On topic: Playing around with a new toy

ROFFians,

I've had too little time to fish recently, what with Carol's
gallery (see: http://www.lostcanuck.com/studio/ind...past_exhibits/
for the latest exhibition). However, I recently treated myself to a
new toy, and finally got it out on the water the other day.

The toy is a Diamondglass 7' 3-wt. that I thought would be fun to
fish on my trips to the Smokies, and on a gorgeous little creek about
45 minutes from my house (see http://www.cibolo.org/ for more info on
the stretch of the stream that I fish). I paired it up with a "Sylk"
line, and put a 9' 5X tapered leader on it with about 24" of 6X
tippet. (The creek is crystal clear, and the fish are very leader-
shy.)

I spent a glorious 4+ hours on this little stretch of water, and
while the big boys (surprisingly large bass for this water) weren't
playing, I caught a lot of sunfish. Best of all, I caught them on
dries. I tried a few different flies, including my "pseudo
pstimulator", and while it got me a couple of small sunnies, I had
better luck with a #12 EHC with a bleached elk wing, tan body and
brown hackle.

Casting in this tiny creek consisted of trying to get just enough
of the flyline out past the rod tip to be able to turn the leader
over, and when I did, the glass rod was a joy to fish. As per the
thread on long leaders, I was throwing lots of slack line casts, but
that seemed to be the ticket for these fish.

Also, the rod rollcasts like a mofo; I'm normally horrible at
rollcasting, but I was able to flick out gentle casts under pretty
tight brush, and put them where I wanted.

Finally, it appears to have enough backbone to handle decent
fish. I was catching sunnies in the 6-8" range, and I could feel
their every move, but it felt like it had plenty in reserve.

So, make fun of me for being a Luddite if you wish (shut up,
Claspy), but with this and my TFO Finesse 7'6" 4-wt., I think I've got
a couple of great rods for the Smokies.


Chuck Vance

"Conan The Librarian" wrote in message
...

rods for the Smokies.

I needs to reserve the lodging in Townsend pretty soon. What dates are we
meeting up this year?

"Conan The Librarian" wrote

fish on my trips to the Smokies, and on a gorgeous little creek about
45 minutes from my house (see http://www.cibolo.org/ for more info on
the stretch of the stream that I fish).






That looks like a lovely place to fish ... and be



Larry L ( who plans to go fishin' tomorrow :-)

On Feb 9, 1:19 pm, "Wayne Knight" wrote:

"Conan The Librarian" wrote in ...

rods for the Smokies.

I needs to reserve the lodging in Townsend pretty soon. What dates are we
meeting up this year?

Well, if everything goes as planned, I'll be pulling in to the
Smokies on Sunday, May 11, and leaving the following Saturday.

I'll be at Elkmont again.


Chuck Vance (so are you gonna kidnap me and take me to Hazel
this time?)

On Feb 10, 7:01 pm, "BobS" wrote:

Well, that's two of us that like that rod and line combo. I paired it with a
Cortland 40 reel - nicely balanced with that little reel.


Cool, I like my Redington CT 3/4 for that stuff.



Chuck Vance

On Feb 11, 12:04*pm, Conan The Librarian wrote:

* *Well, if everything goes as planned, I'll be pulling in to the
Smokies on Sunday, May 11, and leaving the following Saturday.

* *I'll be at Elkmont again.

* * * Chuck Vance (so are you gonna kidnap me and take me to Hazel
this time?)

I thought you wanted to bunk in the cabin this year?

Anyway Hazel will be on the agenda as will some other places if that
road is re-opened.

On Feb 11, 11:31 am, Wayne Knight wrote:

On Feb 11, 12:04 pm, Conan The Librarian wrote:

Well, if everything goes as planned, I'll be pulling in to the
Smokies on Sunday, May 11, and leaving the following Saturday.

I'll be at Elkmont again.

Chuck Vance (so are you gonna kidnap me and take me to Hazel
this time?)

I thought you wanted to bunk in the cabin this year?

Is that an invitation? :-) I certainly wouldn't mind hanging out
more with y'all at the cabin, but I have to admit that it really was
nice roughing it by the stream. (Wolfgang and Jeff can confirm that I
had the barest necessities at my site.)

And I have to admit to being a bit of a loner, despite my
reputation on ROFF. ;-)

Anyway Hazel will be on the agenda as will some other places if that
road is re-opened.

So if we're going to go on "that road", will I need a TN license,
or will you be heading back up into the park (assuming you are talking
about that one-way road that I think you are). 'Cause I've just been
buying the NC annual license.


Chuck Vance

On Feb 11, 1:32*pm, Conan The Librarian wrote:


* *So if we're going to go on "that road", will I need a TN license,
or will you be heading back up into the park (assuming you are talking
about that one-way road that I think you are). *'Cause I've just been
buying the NC annual license.


The Lodging will work itself out, if you want to share a cabin then
your loner self is welcome. I'm just going to tell the guys I'm going
and if they want to show up then so be it. For that matter I could
tent it.

You'll be OK with a NC license since we'll be in the park.

Conan The Librarian wrote:



Is that an invitation? :-) I certainly wouldn't mind hanging out
more with y'all at the cabin, but I have to admit that it really was
nice roughing it by the stream. (Wolfgang and Jeff can confirm that I
had the barest necessities at my site.)


indeed...gives a whole new meaning to primitive camping.

but, wayne will literally allow you to have his bed while he sleeps in a
chair...definitely as fine a host as one might hope for, at least until
he brings out the needles. g

jeff