FAOL BB - Blogs http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/blog.php This is the FAOL discussion forum. en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:43:27 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/images/misc/rss.jpg FAOL BB - Blogs http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/blog.php Wisconsin http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?343-Wisconsin Sat, 25 Dec 2010 15:16:33 GMT Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/3fc84690-1.jpg The fog rises on another day.

The fog rises on another day. ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?343-Wisconsin Merry Christmas ALL! http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?342-Merry-Christmas-ALL! Sat, 25 Dec 2010 01:02:25 GMT Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/6e4a5393-1.jpg Image:...

Still full from last night ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?342-Merry-Christmas-ALL! 91 days.. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?341-91-days.. Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:24:55 GMT my math was lacking in initial post. Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/2010trout/4c3ee4b4.jpg my math was lacking in initial post.

]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?341-91-days.. 104 days until wisconsin small stream opener http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?340-104-days-until-wisconsin-small-stream-opener Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:50:55 GMT Opener is like Xmas to me. Opener is like Xmas to me.
Attached Thumbnails
]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?340-104-days-until-wisconsin-small-stream-opener When Are The Streams Going To Clear? http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?326-When-Are-The-Streams-Going-To-Clear Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:31:17 GMT Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/cc5cd1cd-1.jpg They get close to fishable and then it rains.
They get close to fishable and then it rains. ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?326-When-Are-The-Streams-Going-To-Clear Stream Therapy http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?325-Stream-Therapy Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:23:22 GMT Stream Therapy This entry is for all of you stuck at work today that are looking out the window at work and wishing you were on the water. ... Stream Therapy

This entry is for all of you stuck at work today that are looking out the window at work and wishing you were on the water.




]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?325-Stream-Therapy Hornbergs http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?323-Hornbergs Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:33:22 GMT Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/6f55747d.jpg It was late May. John Armstrong called me. He told me that he and...
It was late May. John Armstrong called me. He told me that he and one his buddies had fished a stretch in Crawford County. The buddy had a fish on and a large brown attacked the smaller brown that was on the line.

John said that he wanted to go after this large male brown at first light the next morning. We met at the local gas station at 5:30am. The light was already coming up over the hill. John and I jumped in to my truck and off we sped to "The Hole". John hooked on a size six hornberg and placed a split shot about 14 inches up from the fly. John planned on dredging the deep slot the big brown came out of with the hornberg.


The cast was an upstream cast and it landed in the shallows just before the slot. John didn't strip more than 2 strips and the battle was on. I stood back a ways to NOT spook the hole. John crept up on the hole and put his hornberg to work.

It didn't take long and John was yelling "Len!!!! Net!!!"

I trotted up to the hole and John continued to battle the trout for 3-4 minutes. It finally tired out and came to my net.




The first thing John said was: "That is not the fish. It is not marked correctly." He was satisfied and decided to leave the other trout for another day.

The another day came about 10 days later. We were showing a father and son the ropes on that stream. The son and I went upstream and the father and John went to the hole and John still had the hornberg on and decided what the heck.

I heard the familiar "Len.....NET!!"

We jogged back to the hole. John had a huge bend on his rod and the father was in the water with his medium sized net awaiting the net job. I threw my much bigger net to him and then he netted it.



Some people have a knack for catching big trout. John Armstrong is one of them. ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?323-Hornbergs The Whisper Of The Wind http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?321-The-Whisper-Of-The-Wind Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:08:13 GMT Image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_54y7o7P0PPE/TAr_uYZ55dI/AAAAAAAAGrw/89zGFHOtXOM/s1600/wspinesm.jpg The Whisper Of The Wind It comes...


The Whisper Of The Wind

It comes from the Northwest with bad intentions. My eyes ice up and my casting is labored. It changes directions and thwarts my best cast causing it land in the frozen underbrush. My hands are chapped and cracked from its endless attack. I finally get a decent cast against my bitter adversary. The reward is short lived because of no eager trout discovered on the cast. It blows the snow across my water and causes the water to dance and mock me. I plod on and thank the wind for reminding me that I am still alive and life is not supposed to be easy. The wind whispers in my ear and tells me that it is March and better days lay ahead.



 Another day and another experience is before me. Today the wind is from the West is much less harsh. It is actually inviting me to come and feel its greatness. The wind engages the trees and they do a slow methodical dance. The buds are emerging and the wind tickles them and it asks the leaves to appear. This same wind carries the smells of the unfrozen earth and gives me a sensory experience unrivaled by the best perfumes. These are the days that my casts hold true and my trout are eager. The wind whispers as I exit the stream and head home. It says: ?Come again.?

The rain is pounding me. It comes sideways due to the aggressive nature of the south wind. It has no intentions of allowing me to fish. It has me in its clutches and wants to show me who is boss. I wade upstream and wind is blocked by the hillside but it is still raining. The fishing is insane. I lose track of how many trout I catch. I must walk back to the truck. The wind is waiting for me around the corner like an impatient school teacher. The wind coupled with its sister the rain escorts to my truck. I am thoroughly drenched. The wind forgot to whisper today. It screamed and it still was an excellent day.



 It is late June and the wind sleeps today. The humidity is stifling and I wish for my friend to appear. The wild flowers are bursting and filling the stagnate air with promise. The bugs are buzzing and the trout are feeding on the top. My day is phenomenal. The trout are eager and almost fly on to my hook. There is something missing this day. The stream is just too quiet. It is almost deafening. I whisper to the wind: ?The day was silent and fulfilling but empty without your company.?



 Fall comes in like a lion. The kaleidoscope of leaves is torn from their trees by what appears to be an angry mistress. The tapestry of leaves escape across the fall landscape and shout that winter is soon to be here. The wind whips the leaves in to frenzy and it picks up a couple unwelcome pieces of trash. My wind asks me to remove this unwelcome guest from its grasp. I pick up the garbage and place it in my vest pocket. My outing is short and no trout are to be discovered. The wind whispers to me as I leave: ?Thank you for coming and removing the unwelcome guest.? ?Come again my friend.? ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?321-The-Whisper-Of-The-Wind Too Hot To Fish http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?320-Too-Hot-To-Fish Tue, 25 May 2010 15:46:45 GMT 94 degrees here yesterday Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/9ae6156b-1.jpg Image:... 94 degrees here yesterday



]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?320-Too-Hot-To-Fish Muddlers http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?315-Muddlers Tue, 18 May 2010 15:46:07 GMT I have always enjoyed Muddlers, both tying and fishing, and I don't know why. I'll worry about that later. Here's one I've been working on lately:
]]> rrhyne56 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?315-Muddlers <![CDATA[Spring was wearing its "best" attire of the year.]]> http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?313-Spring-was-wearing-its-quot-best-quot-attire-of-the-year. Thu, 06 May 2010 01:33:50 GMT Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/746569e6.jpg I went out for one hour only. The sun was setting. Spring ...

I went out for one hour only.

The sun was setting.

Spring was wearing its "best" attire of the year.

Three different types of blossoms.

The blossoms gave off an amazing smell that is unable to be put in words.

The sun setting highlighted the new leaves on the trees.

The trout were accommodating.

The scenery and smells were a sensory feast....I think I could have caught no fish and still had an "phenomenal" outing. ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?313-Spring-was-wearing-its-quot-best-quot-attire-of-the-year. Wading Belts http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?309-Wading-Belts Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:06:13 GMT Many trout anglers are injured or lose their lives yearly. A little caution goes a long way. I am not saying wear a PFD (personal Flotation... Many trout anglers are injured or lose their lives yearly. A little caution goes a long way.
I am not saying wear a PFD (personal Flotation Device) when you are stream fishing.
I am saying just use some common sense. It will will go a long way to keeping you safe
while you are out there.

One of the most common problems while trout fishing is stepping off in to deep water
while you are wading. Your waders fill up with water and you are like dead weight and
sink to the bottom. I don't need to tell you what happens next. Almost all waders come with
belts nowadays. They may get tight on you and uncomfortable but the alternative is worse
in my book. Myself I wear a back brace type wading belt that I bought at Cabelas. I believe
it costed 29 dollars.

One of my favorite streams changes every winter. The spring floods carve out the bottom from
one year to the next. A place where you waded across the fall before might be 8 feet deep this
year and one failed step in early season with ultra cold water and no wading belt could cause you
to take a "dirt nap."


There are some people that just don't wade. The deep water scares them. That wading belt has
another quality that saved me just yesterday. I was fishing some new water and saw these nice
looking Marsh Marigolds about 20 yards off the bank. They were surrounded by little trickles.
Looked like seepage from the bank. There was grass growing anew and it looked like solid ground.
There was a big bank that looked damp directly behind them and I could see a gravel road at the top
of the bank.. I walked right up on the flowers and the next thing you know i sank to my waist in mud immediately.
The ground seems like more water than mud BUT very cold mud..There must have been a huge spring on that
big bank that welled up and seeped out through the ground. I grabbed a limb that was on the ground close to me
or i would have been sucked up by the ground.


It was scary. Took me 20 minutes to get out of the mud. I had to pull my legs out one at a time.It
took me pulling with both my arms to dislodge my legs. My wading belt gave me enough buoyancy that I did not
sink in all the way to my neck immediately. Another hazard to put in the old memory bank.

Lots of outdoors people think they have seen it all and have a little feeling of being bullet proof.
I trout fish on average 160 days a season. The beautiful flower ordeal from yesterday humbled me
and gave me a "new" appreciation for my wading belt. ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?309-Wading-Belts The Skinny On Wisconsin Tiger Trout http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?303-The-Skinny-On-Wisconsin-Tiger-Trout Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:38:42 GMT Image: http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/StreamOfTime_photos/BigTrout/trout/d4a85e51.jpg Bob Skoronski Green Bay Packer retired with one of...
Bob Skoronski Green Bay Packer retired with one of the three tiger he caught that day fishing with me. His son Ron is in the foreground and he also caught a tiger that day.

A FOUR TIGER DAY!!

http://lenharris.blogspot.com/2010/0...ger-trout.html

Tigers are aggressive and will try to eat anything a brook trout will eat. This leaves the door wide open. I have seen brookies hit on almost bare hooks before.

Tigers are aggressive and usually will be the first trout to your presentation also. ]]> spinner1 http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?303-The-Skinny-On-Wisconsin-Tiger-Trout Purism - Or The Lack There-of http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?298-Purism-Or-The-Lack-There-of Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:43:13 GMT I am a ?fly-fisherman?. Fly-fishermen are often referred to as ?purists? and more often accused of ?elitism?. Purism is simply the strict...
I am a ?fly-fisherman?.

Fly-fishermen are often referred to as ?purists? and more often accused of ?elitism?.
Purism is simply the strict observance of ?correctness?, usually in the ?traditional? sense. Simply, ?do it right, with the right equipment?. I?m guessing no one much cares if someone else chooses to ?observe correctness?.

The ?elite? are those who have reached the top of their field, usually by hard work and sacrifice. I?m guessing no one has a problem with hard work and sacrifice. (Okay, I might have a little problem with hard work.)

The problems begin when the ?elite? and the ?purist? insist on ?purism? by everyone else. By this definition that is called ?elitism? and it?s a derogatory term.

I?m not particularly proud of the fact I fly-fish. On the other hand, I?m certainly not ashamed of it. In fact, the reason I might feel proud, or ashamed, seems to escape me. I cannot see that fly-fishing has made me a better person. I?ve not seen it has improved the quality of the whisky I drink, the women with whom I?m seen, the cigars I smoke or the people I associate with. It certainly hasn?t made me any money.

We might better be able to break the whole problem down to eating. I know a few ?vegetarians?. They simply have chosen to eat primarily, or wholly, plants. Most do this because they believe it to be healthier. I have no problem with that at all.
Then, there is the ?vegan?. Vegans tend to eat only plants and choose to use no animal products such as leather, milk or fur; again, a choice with which I don?t have a problem. On the other hand, Vegans often tend to be much more vocal about their choices. Vegans think I should follow their beliefs and/or choices. With this, I do have problem. It?s when they try to remove the fourteen-ounce ribeye from my plate that they are likely to get a fork in the back of their hand.

Being a bit of a barbarian and what my wife and mother describe as ? a man you can lead forever but can?t push a step?, a few people attempting to practice elitism have discovered my figurative ?fork in the back of their hand?.

Okay, time for the second half of my admission. I am a ?warm water fly-fisherman?. Now you might better understand why purism escapes me. I am from among the ?unwashed?.

Warm water fly-fishing is the red-headed step child of fly-fishing. I see very little elitism practiced among warm water fly-fishermen. Let?s be honest, it?s a little hard to feel too elite when you are sliding into the water, one foot ankle deep in the mud and the other balanced precariously, dead-center in a cow pie. Purism goes out the window when the fly, on your back cast, is picked off by a thousand pounds, or so, of prime beef. Best to point the rod directly at the offending cow and hope the tippet parts easily. Believe me, she is not any happier about it than you are.

You don?t exactly qualify for the cover of the Orvis catalog when your waders are cut-off blue jeans and a pair of old tennis shoes. Or your fanny pack is the same faded camo one that holds turkey calls in the spring and muzzleloading supplies in the fall.

You have lost any lofty status fly-fishing may have brought when you choose to use your 4 weight to fend off a 25 pound snapping turtle that has decided he wants the bluegills hanging from your float tube. Being thrashed with a skinny fishing pole does little to deter a determined snapping turtle, by the way. I recommend a hasty retreat. Note: Snapping turtles can swim really fast ? even when being thrashed with a 4 weight.

A quick sprint, belly-slide and bull snot on the back of your legs is somewhat humbling. Not much fun, but like old age, it?s better than the alternative.

Warm water fly-fishing is not totally about the fish. It?s about the sunrises and sunsets and the time alone on the water. It?s not all about catching fish. In most cases you could catch more on lures, or jigs, on a spinning rod or baitcaster, or even a bobber and bait. And most warm water fly-fishermen know they could because they probably have done so extensively. Fly tackle is seldom the very best tool for the job. It?s not about high-dollar equipment and perfect flies or perfect casts. It?s not about cane, or fiberglass or IM16 graphite. It?s not about being superior to anyone and it?s certainly not about something you saw in a movie.

It?s not about entomology and knowing the name of every insect that flies, swims or crawls. The guys I fish with have developed descriptions of insects that far eclipse the Latin names. ?So, what are they feeding on??
?BBBs?. (big black bugs)
There are also ?LBBs? (little) and ?LTBBs? (little tiny) and ?NADT? (not a .. well you get the idea).

So, why fly-fishing? Sure, there are some differences but mostly, fish are still fish. Locations may change but water mostly has the same depth and clarity no matter your choice of tackle. The sunrises and sunsets are the same. The birds still sing, the frogs still croak and the mosquitoes still buzz around your ears.

So, it?s not all about the fish. But, enough about what warm water fly-fishing is ?not? about. What is about? No matter how you pretty it up, or strive for the perfect rod or perfect fly or perfect cast ? it is mostly about the fish. We don?t, so much, make it about the quality of the equipment, the perfect cast or the prefect presentation. It?s not about the ?experience?. It?s mostly about catching fish.

There is a lot of enjoyment in fishing with fly tackle. It does take some skills and some practice. Everyone would like to be a better caster, but, for many warm water fly fishermen there comes a point when agonizing over perfect form and perfect loops becomes ?fly casting? and not ?fly fishing?. You could ?fly cast? in a parking lot. It?s mostly about catching fish.

Most warm water fly-fishermen have followed a progression here. Many are accomplished with spinning and bait tackle and many still use both. Most enjoy the time spent fishing no matter the tackle and many (Heaven forbid) often enjoy a meal of fish. I?ve seen warm water fly fishermen with the cheapest ?Wally World special? to equipment that cost more than my truck.

Many come for the challenge. Some come for the simplicity and may be ?progressing backwards? from patchwork shirts and sparkly boats and tackle boxes the size of footlockers. Philosophically, some perhaps, are searching for something they feel they may have lost.

In spite of the fact our choice of tackle may confuse our hard-driving, ?run and gun? brethren and we may even be looked down on by some of our ?upstream and dry? brethren, most of us have one major all-encompassing reason we fly-fish in warm water. We do it because it is fun.









]]> HideHunter http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?298-Purism-Or-The-Lack-There-of Purism - Or The Lack There-of http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?297-Purism-Or-The-Lack-There-of Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:39:25 GMT I am a ?fly-fisherman?. Fly-fishermen are often referred to as ?purists? and more often accused of ?elitism?. Purism is simply the strict...
I am a ?fly-fisherman?.

Fly-fishermen are often referred to as ?purists? and more often accused of ?elitism?.
Purism is simply the strict observance of ?correctness?, usually in the ?traditional? sense. Simply, ?do it right, with the right equipment?. I?m guessing no one much cares if someone else chooses to ?observe correctness?.
The ?elite? are those who have reached the top of their field, usually by hard work and sacrifice. I?m guessing no one has a problem with hard work and sacrifice. (Okay, I might have a little problem with hard work.)
The problems begin when the ?elite? and the ?purist? insist on ?purism? by everyone else.
By this definition that is called ?elitism? and it?s a derogatory term.
I?m not particularly proud of the fact I fly-fish. On the other hand, I?m certainly not ashamed of it. In fact, the reason I might feel proud, or ashamed, seems to escape me. I cannot see that fly-fishing has made me a better person. I?ve not seen it has improved the quality of the whisky I drink, the women with whom I?m seen, the cigars I smoke or the people I associate with. It certainly hasn?t made me any money.
We might better be able to break the whole problem down to eating. I know a few ?vegetarians?. They simply have chosen to eat primarily, or wholly, plants. Most do this because they believe it to be healthier. I have no problem with that at all.
Then, there is the ?vegan?. Vegans tend to eat only plants and choose to use no animal products such as leather, milk or fur; again, a choice with which I don?t have a problem. On the other hand, Vegans often tend to be much more vocal about their choices. Vegans think I should follow their beliefs and/or choices. With this, I do have problem. It?s when they try to remove the fourteen-ounce ribeye from my plate that they are likely to get a fork in the back of their hand.
Being a bit of a barbarian and what my wife and mother describe as ? a man you can lead forever but can?t push a step?, a few people attempting to practice elitism have discovered my figurative ?fork in the back of their hand?.
Okay, time for the second half of my admission. I am a ?warm water fly-fisherman?. Now you might better understand why purism escapes me. I am from among the ?unwashed?.
Warm water fly-fishing is the red-headed step child of fly-fishing. I see very little elitism practiced among warm water fly-fishermen. Let?s be honest, it?s a little hard to feel too elite when you are sliding into the water, one foot ankle deep in the mud and the other balanced precariously, dead-center in a cow pie. Purism goes out the window when the fly, on your back cast, is picked off by a thousand pounds, or so, of prime beef. Best to point the rod directly at the offending cow and hope the tippet parts easily. Believe me, she is not any happier about it than you are.
You don?t exactly qualify for the cover of the Orvis catalog when your waders are cut-off blue jeans and a pair of old tennis shoes. Or your fanny pack is the same faded camo one that holds turkey calls in the spring and muzzleloading supplies in the fall.
You have lost any lofty status fly-fishing may have brought when you choose to use your 4 weight to fend off a 25 pound snapping turtle that has decided he wants the bluegills hanging from your float tube. Being thrashed with a skinny fishing pole does little to deter a determined snapping turtle, by the way. I recommend a hasty retreat. Note: Snapping turtles can swim really fast ? even when being thrashed with a 4 weight.
A quick sprint, belly-slide and bull snot on the back of your legs is somewhat humbling. Not much fun, but like old age, it?s better than the alternative.
Warm water fly-fishing is not totally about the fish. It?s about the sunrises and sunsets and the time alone on the water. It?s not all about catching fish. In most cases you could catch more on lures, or jigs, on a spinning rod or baitcaster, or even a bobber and bait. And most warm water fly-fishermen know they could because they probably have done so extensively. Fly tackle is seldom the very best tool for the job. It?s not about high-dollar equipment and perfect flies or perfect casts. It?s not about cane, or fiberglass or IM16 graphite. It?s not about being superior to anyone and it?s certainly not about something you saw in a movie.
It?s not about entomology and knowing the name of every insect that flies, swims or crawls. The guys I fish with have developed descriptions of insects that far eclipse the Latin names. ?So, what are they feeding on??
?BBBs?. (big black bugs)
There are also ?LBBs? (little) and ?LTBBs? (little tiny) and ?NADT? (not a .. well you get the idea).
So, why fly-fishing? Sure, there are some differences but mostly, fish are still fish. Locations may change but water mostly has the same depth and clarity no matter your choice of tackle. The sunrises and sunsets are the same. The birds still sing, the frogs still croak and the mosquitoes still buzz around your ears.
So, it?s not all about the fish. But, enough about what warm water fly-fishing is ?not? about. What is about? No matter how you pretty it up, or strive for the perfect rod or perfect fly or perfect cast ? it is mostly about the fish. We don?t, so much, make it about the quality of the equipment, the perfect cast or the prefect presentation. It?s not about the ?experience?. It?s mostly about catching fish.
There is a lot of enjoyment in fishing with fly tackle. It does take some skills and some practice. Everyone would like to be a better caster, but, for many warm water fly fishermen there comes a point when agonizing over perfect form and perfect loops becomes ?fly casting? and not ?fly fishing?. You could ?fly cast? in a parking lot. It?s mostly about catching fish.
Most warm water fly-fishermen have followed a progression here. Many are accomplished with spinning and bait tackle and many still use both. Most enjoy the time spent fishing no matter the tackle and many (Heaven forbid) often enjoy a meal of fish. I?ve seen warm water fly fishermen with the cheapest ?Wally World special? to equipment that cost more than my truck.
Many come for the challenge. Some come for the simplicity and may be ?progressing backwards? from patchwork shirts and sparkly boats and tackle boxes the size of footlockers. Philosophically, some perhaps, are searching for something they feel they may have lost.
In spite of the fact our choice of tackle may confuse our hard-driving, ?run and gun? brethren and we may even be looked down on by some of our ?upstream and dry? brethren, most of us have one major all-encompassing reason we fly-fish in warm water. We do it because it is fun.









]]> HideHunter http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/entry.php?297-Purism-Or-The-Lack-There-of