GENTLEMEN!

[Lionel F. Stevenson]

I don't intend to blow smoke, if you know what I mean, but the posters on
ROFF seem to be a good lot. Humor and helpfulness prevail.

BTW, having completed my first season of fly fishing, I would like to state
that I met a lot of gentlemen on the stream. No one was nasty, except as a
joke.

I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of your
f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said "Yep!"

Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some people might
take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It was said with a smile.

-- Lionel

[Tim J.]

Lionel F. Stevenson typed:
> I don't intend to blow smoke, if you know what I mean, but the
> posters on ROFF seem to be a good lot. Humor and helpfulness prevail.

Okay. . . if you say so,

> BTW, having completed my first season of fly fishing, I would like to
> state that I met a lot of gentlemen on the stream. No one was nasty,
> except as a joke.
>
> I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of
> your f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said
> "Yep!"
>
> Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
> puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some
> people might take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It
> was said with a smile.

Um, those folks may not have been joking. I'll always tell someone what I'm
using if they ask, but some folks are very secretive about that stuff. The
way I see it, telling them what I'm using is only part of the equation
anyway.

Generally, you are correct. ROFF is a helpful, friendly bunch. Once you
strip away the bull****, anger, resentment, penis envy, little-man syndrome,
big-man syndrome, testosterone spikes, mean-spirited belittlement,
newbie-whacking, and opinionated crap, we're just warm, cuddly little teddy
bears.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

[Tom Nakashima]

"Tim J." > wrote in message
...

>> Lionel F. Stevenson typed:
>> I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of
>> your f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said
>> "Yep!"
>>
>> Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
>> puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some
>> people might take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It
>> was said with a smile.
>
> Um, those folks may not have been joking. I'll always tell someone what
> I'm using if they ask, but some folks are very secretive about that stuff.
> The way I see it, telling them what I'm using is only part of the equation
> anyway.

Interesting, I always share the info on the fly I'm using, even give them a
few or trade if they ask, especially when building a good rapport with the
local town folks. Most of the fly-fisherman I have come across have been
pretty friendly in sharing information and techniques. I remember one recent
trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as I had
not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the fish. I just
smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his great presentation
skills.
-tom

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:26:39 -0400, "Tim J."
> wrote:

>Lionel F. Stevenson typed:
>> I don't intend to blow smoke, if you know what I mean, but the
>> posters on ROFF seem to be a good lot. Humor and helpfulness prevail.
>
>Okay. . . if you say so,
>
>> BTW, having completed my first season of fly fishing, I would like to
>> state that I met a lot of gentlemen on the stream. No one was nasty,
>> except as a joke.
>>
>> I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of
>> your f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said
>> "Yep!"
>>
>> Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
>> puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some
>> people might take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It
>> was said with a smile.
>
>Um, those folks may not have been joking. I'll always tell someone what I'm
>using if they ask, but some folks are very secretive about that stuff. The
>way I see it, telling them what I'm using is only part of the equation
>anyway.

Sadly, this is true. The advent of fishing competitions seems to have
worsened this phenomena. I read an article about how to be a
successful competition angler recently in a mag that's primarily
geared towards the stockie basher. One of the guy's tips was to tie up
your cast before going on the boat and then change it when you got out
on the water.

I've never understood this aspect of fishing. To me it's about getting
away from a world that seems to be driven more and more by
competitiveness. Why drag that into my fishing.

>Generally, you are correct. ROFF is a helpful, friendly bunch. Once you
>strip away the bull****, anger, resentment, penis envy, little-man syndrome,
>big-man syndrome, testosterone spikes, mean-spirited belittlement,
>newbie-whacking, and opinionated crap, we're just warm, cuddly little teddy
>bears.

Hmmm, I've not been whacked. I feel cheated.

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 06:51:03 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
> wrote:

>
>"Tim J." > wrote in message
...
>
>>> Lionel F. Stevenson typed:
>>> I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of
>>> your f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said
>>> "Yep!"
>>>
>>> Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
>>> puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some
>>> people might take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It
>>> was said with a smile.
>>
>> Um, those folks may not have been joking. I'll always tell someone what
>> I'm using if they ask, but some folks are very secretive about that stuff.
>> The way I see it, telling them what I'm using is only part of the equation
>> anyway.
>
>Interesting, I always share the info on the fly I'm using, even give them a
>few or trade if they ask, especially when building a good rapport with the
>local town folks. Most of the fly-fisherman I have come across have been
>pretty friendly in sharing information and techniques.

I have to say that for the most part, this has en my experience too.
Why not share patterns, tips, knowledge, etc? I just don't understand
the guarded fisher. After all, I'm sure they didn't learn purely by
experience, and that they owe many of their skills to the helpfulness
of others.

Besides, nobody knows everything.

> I remember one recent
>trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as I had
>not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the fish. I just
>smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his great presentation
>skills.

Just proves the point... what goes around comes around.

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Larry L]

"Tom Nakashima" > wrote

I remember one recent
> trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as I had
> not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the fish. I just
> smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his great presentation
> skills.

One of last season's greatest highlights for me occurred on the Henry's Fork
just above the log jam.

It was late in what had been a slow day, and there was only one fish to be
found rising. I found him first and was sneaking into casting position
when a group of four or five anglers from Japan arrived. One of them had
seen the fish from afar and was visibly disappointed to see me slip into the
water near it. Their group split up, looking forlorn and discouraged, and
searched the area for rising heads, the angler that had seen "my" fish sat
on the bank near me and eyed each rise with clear envy.

I put a few casts over the fish and got him to rise, a take I missed. I
figured he would be put down, but, no, he continued to feed.

My Japanese friend was still watching and it occurred to me that I had been
given my chance and didn't deserve to land that fish, so I said pointing
with my rod at the rise, "Here, you try him, he's too smart for me." The
language barrier made this difficult and one of his friends with better
English joined in to help. Soon I was backing out carefully and the
Japanese angler was approaching the prey. About 1/2 hour later he hooked
that fish, a nice one about 18 inches. As he netted it I gave him a
"thumbs up" sign hoping it was universal and didn't mean something nasty in
Japan<g>. What little English he knew came out then, over and over,
"Thank You, thank you, thank you."

The next day I ran into one of the group who recognized me ( it's easy I'm
whale sized and ugly ) and went out of his way to come thank me again, for
his friend. That fish was the only one caught by their group that slow
day ( they did better the next day :-) and it had made the whole group much
more enthusiast as their 'dream trip" looked like a nightmare until then.
I was given a few very lovely flies tied with artificial winging material
available only in Japan.

In reality, if we're honest, the major reason for generosity is because it
makes US feel better ... this case certainly worked that way ... it was hard
to "give up" that fish and get skunked that evening, but those "thank yous"
were far worth more than yet another landed fish.

Oh, and I always give flies to anyone that asks me what to use, if I have
any left to give ...... again, really for myself ..... my 6 decades have
made me a firm believer in 'Karma' .... what goes around comes around, not
always immediately or from the same person, but often enough to justify the
$0.30 a homebuilt fly costs, as investment.

[Larry L]

"Larry L" > wrote

this hangs on the Nature Conservancy cabin at Silver Creek, changes in the
'type' of people waving fly rods over the last 20 years have made these
messages far more necessary, ime ....

http://tinyurl.com/aqbek

[Larry L]

"Larry L" > wrote

>
> One of last season's greatest highlights for me occurred on the Henry's
> Fork just above the log jam.
>

I'm bored this morning, it's still sprinkling outside and I'm a little cabin
bound, so here is another story I just remembered from my distant FFing
past.

Scene: Manzanita Lake in Lassen National Park

Time: Years and years ago, just about the time I started to really get
interested in real "fly" ( as in bug) fishing as opposed to the Royal Wulff
and Wooly Bugger version <G>


I fished the first morning of a three day trip and did poorly before
the calibaetis started. There was an early midge hatch that had good fish
working but I couldn't touch them. I seined the bug and it was a bright
insect green midge about an 18 or so. In the trailer that afternoon I
tied up a few Lasher patterns in the correct color.

The next morning, during the midge action, I could take fish at
will, they loved my tie. Two anglers were tubing near me, tossing buggers
and fishless. Finally one kicked over near my pram and asked what I was
using. I looked and had two flies left, three counting the one on my leader
and it was getting badly torn up. I pulled out one and offered it, "I only
have one I can give you, sorry. JUST grease the deer hair part, the rest
should sink below the film. If you can tell which way the fish is cruising
put it out in front of him and just let it sit, no movement."

He took the fly and paddled back near his friend. I could hear
their conversation as he changed tippet and tied on the fly, "He said it is
a 'midge emerger' and to grease only the one part and let the rest sink."
The buddy, "Oh that 'emerger' **** is all crap, just stick with a wooly
bugger."

Almost exactly as that last sentence reached me the first cast was
made ... fish ON !! And then the moment I remember as worth more than
any fly as the angler with my pattern said, "Well, it may be crap, but it
sure works!!! " <G>

[rw]

Larry L wrote:
>
> Oh, and I always give flies to anyone that asks me what to use, if I have
> any left to give ...... again, really for myself ..... my 6 decades have
> made me a firm believer in 'Karma' .... what goes around comes around, not
> always immediately or from the same person, but often enough to justify the
> $0.30 a homebuilt fly costs, as investment.

The last time I fished Silver Creek I met a very nice guy from Oregon
who gave me several examples of his favorite dry fly, which he called a
Hatch Master. It's a cool fly and I'd never heard of it. It's a
extended-body mayfly tied only with mallard flank and hackle.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

[Tom Nakashima]

"Larry L" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tom Nakashima" > wrote
>
> I remember one recent
>> trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as I
>> had not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the fish. I
>> just smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his great
>> presentation skills.
>
> One of last season's greatest highlights for me occurred on the Henry's
> Fork just above the log jam.
>
> It was late in what had been a slow day, and there was only one fish to be
> found rising. I found him first and was sneaking into casting position
> when a group of four or five anglers from Japan arrived. One of them had
> seen the fish from afar and was visibly disappointed to see me slip into
> the water near it. Their group split up, looking forlorn and
> discouraged, and searched the area for rising heads, the angler that had
> seen "my" fish sat on the bank near me and eyed each rise with clear envy.
>
> I put a few casts over the fish and got him to rise, a take I missed. I
> figured he would be put down, but, no, he continued to feed.
>
> My Japanese friend was still watching and it occurred to me that I had
> been given my chance and didn't deserve to land that fish, so I said
> pointing with my rod at the rise, "Here, you try him, he's too smart for
> me." The language barrier made this difficult and one of his friends
> with better English joined in to help. Soon I was backing out carefully
> and the Japanese angler was approaching the prey. About 1/2 hour later
> he hooked that fish, a nice one about 18 inches. As he netted it I gave
> him a "thumbs up" sign hoping it was universal and didn't mean something
> nasty in Japan<g>. What little English he knew came out then, over and
> over, "Thank You, thank you, thank you."
>
> The next day I ran into one of the group who recognized me ( it's easy I'm
> whale sized and ugly ) and went out of his way to come thank me again, for
> his friend. That fish was the only one caught by their group that slow
> day ( they did better the next day :-) and it had made the whole group
> much more enthusiast as their 'dream trip" looked like a nightmare until
> then. I was given a few very lovely flies tied with artificial winging
> material available only in Japan.
>
> In reality, if we're honest, the major reason for generosity is because it
> makes US feel better ... this case certainly worked that way ... it was
> hard to "give up" that fish and get skunked that evening, but those "thank
> yous" were far worth more than yet another landed fish.
>
> Oh, and I always give flies to anyone that asks me what to use, if I have
> any left to give ...... again, really for myself ..... my 6 decades have
> made me a firm believer in 'Karma' .... what goes around comes around, not
> always immediately or from the same person, but often enough to justify
> the $0.30 a homebuilt fly costs, as investment.
>

It's amazing how life always seems to balances out. Great story btw.
My parents were put in the Japanese-American Internment camps when they grew
up here in the states. Unfortunately for us, the last thing they wanted
their kids to be was Japanese. So we lost a lot of our culture in not
speaking the language, and not eating the foods. Growing up in Naval town
San Diego, CA didn't help much either as my Dad was in the Navy and worked
for Convair. We were kids, so we didn't know better.

I got a lot of the culture back when I had to room with two Japanese boys
who's family from Japan sent them down for college. All I had to do was be
a good host, not teach them any bad American words, and make sure they
didn't get into any trouble. For all that, I paid $50.oo for room in a very
nice house. I learned a lot about the Japanese culture and found out how
round-eyes I really was as their Aunt used to call me.

So my first job was to take my new roomates from Japan sight-seeing. I asked
them if they wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, or Alcatraz Island,
perhaps an American baseball game. Blushing the two said in their broken
English, they wanted to see Carol Doda and all of her 44d's at the Condor
Strip Club. I dare not tell Auntie May.
-tom

[Tim J.]

Larry L typed:
> "Tom Nakashima" > wrote
>
> I remember one recent
>> trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as
>> I had not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the
>> fish. I just smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his
>> great presentation skills.
>
> One of last season's greatest highlights for me occurred on the
> Henry's Fork just above the log jam....
<snipped nice story>

Since it's story time. . .

Last year, my older son (you know, the guy with the metal-rod-construction
spine) decided to take my dog for a walk at the secret spot. About 100 yards
in, there was a woman sitting on the bank and her young son was in the water
flailing away with a completely improperly rigged fly rod. We stopped long
enough to let the mother pet the dog and to find out the boy's father had
passed away a few months back. I took the kid, about 12-13 years old, back
to my car (always properly stocked with fishing gear), rerigged his rod
(backing installed, turned the line around on the reel, new leader, etc.),
tied on a wooly bugger, and gave him about a dozen flies to start him off.
We went back and I showed him how to cast - pretty funny if you've ever seen
*me* cast. Kinda like the blind leading the blind. anyway, the kid was
pretty jazzed, and the mother was beside herself thanking me. I had to leave
before it got too maudlin. My son promptly asked me why I was so much nicer
to other people's children. ;-)

A few weeks later, I was back there to do some fishing. The boy was back and
said his mother was sitting and reading downstream about 1/2 mile. He said
he hadn't caught anything the day we met, but he went back the next day and
caught several little fish I assumed were brookies. On this day, he went in
the river at the same spot I'd left him the last time and was casting fairly
well.

I see this kind of stuff not as a "nice thing to do", but as a duty to
society. If that kid gets into fishing instead of trouble, it's sure worth
the time. AFAIC, all the kudos go to the mother for continuing to spend the
time to get the kid on the river.

.. . . and, yes, I usually share any info I have (normally minimal) with
others around me who are interested, but I've seen a few pretty nasty people
who feel their info and talent is theirs and nobody else's. Grumpy ol' farts
usually, even grumpier than me.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

[Mike Connor]

At one time, the term "Angler", was practically synonymous with the term,
"Gentleman". Difficult to say when this started to change. However this may
be, nowadays one can certainly not simply assume it to be so.

TL
MC

[Larry L]

"Tom Nakashima" > wrote

>
> It's amazing how life always seems to balances out. Great story btw.
> My parents were put in the Japanese-American Internment camps when they
> grew up here in the states. Unfortunately for us, the last thing they
> wanted their kids to be was Japanese. So we lost a lot of our culture in
> not speaking the language, and not eating the foods.

I hadn't really noticed your name when I posted my HF story. But the Fork
seems to be a type of fishing Mecca for Japanese. I run into parties from
there every year, I hear that Rene Harrop is much published and admired
there, and one of my 'buddies' in the area is recently married to a woman
who came to fish the Fork from Japan and stayed.

I read somewhere in a book claiming to be science about fish that Japanese
have a chemical in their skin oils that is attractive to fish .... genetic
advantage <g> ... makes sense to me, island people evolving where fishing is
so very important .... have you ever heard this? I'll try and find the
book, it's probably in my library.


One last Japanese fishing thingy. Apparently there are some things that
can't be said in Japanese as each year I overhear a conversation or two that
( to me ) sounds like, "yamanashi fugiwama leader shy makidori" <g> and I
get a chuckle from it. I've seen a couple Japanese fishing magazines and
they are a mixture of those cool characters with some English words throw in
too ... kinda weird, really

My experience with the foreign anglers in the Yellowstone area would place
the Japanese at the very top of the list in manners, ethics, and politeness
to others ...... German speakers near the bottom ... and those English
speakers with a Texas drawl dead last ... fwiw

[Larry L]

"Tim J." > wrote

> I see this kind of stuff not as a "nice thing to do", but as a duty to
> society.

I didn't think Republicans were allowed to think in terms of "social
contract" <g> ....








cool story, <G>

[Charlie Choc]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 18:18:40 GMT, "Larry L"
> wrote:

> Apparently there are some things that
>can't be said in Japanese as each year I overhear a conversation or two that
>( to me ) sounds like, "yamanashi fugiwama leader shy makidori" <g> and I
>get a chuckle from it. I've seen a couple Japanese fishing magazines and
>they are a mixture of those cool characters with some English words throw in
>too ... kinda weird, really
>
Japanese has a lot of borrowed words, from Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, English,
etc. The 'cool' characters (kanji) are actually derived from Chinese characters.
FWIW
--
Charlie Choc
234778

[Ken Fortenberry]

Larry L wrote:
> "Tim J." > wrote
>>I see this kind of stuff not as a "nice thing to do", but as a duty to
>>society.
>
> I didn't think Republicans were allowed to think in terms of "social
> contract" <g> ....

How soon we forget. Don't you remember the "Contract on America" ?

It's amazing that Gingrich has the nerve to show his ugly face.

--
Ken Fortenberry

[Tim J.]

Larry L typed:
> "Tim J." > wrote
>
>> I see this kind of stuff not as a "nice thing to do", but as a duty
>> to society.
>
> I didn't think Republicans were allowed to think in terms of "social
> contract" <g> ....

I forgot to mention that I also enrolled the lad in the Young Republicans.
It was the least I could do. . .
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

[Tom Nakashima]

"Larry L" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tom Nakashima" > wrote
>
>>
>> It's amazing how life always seems to balances out. Great story btw.
>> My parents were put in the Japanese-American Internment camps when they
>> grew up here in the states. Unfortunately for us, the last thing they
>> wanted their kids to be was Japanese. So we lost a lot of our culture in
>> not speaking the language, and not eating the foods.
>
> I hadn't really noticed your name when I posted my HF story. But the
> Fork seems to be a type of fishing Mecca for Japanese. I run into
> parties from there every year, I hear that Rene Harrop is much published
> and admired there, and one of my 'buddies' in the area is recently married
> to a woman who came to fish the Fork from Japan and stayed.

I also married a gal from Japan, Yokohama and I tell my friends I did
something right in my life...going on 25 years next March.

>
> I read somewhere in a book claiming to be science about fish that Japanese
> have a chemical in their skin oils that is attractive to fish .... genetic
> advantage <g> ... makes sense to me, island people evolving where fishing
> is so very important .... have you ever heard this? I'll try and find
> the book, it's probably in my library.

I'm not sure on this, I'll have to ask Bev about that one. I know the
Japanese women are always into natural lotions and extracts from plants or
animals to keep their skin beautiful.

>
>
> One last Japanese fishing thingy. Apparently there are some things that
> can't be said in Japanese as each year I overhear a conversation or two
> that ( to me ) sounds like, "yamanashi fugiwama leader shy makidori" <g>
> and I get a chuckle from it. I've seen a couple Japanese fishing
> magazines and they are a mixture of those cool characters with some
> English words throw in too ... kinda weird, really

The Japanese have a lot of sayings that are hard to translate in the
American language. My mother-in-law used to call me "WholeOss" and give me
a huge smile. So for six months I thought it was something good, thought I
was the guru of Son-in-laws. Then I found out she was getting her compound
words crossed. She was actually call me an "Asshole".

>
> My experience with the foreign anglers in the Yellowstone area would place
> the Japanese at the very top of the list in manners, ethics, and
> politeness to others ...... German speakers near the bottom ... and those
> English speakers with a Texas drawl dead last ... fwiw

I know the Japanese have a different sense of humor than us. I would stay
up late at night watching Johnny Carson host Rodney Dangerfield on the
tonight show and laughing at his one-liners. My two Japanese roommates
couldn't figure-out what the hell I was laughing at. However they would get
a big kick out of Jerry Lewis falling down or the Three Stooges. Yes agree,
the people from Japan are very polite and well mannered.
-tom

[Wolfgang]

"Tim J." > wrote in message
...
> Larry L typed:
>> "Tom Nakashima" > wrote
>>
>> I remember one recent
>>> trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as
>>> I had not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the
>>> fish. I just smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his
>>> great presentation skills.
>>
>> One of last season's greatest highlights for me occurred on the
>> Henry's Fork just above the log jam....
> <snipped nice story>
>
> Since it's story time. . .
>
> Last year, my older son (you know, the guy with the metal-rod-construction
> spine) decided to take my dog for a walk at the secret spot. About 100
> yards in, there was a woman sitting on the bank and her young son was in
> the water flailing away with a completely improperly rigged fly rod. We
> stopped long enough to let the mother pet the dog and to find out the
> boy's father had passed away a few months back. I took the kid, about
> 12-13 years old, back to my car (always properly stocked with fishing
> gear), rerigged his rod (backing installed, turned the line around on the
> reel, new leader, etc.), tied on a wooly bugger, and gave him about a
> dozen flies to start him off. We went back and I showed him how to cast -
> pretty funny if you've ever seen *me* cast. Kinda like the blind leading
> the blind. anyway, the kid was pretty jazzed, and the mother was beside
> herself thanking me. I had to leave before it got too maudlin. My son
> promptly asked me why I was so much nicer to other people's children. ;-)
>
> A few weeks later, I was back there to do some fishing. The boy was back
> and said his mother was sitting and reading downstream about 1/2 mile. He
> said he hadn't caught anything the day we met, but he went back the next
> day and caught several little fish I assumed were brookies. On this day,
> he went in the river at the same spot I'd left him the last time and was
> casting fairly well.
>
> I see this kind of stuff not as a "nice thing to do", but as a duty to
> society. If that kid gets into fishing instead of trouble, it's sure worth
> the time. AFAIC, all the kudos go to the mother for continuing to spend
> the time to get the kid on the river....

Five or six years ago, Becky and I did a backpacking trip in the Never
Summer Wilderness, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park. At the end of
the trip we spent the better part of a day reacquainting ourselves with
civilization (such as it is) in Estes Park before heading home. After a
decent lunch in the outdoor cafe seating area of one of the local bar/grills
(where they allowed Cullen to sit with us......and even brought him a bowl
of water and a hot dog) we strolled the boardwalk along whatever the hell
stream it is that flows through town. A boy appearing to be about ten years
old was there with his mother, doing his level best to tease a trout up out
of the water. We stood and watched him for a while. Eventually, he gave up
and came up on the bridge from where we and his mother had been watching.
With an air of morose anxiety he searched briefly through the pitiful supply
of flies in a little plastic box. I asked to see them and he, looking a bit
embarrassed, held the box out to me. After a quick glance, I asked him to
wait a minute and then walked back to our car and retrieved my fishing bag.
Returning to the bridge, I got out a fly box and selected a few. Holding
them out to the boy, I asked him to take them. Eyes aglow, he complied. As
he placed them carefully into his box, I dug out another and made a few more
selections. We repeated the procedure a few times. Eventually, he couldn't
fit any more flies in his box.....so I gave him another. Then we filled
that one. Half an hour later, we strolled away, to the accompaniment of
profuse thanks from both boy and mother.

Since that day, I've had to replace the transmission in my van, I lost my
job, I got a parking ticket at Big Cedar Lake, I've had several colds, I've
cut myself numerous times on kitchen cutlery, razor blades and broken glass,
I got a big zit on my nose, I've had more fishless days than I care to count
or remember, my favorite coffee mug got smashed, there are mice in the
pantry, Susan Sarandon, Daryl Hannah, Jessica Lang, Holly Hunter and Sharon
Stone NEVER return my calls........I could go on. :(

Wolfgang
karma this.

[Mike Connor]

"Wolfgang" > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
<SNIP>
> Wolfgang
> karma this.

You already did. Every time you think of it, you feel good.

What more could you desire? Apart of course from gainful employment, diverse
phone calls from famous and beautiful women, and fewer zits?

TL
MC

[Tim J.]

Wolfgang typed:
<snipped proof that Wolfgang is human>
> I lost my job, ...

No doubt from stealing your employer's bandwidth, eh?

> ... I got a parking ticket at Big Cedar Lake, I've had
> several colds, I've cut myself numerous times on kitchen cutlery,
> razor blades and broken glass, I got a big zit on my nose, I've had
> more fishless days than I care to count or remember, my favorite
> coffee mug got smashed, there are mice in the pantry, Susan Sarandon,
> Daryl Hannah, Jessica Lang, Holly Hunter and Sharon Stone NEVER
> return my calls........I could go on. :(

Yeah, but you met *me*, which is regarded in some cultures as uplifting and
meaningful.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

[Wolfgang]

"Mike Connor" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Wolfgang" > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> ...
> <SNIP>
>> Wolfgang
>> karma this.
>
> You already did. Every time you think of it, you feel good.

Well, yeah, a little bit. But, I'd probably feel better if I'd given him
ALL of my fishing stuff.......um......and my money........and the
car.......and Cullen......and Becky.

> What more could you desire? Apart of course from gainful employment,
> diverse phone calls from famous and beautiful women, and fewer zits?

Hm.......

I guess it's not the phone calls so much.......uh......would home visits be
too much to ask?

Wolfgang
who's pretty sure he'd like that. :)

[Wolfgang]

"Tim J." > wrote in message
...
> Wolfgang typed:
> <snipped proof that Wolfgang is human>
>> I lost my job, ...
>
> No doubt from stealing your employer's bandwidth, eh?

Nah, that was another job.........um.......hm.......I suppose they COULD
have been lying about the no money thingy. I mean, they DID put up a new
$40,000,000 (not 6000) building right after that. :(

>> ... I got a parking ticket at Big Cedar Lake, I've had
>> several colds, I've cut myself numerous times on kitchen cutlery,
>> razor blades and broken glass, I got a big zit on my nose, I've had
>> more fishless days than I care to count or remember, my favorite
>> coffee mug got smashed, there are mice in the pantry, Susan Sarandon,
>> Daryl Hannah, Jessica Lang, Holly Hunter and Sharon Stone NEVER
>> return my calls........I could go on. :(
>
> Yeah, but you met *me*, which is regarded in some cultures as uplifting
> and meaningful.

Sure, but that was so brief it was like two ****s passing in the night.

Wolfgang
timmay, we hardly knew ye. :)

[Mike Connor]

"Wolfgang" > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
<SNIP>
> Hm.......
>
> I guess it's not the phone calls so much.......uh......would home visits
> be too much to ask?
>
> Wolfgang
> who's pretty sure he'd like that. :)
>

There are so many things that are too much to ask. Usually best not to even
consider asking, a refusal always offends.

TL
MC

[Tim J.]

Wolfgang wrote:
> "Tim J." > wrote in message
> ...
>> Wolfgang typed:
>> <snipped proof that Wolfgang is human>
>>> I lost my job, ...
>>
>> No doubt from stealing your employer's bandwidth, eh?
>
> Nah, that was another job.........um.......hm.......I suppose they
> COULD have been lying about the no money thingy. I mean, they DID
> put up a new $40,000,000 (not 6000) building right after that.
> :(
>>> ... I got a parking ticket at Big Cedar Lake, I've had
>>> several colds, I've cut myself numerous times on kitchen cutlery,
>>> razor blades and broken glass, I got a big zit on my nose, I've had
>>> more fishless days than I care to count or remember, my favorite
>>> coffee mug got smashed, there are mice in the pantry, Susan
>>> Sarandon, Daryl Hannah, Jessica Lang, Holly Hunter and Sharon Stone
>>> NEVER return my calls........I could go on. :(
>>
>> Yeah, but you met *me*, which is regarded in some cultures as
>> uplifting and meaningful.
>
> Sure, but that was so brief it was like two ****s passing in the
> night.
> Wolfgang
> timmay, we hardly knew ye. :)

Yeah, but your Timmay number is one. Hmmm. . . sometimes bigger *is*
better, wot?
--
TL,
Tim
---------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

[Cyli]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 13:00:18 GMT, "Lionel F. Stevenson"
> wrote:

>I don't intend to blow smoke, if you know what I mean, but the posters on
>ROFF seem to be a good lot. Humor and helpfulness prevail.
>
>BTW, having completed my first season of fly fishing, I would like to state
>that I met a lot of gentlemen on the stream. No one was nasty, except as a
>joke.
>
>I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of your
>f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said "Yep!"


Your response was perfect. Especially if said with a smile.
>
>Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
>puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some people might
>take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It was said with a smile.
>
>-- Lionel


Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: (strip the .invalid to email)

[asadi]

Wrong group

john

"Lionel F. Stevenson" > wrote in message
...
>I don't intend to blow smoke, if you know what I mean, but the posters on
> ROFF seem to be a good lot. Humor and helpfulness prevail.
>
> BTW, having completed my first season of fly fishing, I would like to
> state
> that I met a lot of gentlemen on the stream. No one was nasty, except as a
> joke.
>
> I asked one person which fly he was using, and he replied, "None of your
> f-in' business!" I said, "That's what it's called?" He said "Yep!"
>
> Another guy was stomping what looked like a large olive leech in a mud
> puddle to get it wet. I went over to take a look. He said "Some people
> might
> take offence to you even watching what I'm doing." It was said with a
> smile.
>
> -- Lionel
>

[asadi]

"Tim J." <>
> Generally, you are correct. ROFF is a helpful, friendly bunch. Once you
> strip away the bull****, anger, resentment, penis envy, little-man
> syndrome, big-man syndrome, testosterone spikes, mean-spirited
> belittlement, newbie-whacking, and opinionated crap, we're just warm,
> cuddly little teddy bears.
> --
> TL,
> Tim
> ------------------------
> http://css.sbcma.com/timj/
>
>


Well, never in all my days . . . I swanee to goodness!

john

[Cyli]

>>Generally, you are correct. ROFF is a helpful, friendly bunch. Once you
>>strip away the bull****, anger, resentment, penis envy, little-man syndrome,
>>big-man syndrome, testosterone spikes, mean-spirited belittlement,
>>newbie-whacking, and opinionated crap, we're just warm, cuddly little teddy
>>bears.
>
Who carry lots of sharp pointy objects and a good whuppin' stick.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: (strip the .invalid to email)

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 20:11:51 +0200, "Mike Connor"
> wrote:

>At one time, the term "Angler", was practically synonymous with the term,
>"Gentleman". Difficult to say when this started to change. However this may
>be, nowadays one can certainly not simply assume it to be so.

I'm from the other side of the tracks, where the word, "angler" was
more frequently associated with the word, "poacher." ;-)

But the same sense of honour, if that's the right word, and a climate
of helpfulness prevailed.

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:40:09 -0500, "Wolfgang" >
wrote:

>
>"Tim J." > wrote in message
...
>> Larry L typed:
>>> "Tom Nakashima" > wrote
>>>
>>> I remember one recent
>>>> trip I gave a fly to a stranger, about 15 min. later he hooked up as
>>>> I had not a single strike. Later he came by and offered me the
>>>> fish. I just smiled and told him to keep it and commented on his
>>>> great presentation skills.
>>>
>>> One of last season's greatest highlights for me occurred on the
>>> Henry's Fork just above the log jam....
>> <snipped nice story>
>>
>> Since it's story time. . .
>>
>> Last year, my older son (you know, the guy with the metal-rod-construction
>> spine) decided to take my dog for a walk at the secret spot. About 100
>> yards in, there was a woman sitting on the bank and her young son was in
>> the water flailing away with a completely improperly rigged fly rod. We
>> stopped long enough to let the mother pet the dog and to find out the
>> boy's father had passed away a few months back. I took the kid, about
>> 12-13 years old, back to my car (always properly stocked with fishing
>> gear), rerigged his rod (backing installed, turned the line around on the
>> reel, new leader, etc.), tied on a wooly bugger, and gave him about a
>> dozen flies to start him off. We went back and I showed him how to cast -
>> pretty funny if you've ever seen *me* cast. Kinda like the blind leading
>> the blind. anyway, the kid was pretty jazzed, and the mother was beside
>> herself thanking me. I had to leave before it got too maudlin. My son
>> promptly asked me why I was so much nicer to other people's children. ;-)
>>
>> A few weeks later, I was back there to do some fishing. The boy was back
>> and said his mother was sitting and reading downstream about 1/2 mile. He
>> said he hadn't caught anything the day we met, but he went back the next
>> day and caught several little fish I assumed were brookies. On this day,
>> he went in the river at the same spot I'd left him the last time and was
>> casting fairly well.
>>
>> I see this kind of stuff not as a "nice thing to do", but as a duty to
>> society. If that kid gets into fishing instead of trouble, it's sure worth
>> the time. AFAIC, all the kudos go to the mother for continuing to spend
>> the time to get the kid on the river....
>
>Five or six years ago, Becky and I did a backpacking trip in the Never
>Summer Wilderness, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park. At the end of
>the trip we spent the better part of a day reacquainting ourselves with
>civilization (such as it is) in Estes Park before heading home. After a
>decent lunch in the outdoor cafe seating area of one of the local bar/grills
>(where they allowed Cullen to sit with us......and even brought him a bowl
>of water and a hot dog) we strolled the boardwalk along whatever the hell
>stream it is that flows through town. A boy appearing to be about ten years
>old was there with his mother, doing his level best to tease a trout up out
>of the water. We stood and watched him for a while. Eventually, he gave up
>and came up on the bridge from where we and his mother had been watching.
>With an air of morose anxiety he searched briefly through the pitiful supply
>of flies in a little plastic box. I asked to see them and he, looking a bit
>embarrassed, held the box out to me. After a quick glance, I asked him to
>wait a minute and then walked back to our car and retrieved my fishing bag.
>Returning to the bridge, I got out a fly box and selected a few. Holding
>them out to the boy, I asked him to take them. Eyes aglow, he complied. As
>he placed them carefully into his box, I dug out another and made a few more
>selections. We repeated the procedure a few times. Eventually, he couldn't
>fit any more flies in his box.....so I gave him another. Then we filled
>that one. Half an hour later, we strolled away, to the accompaniment of
>profuse thanks from both boy and mother.
>
>Since that day, I've had to replace the transmission in my van, I lost my
>job, I got a parking ticket at Big Cedar Lake, I've had several colds, I've
>cut myself numerous times on kitchen cutlery, razor blades and broken glass,
>I got a big zit on my nose, I've had more fishless days than I care to count
>or remember, my favorite coffee mug got smashed, there are mice in the
>pantry, Susan Sarandon, Daryl Hannah, Jessica Lang, Holly Hunter and Sharon
>Stone NEVER return my calls........I could go on. :(
>
>Wolfgang
>karma this.

Have you tried carrying a rabbit's foot around? Sounds like you need
it.
John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Wolfgang]

"Scottish Fly Fisher" > wrote in message
...

> Have you tried carrying a rabbit's foot around? Sounds like you need
> it.


Had one. Lost it. :(

Wolfgang

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 11:57:14 -0600, "Wolfgang" >
wrote:

>
>"Scottish Fly Fisher" > wrote in message
...
>
>> Have you tried carrying a rabbit's foot around? Sounds like you need
>> it.
>
>
>Had one. Lost it. :(

Hmmm... are you a "bottle half full" or a "bottle half empty" kind of
fellow, Wolfgang?

Your answer isn't important... it's just that I think you should drink
at least half a bottle to bring you some cheer. You seem more deflated
than usual.

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Wolfgang]

"Scottish Fly Fisher" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 11:57:14 -0600, "Wolfgang" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Scottish Fly Fisher" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>> Have you tried carrying a rabbit's foot around? Sounds like you need
>>> it.
>>
>>
>>Had one. Lost it. :(
>
> Hmmm... are you a "bottle half full" or a "bottle half empty" kind of
> fellow, Wolfgang?

Empty, no doubt about it. Um.....but then, I do typically expend a great
deal more time and effort in emptying them than in filling. That's bound to
color a boy's perceptions, I guess. :)

> Your answer isn't important...

True, but you'd be amazed at how difficult it's been these last few years
trying to get that message across.

> it's just that I think you should drink
> at least half a bottle to bring you some cheer.

Best advice I've gotten in a LONG long time......and I am working on it even
as I type these words.

> You seem more deflated than usual.

Can't help it.....my karma got run over by someone's dogma.....or
llama......I dunno.....one soma looks pretty much like another to me. My
charisma is hung up on the horns of a dilemma and, frankly, I'm afraid to go
near the damned thing. I got same crazy woman, calls herself Ozma, from
Parma, calling me at all hours with some drama I can't even begin to
understand......and somewhere in all this mess, I'm pretty sure I've
misplaced a comma. How would you feel?

Wolfgang
who (like this isn't enough already) believes he detects magma oozing up
through the basement floor. ai caramba! :(

[Mike Connor]

"Wolfgang" > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
<SNIP>
> Wolfgang
> who (like this isn't enough already) believes he detects magma oozing up
> through the basement floor. ai caramba! :(
>
>

Ilusions of magma, or even of karma,
may well be caused, by a surfeit of pharma.
liquid rock from the basement,
or bad vibes from the ceiling,
may well arise from a half empty feeling.

Such emotions may often result in deflation,
or even, worst case, in a sinking sensation,
deep thought may well help,
although it is moot,
that the reason for this is a lost rabbit´s foot.

TL
MC

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 15:09:49 -0600, "Wolfgang" >
wrote:

>
>"Scottish Fly Fisher" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 11:57:14 -0600, "Wolfgang" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Scottish Fly Fisher" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>> Have you tried carrying a rabbit's foot around? Sounds like you need
>>>> it.
>>>
>>>
>>>Had one. Lost it. :(
>>
>> Hmmm... are you a "bottle half full" or a "bottle half empty" kind of
>> fellow, Wolfgang?
>
>Empty, no doubt about it. Um.....but then, I do typically expend a great
>deal more time and effort in emptying them than in filling. That's bound to
>color a boy's perceptions, I guess. :)

Well, speaking as a nurse, when you spend more time filling bottles
than emptying them, you know it's time to book that flight to
Switzerland and check into the euthanasia clinic. It's the path I
would choose. :-S

>> Your answer isn't important...
>
>True, but you'd be amazed at how difficult it's been these last few years
>trying to get that message across.

That's probably because nobody was taking your responses seriously,
ergo, the message has come through loud and clear at some point.
Celebrate your success!

>> it's just that I think you should drink
>> at least half a bottle to bring you some cheer.
>
>Best advice I've gotten in a LONG long time......and I am working on it even
>as I type these words.

I might be late, but after a harrowing evening, I've eventually
managed to crack open a bottle of red from somewhere in the South of
France, and it's 1/4 empty, or 3/4 full, depending on your
perspective.

>
>> You seem more deflated than usual.
>
>Can't help it.....my karma got run over by someone's dogma.....or
>llama......I dunno.....one soma looks pretty much like another to me. My
>charisma is hung up on the horns of a dilemma and, frankly, I'm afraid to go
>near the damned thing. I got same crazy woman, calls herself Ozma, from
>Parma, calling me at all hours with some drama I can't even begin to
>understand......and somewhere in all this mess, I'm pretty sure I've
>misplaced a comma. How would you feel?

Oh Mamma! Watch those llamas. Their saliva can hit your retina, if it
penetrates the cornea!

>Wolfgang
>who (like this isn't enough already) believes he detects magma oozing up
>through the basement floor. ai caramba! :(
>
LMAO! Just get ratarsed, man! Oh, and move to a more volcanically
stable region. :-)

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 22:37:24 +0100, "Mike Connor"
> wrote:

>
>"Wolfgang" > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
><SNIP>
>> Wolfgang
>> who (like this isn't enough already) believes he detects magma oozing up
>> through the basement floor. ai caramba! :(
>>
>>
>
>Ilusions of magma, or even of karma,
>may well be caused, by a surfeit of pharma.
>liquid rock from the basement,
>or bad vibes from the ceiling,
>may well arise from a half empty feeling.
>
>Such emotions may often result in deflation,
>or even, worst case, in a sinking sensation,
>deep thought may well help,
>although it is moot,
>that the reason for this is a lost rabbit´s foot.
>

When the world's being a bitch,
and you feel you're not winning,
just chug on the bottle,
till the room starts spinning.

When you get up in the morning,
and for death you are wishing,
say" f*ck all that,
I'm going fishing!"

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Mike Connor]

"Scottish Fly Fisher" > schrieb im
Newsbeitrag ...
<SNIP>
> When the world's being a bitch,
> and you feel you're not winning,
> just chug on the bottle,
> till the room starts spinning.
>
> When you get up in the morning,
> and for death you are wishing,
> say" f*ck all that,
> I'm going fishing!"
>
> John
> /fishing/
> http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

What makes you believe, that there´s something to win?
either from life itself, or from bottles of gin?
Unlikely at best, that to clear a death wish,
you should venture forth in pursuit of a fish.

TL
MC

[rw]

Mike Connor wrote:
> "Scottish Fly Fisher" > schrieb im
> Newsbeitrag ...
> <SNIP>
>
>>When the world's being a bitch,
>>and you feel you're not winning,
>>just chug on the bottle,
>>till the room starts spinning.
>>
>>When you get up in the morning,
>>and for death you are wishing,
>>say" f*ck all that,
>>I'm going fishing!"
>>
>>John
/fishing/
>>http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher
>
>
> What makes you believe, that there´s something to win?
> either from life itself, or from bottles of gin?
> Unlikely at best, that to clear a death wish,
> you should venture forth in pursuit of a fish.

Whao! We got us a poetry slam on ROFF!

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

[John Buchanan]

On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:10:03 +0100, "Mike Connor"
> wrote:

>
>"Scottish Fly Fisher" > schrieb im
>Newsbeitrag ...
><SNIP>
>> When the world's being a bitch,
>> and you feel you're not winning,
>> just chug on the bottle,
>> till the room starts spinning.
>>
>> When you get up in the morning,
>> and for death you are wishing,
>> say" f*ck all that,
>> I'm going fishing!"
>>
>> John
>> /fishing/
>> http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher
>
>What makes you believe, that there´s something to win?
>either from life itself, or from bottles of gin?
>Unlikely at best, that to clear a death wish,
>you should venture forth in pursuit of a fish.
>

What makes you think that my angling compunction,
comes from salving my sense of self destruction?
I freely admit I love to fish and get pished,
but only because I'm an old hedonist! ;-)

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Mike Connor]

"John Buchanan" > schrieb im
Newsbeitrag ...
>
> What makes you think that my angling compunction,
> comes from salving my sense of self destruction?
> I freely admit I love to fish and get pished,
> but only because I'm an old hedonist! ;-)
>


Sometimes life can be very confusing,
depends quite a lot on what name you are using,
but what is of greater importance by far,
is that you still know who you really are.

Secret identities may be alright,
but don´t try to change them when you are tight,
this may result in wide revelation,
occasioned of course by inebriation.

Now any Buchanan well worth his salt,
after a nice old bottle of single malt,
would tend to play then an honest game,
and betray to the world his given name.

Is this a disaster? Hardly I feel,
no reason to worry, it´s not a big deal,
"Scottishflyfisher" it seems is now gone,
no matter, in future, we´ll just call you "John".

TL
MC

[Scottish Fly Fisher]

On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:53:06 +0100, "Mike Connor"
> wrote:

>
>"John Buchanan" > schrieb im
>Newsbeitrag ...
>>
>> What makes you think that my angling compunction,
>> comes from salving my sense of self destruction?
>> I freely admit I love to fish and get pished,
>> but only because I'm an old hedonist! ;-)
>>
>
>
>Sometimes life can be very confusing,
>depends quite a lot on what name you are using,
>but what is of greater importance by far,
>is that you still know who you really are.
>
>Secret identities may be alright,
>but don´t try to change them when you are tight,
>this may result in wide revelation,
>occasioned of course by inebriation.
>
>Now any Buchanan well worth his salt,
>after a nice old bottle of single malt,
>would tend to play then an honest game,
>and betray to the world his given name.
>
>Is this a disaster? Hardly I feel,
>no reason to worry, it´s not a big deal,
>"Scottishflyfisher" it seems is now gone,
>no matter, in future, we´ll just call you "John".

Hey, Mike, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it... Sorry about the
lack of prose, but I'm all poemed out. :-)

John
/fishing/
http://groups.msn.com/scottishflyfisher

[Mike Connor]

"Scottish Fly Fisher" > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
<SNIP>
> Hey, Mike, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it... Sorry about the
> lack of prose, but I'm all poemed out. :-)
>
> John

No reason to, just a bit of fun.

TL
MC