casting. http://cgi.ebay.com/WF5F-AQUANOVA-FLY-FISH...=item5636e01fd4 Reels, for the species you specified, can be economy models. I like my Albright Topwater reel that I have on my 4wt, and they are also on sale for $20 right now. Bass Pro has a nice reel in the Hobbs Creek Large Arbor and many "cheap" reels from companies such as Ross, Lamson, etc are either OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive or very heavy (see Ross Flystart). That is not to say that the cheap Ross is a bad reel, but it is VERY heavy without the necessary capacity IMO. I have one 8'6" 5wt fly rod (Redington Crosswater) and it was my first. I have caught many bass as well as trout and myriad other sunfish species. On a Cabela's LST 8'6" 5wt (sweet rod BTW), I landed a 25" freshwater drum along with countless crappie and largemouth. I am actually thinking that my next rod will be an 8'6" 5wt and it will be used for bigger waters for bass.

Ness, I am not from Lawrence, so nice try on the flaming liberal...although there are a lot of flam...nevermind I grew up in Belton, MO, but defected to the Chicken, sorry, Jayhawk side of the state line, but remain a die hard Tigers fan! Cricket, that beer, well, Ness finished it off, so maybe an apple juice is in line with starting it

Chief, happy birthday man. Let's catch them all this weekend in celebration!

Thanks and Ness...I should buy you a beer for that. That was hilarious. The problem is, many of these places are hours away from me and when they see that DG on my license plate, it will be...Ha, and you are from where? Anywho, keep the ideas coming, they may work for the local places, which, IIRC, I did obtain permission to fish one creek, by fixing a guy's flat tire at the shop...

I caught a mini carp (13" or so) on my old three weight. He didn't fight much, but I can imagine the fight that toad gave! Be careful...I am picking up an 8wt with the intention of chasing double digit carp...

Buzz, one other surefire way to tell is if the teeth on the lower mandible are visible from above without opening the mouth. The bottom jaw protrudes farther than the bottom jaw on the northern strain. The Ozark streams that are tributaries of the Arkansas River have, or at one time had, Neosho smallies. I wonder...

I believe Buzz himself caught a lunker from Hickory...

Like the topic says, I am looking for the best way to ask permission (and succeed) to access a creek on someone's private land. There are more miles of fishable creek around here than one could ever fish, however, the state of Kansas, there are darn few accesses on quality fishing rivers and creeks. Help me out here!

Reportedly, the Oklahoma DWC is torn over the want for smallmouths in Grand Lake as the Neosho strain is not lake compatible, however, upstream in Spring and Elk Rivers there are populations of Neosho Smallies. native smallmouth. This is an excerpt from an ESPN Outdoors interview with Gene Gilliland, senior research biologist for the ODWC: But if Tennessee-strain smallmouth were stocked in Grand Lake, experts insist, they would eventually migrate upstream and interbreed with the It might take decades, but this mixing of gene pools would eventually eliminate the native Neosho smallmouth strain, named after the Neosho River farther upstream. I am going to try to get my thumb on the lip of a couple this coming year, following the purchase of a kayak or pontoon as the Neosho is not a fast or technical river. It is a relatively slow, peaceful river over its course. The fish will be pursued with fly tackle and I will document this endeavor on this site.

Just an FYI for those who may be from Kansas, or fish in Kansas as well as the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas, but I found this information on the Neosho strain smallie: The Neosho subspecies, which is more slender than the smallmouth, occurs in the Neosho River and tributaries of the Arkansas River in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. That excites me beyond belief. It is a relatively rare strain of fish that is becoming more and more rare, but the Neosho River in Kansas has all kinds of access within three hours of me and the southern reaches of the river hold this strain!

And that stops people? Each time I have fished C&R in a park, there are trebles galore.

I hope to make it down there in January sometime. That is really encouraging!

It's a shame it isn't the 15th, as I will be down there fishing with Buzz and Chief.

I am jealous!

I do agree with this laker. The sheep creek is prettier, but a fish that size would be a blast to catch.

Wayne, in Kansas, spotted bass are native to the Flint Hills and in the Neosho River can grow to 18"+. The Neosho smallmouth is a fish of interest, but would take years to locate a good population, and to travel to a good smallie river is a 3+ hour drive. Al, have you fished in Lamine River CA? I was wondering about locations in the area to target bass. PM me if you prefer. Thanks!

Thanks Al! I am looking to spend some time this coming spring/summer/fall in the Ozarks chasing river bass... In Kansas, all native spotted bass waters (Flint Hills) are privately owned for the most part and I miss the Conservation Areas that Missouri has.