Remember this???

[Leonard]

Jim said this...

"Based on watching Leonard's technique during the day (which is a total of three times), it appears his main technique is to fish the head of whichever chute he's fishing with his streamer. The times I've seen him fish, he'll have about 6'-10' of line out the end of his flyrod, spot the fish and stick his fly right in front of their face. While this is not immoral or illegal (if you don't foul hook a fish on purpose), it's my opinion, it is a misleading fishing report when he states he's caught a bunch of big fish and then does not provide the technique he's used, especially, when it does not involve casting the fly in a manner typical of a flyfisherman. Fishing the chute in this manner does not require much talent as a flyfisherman. While it may produce big fish, I think, it is not a sporting way to fish.

I enjoy reading reports on this forum which provide accurate information about catching fish on Taney (and other places) and not those that self promote. It seems to me, a predominant number of Leonard's reports are about self promoting himself and in turn his guide business...secret this and secret that... It seems, the other guides who post reports on OA do not keep secrets (or if they do keep secrets it's understandable). Their reports provide the average Joe good information if they were to fish that particular stretch of water, Table Rock, Taney, etc. The secretness of some of Leonard's posts kind of smacks me like he's trying to hide something and / or he's wanting to promote himself. Self promoters bother me, especially those whose practices may be viewed as suspect (at least by me... I don't know what you guys think)."

Now... finally...

There is alot of people on this board... alot of them knows most of the time I sight fish during the day.. I not that fond of using a size 18 midge, scud, soft hackle... what ever

this is the fish I caught out of outlet 1...

see the big black thing in his face... that is a 5 in strip leech...

here is a picture of the big flies I throw... on 6 or 8lbs line during the day

now who would have guessed I was using 8lbs Mono....

as for as fishing the chutes...

there is alot more people on this site who does.. as for as guide.. Im sure there is one or 2 that does because there are "easy" too catch.. See the guy in the tan hat between those 2 buys.... thats Chuck from Anglers and Archery

The World record brown caught by Brad Wright on 2lb line was caught out of chute 1....

as for as self promoting my guide service...I have only taking 2 people out on this site. the rest has been from "word of mouth!!"

thats out of 58 trips since the first of the year..

[WebFreeman]

Good looking fish and flies. Thanks for sharing.

[Project Healing Waters]

Not according to Brad it wasn't.

[WebFreeman]

This is from a story Phil wrote that in the archives.

"It was a rainy, foggy 40-degree Wednesday morning with winds blowing out of the northeast and no water running. He started about 7:20 in the morning by outlet #1 with a rapala. “I jerked and twitched, jerked and twitched, and nothing ever bit,” he said. He switched to the jig and float. First he tried the jig with six-pound line on his spinning rod, then switched to four-pound spool with two-pound tippet tied past the indicator. On the first cast he caught a rainbow, about 18 inches long; consecutive casts yielded another rainbow and then two or three browns, approximately three pounds. He then re-tied his knot to the jig and continued casting. On the second or third cast, the big bruiser hit, taking off downstream. As Brad followed, he slipped and fell onto a big rock. “I lost my footing and my right elbow hit on the rock – but I didn’t drop my rod.,” Wright recalled. "

[Project Healing Waters]

Starting at outlet 1 back in those days was pretty typical for Brad. But, standing at outlet 1 one day the following year, he pointed across the lake to a large rock right under the cable on the opposite shore and told me THAT was where he caught the record fish. I thought most people who have been fishing Taney seriously for awhile knew that. I've talked to many who do.

Also, in my years of knowing Chuck Gries, he takes beginners to outlet 1 quite frequently during generation. And that looks like 2 young boys wearing rented waders to me. And I have never seen another guide in chutes 1 or 2 except for Leonard. And if he's fishing while the sun's up, you will find him at #1 or #2...or somewhere in between.

Sight-fishing, huh? Is THAT what they're calling big fuzzy hooks dragged through the chutes on 8 lb test monofilament these days?

[WebFreeman]

All the implied BS about Leonard's ethics is getting old. If you guys have something to say, come out and say it. Looks like Leonard's fish is hooked in the lip to me.

[tippet7]

No idea who "project healing waters" is, but with only 10 posts on this board he/she is firing off shots at someone that has time and time again taken NON PAYING fishers out and has produced big fish and in numbers as well, all the while NOT fishing in a chute area.

I have fished with Leonard, a couple of times and I ran into him one Sunday afternoon recently and we got to talking about flies, Leonard took me to his car and gave me a half dozen of his flies.

About 2 weeks ago I was night fishing and was not getting anything, as soon as i tied on one of his flies I got slammed. I caught a couple more and then lost it on a rock or log or something. i tied on one of my flies and got squat! moved downstream a little and still got nothing, not even a hit until I tied on another of his flies.

So until you go fishing with him or use his flies or follow his advise S.T.F.U.

[Phil Lilley]

I know who healing waters is...

I've stopped this before- posters hiding behind a screen name and disking people over fishing techniques. Unfounded accusations and hear say won't be tolerated here.

This topic is closed and so is the subject on this forum.

[Rick F]

This is coming from a person who has ony fly fished 5-6 times ever. I will apologize early if I offend anyone but that is not my intention as I don't know all the ethics involved with fly fishing since I mostly bass and salmon fish. It is my understanding from reading this forum for the past 3-4 years that the trout "stack" up at the chutes sometimes so tight you can't step without kicking a fish. If I was a newbie to fly fishing or had a child fishing then I would fish at the chute because the numbers of fish are so high and catching them are much easier. However, if I were "fishing" for trout then I am not going anywhere near the chutes because that is like shooting fish in a barrel.

Again, this is just my opinion and I don't mean to hurt anyones feelings especially if I am wrong ethically on my opinion but it sounds to me like people who stand shoulder to shoulder and snag salmon coming in to spawn in the rivers and streams with treble hooks. This happens around my area. Not very sporty.

[troutchaser]

Seems to me we're getting worked up over nothing. Leonard has his own methods and style of fly fishing. So do you. So do I. Big deal.

I've found this forum to be informative and helpful, for the most part. I highly recommend getting back to basics and start posting some doggone fishing reports. Tell us where you fished, what you used and how you fished it, then tell us if it worked or not.

I like to read about fishing trips, methods, effective flies, etc.

Save the drama for ya mama.