Hey, Hatch...

[dixieangler]

Jim,

Would that indicator happen to be a VOSI or a popper?

Just curious.

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Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL

"Flip a fly"

[Jim Hatch]

Hey Robert,

It varies by season. This time of year
it's most often one of Alberto's Souhegan
Hoppers. [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/060903fotw.html:47eb9]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/060903fotw.html[/url:47eb9]
Other times, it may be a slider, popper or
a foam spider. Wrm regards, Jim

[Joe Hyde]

Jim,


My first-ever ultra-light spinning rod was a 4 1/2-ft. Shakespeare fiberglass, very limber. So even though I'm no stranger to short rods per se, it still seems strange that a fly rod would be so short -- or shorter in your case.

What would be really cool is if you could have someone with a camcorder shoot footage of you casting that baby, and then make the footage available on-line somehow.

That must be some serious dense cover short-range casting you're doing. What, 20-25 feet max? Pretty wild deal!

Joe

"Better small than not at all."

[dixieangler]

Thanks, Jim. I figured that you might be using the scud as a dropper under either a popper, spongy spider, or a foam bug rather than under a VOSI.

You are right, it does seem to be that Fall hopper time again here in the South. Saw an early season green hopper yesterday. Usually they are either tan, orange, or yellow later in their season here.

I also have a little 6 foot 4 weight that's ideal for tight/small waters.

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Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL

"Flip a fly"

[This message has been edited by dixieangler (edited 26 October 2005).]

[Jim Hatch]

Hi Joe,

My cypress swamp fishery is probably
a bit more dense than what most are used to.
It took me a while to find one of the older
Forest Woods early bass rigs that was narrow
enough to get back into the swamps. A
regular bass rig is too beamy to fit between
some of the trees. Even when I do come into
some of the more open areas, the lily pads
and other structure will often make longer
casts less practical. I find the shorter
rods generally easier to keep out of the
limbs and easier to cast in the tight
situations I most often experience. As it
is all still waters, mending isn't a factor.
While I don't believe a 1 weight such as RW
and a number of others prefer would hold up
in my waters for very long, I do enjoy ultra
light fishing and my little 3 weights are much fun.*G* I have no trouble exceeding
the distances that are practical in my
fishery using the little rods. If you were
to throw a half dozen overhanging limbs
around the edges of your living room, it
might approximate some of my more productive
fishing holes.*G*

For the record, I always keep a 9' 6 wt
rigged and ready in my rod rack. Sometimes
when running from the landing to the swamps
I'll find stripers busting bait on top. I
have no problem breaking out a longer rod
for those situations.*G* Just gotta use
what best fits the situation. Warm regards,
Jim

Jim's right on the money. When I go to most places around here, I keep a seven-and-a-half foot five-weight with me and a eight- or nine-footer in six weight. Makes life much easier, but we can't go too light...too many toothy, brutish creatures prowling me and Jim's waters, even as far apart as we are geographically!

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[url=http://www.native-waters.com:0d641]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:0d641]

[FlyFlopper]

Jim,
My father and I grew up fishing Lake Marion and Moultrie. I still have a place there on Marion and get down a couple times a year. We have even fished in and around Russelville at times as I was growing up. My grandfather had a fishing cabin there in the early 60's. Loved your article and I passed it along to my father to see if he would recognize any of the swamp there. He didn't but he sure enjoyed seeing your BIG gills and reading your article. He asked me to contact you and tell you how much he had enjoyed looking at those nice fish. He doesn't get to fish as much any more for healh reasons but still loves to talk about it. Thanks

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Flopper
Tye Me, Fly Me, Whip Me, Strip Me.

[Jim Hatch]

Hey Flyflopper,

Thanks! If you or you dad get down
this way, give me a shout. We can hook up
and create some new memories.*G* Warm
regards, jim