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UP Black fly Questions Revisited

A quick thanks to those who provided insights and advice on repellents a few
weeks ago, just before my first summertime north woods trip.

For those interested in such things, the final statistics over an 8-day
outing:

- (5) Sawyer permethrin-treated long-sleeve shirts
- (1) permethrin-treated cap
- (1) permethrin-treated bandana
- (4,000,000) daily DEET treatments (total approximate)
- (0) black fly bites
- (0) deerfly bites
- (3) detectable mosquito bites

The last two despite having been swarmed by both bugs almost incessantly.

Final Tally:
- (1) beautiful, inspiring, life-refreshing, nearly bite-free week in the UP

But maybe I¹m just lucky.

Thanks for the help.

J

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

On 7/20/06 10:18 PM, in article
, "Justin D"
wrote:

A quick thanks to those who provided insights and advice on repellents a few
weeks ago, just before my first summertime north woods trip.

For those interested in such things, the final statistics over an 8-day
outing:

- (5) Sawyer permethrin-treated long-sleeve shirts
- (1) permethrin-treated cap
- (1) permethrin-treated bandana
- (4,000,000) daily DEET treatments (total approximate)
- (0) black fly bites
- (0) deerfly bites
- (3) detectable mosquito bites

The last two despite having been swarmed by both bugs almost incessantly.

Final Tally:
- (1) beautiful, inspiring, life-refreshing, nearly bite-free week in the UP

But maybe I¹m just lucky.

Thanks for the help.

Ah, you lucky bastige.

The bug report is swell, but how was the fishing? Pictures?

When is it September rolls around this year...?

:-)

Bill

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

"Justin D" wrote in message
...
A quick thanks to those who provided insights and advice on repellents a
few
weeks ago, just before my first summertime north woods trip.

For those interested in such things, the final statistics over an 8-day
outing:

- (5) Sawyer permethrin-treated long-sleeve shirts
- (1) permethrin-treated cap
- (1) permethrin-treated bandana
- (4,000,000) daily DEET treatments (total approximate)
- (0) black fly bites
- (0) deerfly bites
- (3) detectable mosquito bites

The last two despite having been swarmed by both bugs almost incessantly.

Final Tally:
- (1) beautiful, inspiring, life-refreshing, nearly bite-free week in the
UP

And back to the city...

I thought I told you that there are lots of nice lakes in Wisconsin, to fish
there instead?

Sheesh! Tourists...

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

On 7/21/06 8:24 AM, in article , "William
Claspy" wrote:

On 7/20/06 10:18 PM, in article
, "Justin D"
wrote:

A quick thanks to those who provided insights and advice on repellents a few
weeks ago, just before my first summertime north woods trip.

For those interested in such things, the final statistics over an 8-day
outing:

- (5) Sawyer permethrin-treated long-sleeve shirts
- (1) permethrin-treated cap
- (1) permethrin-treated bandana
- (4,000,000) daily DEET treatments (total approximate)
- (0) black fly bites
- (0) deerfly bites
- (3) detectable mosquito bites

The last two despite having been swarmed by both bugs almost incessantly.

Final Tally:
- (1) beautiful, inspiring, life-refreshing, nearly bite-free week in the UP

But maybe I¹m just lucky.

Thanks for the help.

Ah, you lucky bastige.

The bug report is swell, but how was the fishing? Pictures?

When is it September rolls around this year...?

:-)

Bill

Well, my impression (based on only one other UP trip) was that the fishing
was excellent compared to last time. But otherwise, as I really only have
Arkansas stocker-yankin' experiences to compare it to, I can't honestly say.
I know I found & caught trout on every piece of water I fished, save for a
half-hearted, short-lived effort on the Brule that I chalk up more to my
feeling crummy that morning than to the quality of fishing.

I also know that I fished differently than I did last time. That is, I'm
certain I only spooked about 90% of the fish this time as opposed to 99%
last time. So that could explain the better results, too. And hell, I had
the time of my life. So that's gotta count for something, dunnit?

Waded a couple stretches of the Paint, Sparrow Rapids, the Ontonogan's East
Branch, the Brule (wow, casting room!) and the inexplicably named Jumbo.
First time at both Sparrow Rapids and the Jumbo, and both were beautiful.
Jumbo was probably the most rewarding stretch, and in my opinion, one of the
prettiest. Saw two other stream fisherman the entire trip and that was at
the Brule.

Most all fish were caught on streamers. If you or anyone else has figured
out how to fish anything else up there without pulling up a
chum/minnow/turdknocker on your backcast, I'd love to hear about it.

Also had access to a canoe this time, so managed to drag it out a couple
times to various lakes (well, ponds), three of which we'd heard held trout.
Caught my first ever wild, stillwater brookie from a tiny carry-in pond that
I won't name, only because there were no signs to it, and I'd hate to
publicly out some local's favorite trout hole. But other, better publicized
and easier to find lakes like Lower Dam Pond and Killdeer weren't nearly as
productive and weren't half as as pretty. Of course, as far as the fishing
goes, keep in mind that I have no idea how to catch trout in ponds like
this. Or any ponds for that matter. So my report on them should hardly be
considered, well... it should hardly be considered.

Fished our "home water" Paint Lake a few times as well. Had several run-ins
with the colorful and angry local sunfish, bass and monster crappie, the
latter my first on a flyrod (on a Sneaky Pete, no less), and, I assume, a
fluke even for these northern waters.

Other wildlife run-ins with, oh let's say, the local bat population, will
remain un-reported-on despite their entertainment value to certain
canoe/fishing buddies of mine.

I'll drop a few pics on abpf, assuming I can figure our how to resize them.
Thanks for askin', Bill. Hope you can get yourself up there soon. Sounds
like you got a proper hankerin'. :)

J

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

On 7/21/06 10:29 PM, in article
, "Justin D"
wrote:

Waded a couple stretches of the Paint, Sparrow Rapids, the Ontonogan's East
Branch, the Brule (wow, casting room!) and the inexplicably named Jumbo.
First time at both Sparrow Rapids and the Jumbo, and both were beautiful.
Jumbo was probably the most rewarding stretch, and in my opinion, one of the
prettiest.

AAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!

:-)

When does September roll around this year???

Most all fish were caught on streamers. If you or anyone else has figured
out how to fish anything else up there without pulling up a
chum/minnow/turdknocker on your backcast, I'd love to hear about it.

Actually, I usually stick to dries up there. The stream residents anyhow
seem perfectly fine with non-descript Adams, BWOs, that sort of thing.

I've heard rumors of larger brookies on some of that water, which presumably
might be more willing to go for a streamer. I had a good fish on last time
I was up there on a coachman wet, but didn't land it.

I'll drop a few pics on abpf, assuming I can figure our how to resize them.
Thanks for askin', Bill. Hope you can get yourself up there soon. Sounds
like you got a proper hankerin'. :)

How'd you tell?

:-)

Thanks for the report.

Bill

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

On 7/24/06 8:20 AM, in article , "William
Claspy" wrote:

On 7/21/06 10:29 PM, in article
, "Justin D"
wrote:

Waded a couple stretches of the Paint, Sparrow Rapids, the Ontonogan's East
Branch, the Brule (wow, casting room!) and the inexplicably named Jumbo.
First time at both Sparrow Rapids and the Jumbo, and both were beautiful.
Jumbo was probably the most rewarding stretch, and in my opinion, one of the
prettiest.

AAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!

:-)

When does September roll around this year???

Not soon enough, I take it. Planning a trip of your own, I'm guessing?

Most all fish were caught on streamers. If you or anyone else has figured
out how to fish anything else up there without pulling up a
chum/minnow/turdknocker on your backcast, I'd love to hear about it.

Actually, I usually stick to dries up there. The stream residents anyhow
seem perfectly fine with non-descript Adams, BWOs, that sort of thing.

I've heard rumors of larger brookies on some of that water, which presumably
might be more willing to go for a streamer. I had a good fish on last time
I was up there on a coachman wet, but didn't land it.

I have no doubt those flies would be productive. My question is, how do you
keep the baitfish from hitting the fly long enough so the trout can?

I tried dries everywhere, but got frustrated having to unhook a minnow (or
whatever those little silver dudes are) every third or fourth cast. Always
wound up switching to wooly buggers because the minnows couldn't eat them.

I'll drop a few pics on abpf, assuming I can figure our how to resize them.
Thanks for askin', Bill. Hope you can get yourself up there soon. Sounds
like you got a proper hankerin'. :)

How'd you tell?

:-)

Thanks for the report.

Bill

You're welcome. Thanks for asking. I should be gettin' those pics up this
evening too.

J

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

Justin D wrote:

I tried dries everywhere, but got frustrated having to unhook a minnow (or
whatever those little silver dudes are) every third or fourth cast. Always
wound up switching to wooly buggers because the minnows couldn't eat them.

I know what you mean. You could try larger dry flies. The itty-bitty
fish will hit them, but they won't get hooked.

Where I fish in my homewaters, if little fish are taking the fly I move
along, because I'm pretty sure there are no big fish in that place. The
big fish (mostly cutthroat trout) drive away the little fish.

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

UP Black fly Questions Revisited

On 7/24/06 7:17 PM, in article
, "Justin D"
wrote:

On 7/24/06 8:20 AM, in article , "William
Claspy" wrote:

On 7/21/06 10:29 PM, in article
, "Justin D"
wrote:

Waded a couple stretches of the Paint, Sparrow Rapids, the Ontonogan's East
Branch, the Brule (wow, casting room!) and the inexplicably named Jumbo.
First time at both Sparrow Rapids and the Jumbo, and both were beautiful.
Jumbo was probably the most rewarding stretch, and in my opinion, one of the
prettiest.

AAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!

:-)

When does September roll around this year???

Not soon enough, I take it. Planning a trip of your own, I'm guessing?

Some of the boys (and girl- Cyli, you coming?) are planning a panchayat up
in that neighborhood come September:

http://tinyurl.com/eofp7

And if'n you read some of the articles associated with the UP and me as
author, you'll see that each and every piece of water you mention above are
on my favorites list :-) And I don't get to fish them nearly as often as I
wish! :-(

I have no doubt those flies would be productive. My question is, how do you
keep the baitfish from hitting the fly long enough so the trout can?

I tried dries everywhere, but got frustrated having to unhook a minnow (or
whatever those little silver dudes are) every third or fourth cast. Always
wound up switching to wooly buggers because the minnows couldn't eat them.

RW rightly points out that if there are little dace/minnows around, there
probably aren't any trout of any size in the area. Move to the next hole.

I'm always glad to hear good reports from up nort'.

Bill