Walter & Group........
This message on a new DVD ..... From Rhea Topping :-
New DVD, “The Double Haul” is now available!!!
This is the FIRST time EVER that the
double haul technique has been addressed specifically, AND, the first time an
instructional DVD has been offered to both students and
instructors!!!
The DVD was shot in
The content is simple, direct, and easy to
understand, with intentional repetition, lots of slow motion (also a first), and
excellent graphics.
Beside a brief intro, there are chapters
on:
1. WHY We Use the Double Haul -
with personal explanations and/or casting footage of Mel Krieger, Bob Jacklin,
Dave Whitlock, Bruce Richards, John Bailey, and more.
2. Exercises - a series of 11
progressive exercises, with an explanation and hauling footage of Joan
Wulff, and a guest appearance by Brian O'Keefe.
3. Water Applications shot on
location in
4. Tips for Instructors - using a
legit student, PK Kemph, who learns to double haul on the
video.
5. Analysis - with before and after
footage of a variety of students in
Whether one is a novice, an intermediate, a
hotshot, an established instructor, or an about-to-be instructor - there is
something for everyone!!!!!
The DVD is approximately 55 minutes and
retails for $24.95 in the
The comments and reactions thus far have
been excellent!
I hope you will look at it, and consider placing an order through The Bookmailer at www.thebookmailer.com, or at www.rheatopping.com.
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I thought it was well done !
Gordy
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From Ally Gowans on WADING PROBLEMS :-
Hi
Gordy,
The following
pages are extracts from an article I wrote about wading safety. http://www.letsflyfish.com/fly_fishing_wading.htm
and http://www.letsflyfish.com/wading_safety.htm
They may be of interest to the group.
Best
wishes,
Ally
Gowans
See my web sites http://www.letsflyfish.com and http://www.flyfish-scotland.com
Spey school date for 2008 - June 13-15 see http://www.letsflyfish.com/speyschool_scotland.htm
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From Mack Martin:-
Great questions, here are the ways I've dealt with some of them in the past.
1.) (Your question) You have just fallen in with full waders on. The water is deep and the river current swift. WHAT DO YOU DO ?
a. Do you use your rod in any way ? What do you do with it ?
The rod can be used as an rudder, but try to keep it up and out while you get face up and feet down stream.
IN THE EVENT YOU NEED TO PADDLE TOWARD A BANK, YOU MAY HAVE TO SACRIFICE YOUR ROD/REEL TO THE RIVER. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN FRIGID WATER WHERE TIME IN THE WATER MAY PRODUCE LETHAL HYPOTHERMIA !
IT'S POSSIBLE TO BE IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE YOU CAN'T REACH THE BRUSH ON THE BANK EXCEPT WITH YOUR FLY ROD. HOLD THE MIDDLE OF THE ROD AND TRY TO ENGAGE THE BRUSH WITH THE REEL. THAT WORKED FOR ONE OF OUR PARTY, ONCE. G.
b. What about your wader belt ?
The belt is an non issue if it is secure, and it may help keep the rapid flow of water out.
WELL...... THE BELT HELPS A GREAT DEAL TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WHICH GETS INTO THE WADERS G.
c. Do you try to get the waders off so you can swim ?
Leave the waders on and focus on where and how your getting out. They are neutral in the water or may even float.
AGREE. WE TRIED TO GET OUT OF WATERS IN A HEATED SWIMMING POOL WHERE TIME AND SAFETY WERE NO ISSUE. FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. G.
2.) I'm thinking of two pieces of equipment which can help a great deal. Can you figure what they might be ?
I use a wade stick and an inflatable co2 vest from orvis if the water can be an issue.
GOOD CHOICES. I'D CONSIDER THE WADER BELT, ITSELF AND WOULD ADD A KNIFE (SEE, BELOW). G.
3.) If you are wearing full boot waders (not, "stocking waders") will they sink and drown you ?
Use a belt and they will trap air if you go in and can aid in flotation. Waders will not drown you. They may even float too much and make it hard to get your feet down on the bottom to make an exit.
AGREE. G.
4.) You are crossing a fast moving river. Freestone bottom, a bit slippery. Water is high enough that you feel very uneasy. As you slowly work your way across, what position to you assume with respect to the current ?
a. Always face into the current and walk sideways.
b. Always face downstream.
c. Walk sideways to the current.
C. And keep the walking stick down stream as brace, and/or grab arms with another person.
Nothing like a little male bonding on the water.
OK. I WOULD ADD THAT IT'S BETTER TO BE TURNED JUST A LITTLE TOWARD THE CURRENT, THOUGH MOSTLY SIDEWAYS TO IT. WORST TO BE FACING OR EVEN QUARTERING DOWNSTREAM BECAUSE YOU TAKE THE RISK WHEN YOU DO THAT OF THE CURRENT BUCKLING YOUR KNEES.
WHILE SALMON FISHING THE MARGAREE IN NOVA SCOTIA LAST FALL, DENNIS GRANT TAUGHT ME A, "BUDDY SYSTEM" METHOD OF TWO ANGLERS CROSSING TOGETHER, SIDEWAYS TO THE CURRENT, HOLDING A STAFF BETWEEN THEM. CREATES A VERY WIDE BASE. ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE TALL/STRONG WADER CROSSING WITH A SHORTER NOT SO STRONG ANGLER. G.
5.) There is one piece of equipment which can help a great deal in the scenario, above. What is it ?
Felt sole shoes or spikes and a walking stick, (I keep a whistle on my vest and I have a great story to tell how it saved my self and my daughter)
YES. SHOE SOLES, OF COURSE, WILL DEPEND UPON THE TYPE OF RIVER BOTTOM. G.
6.) You didn't bring it. Now what do you do ?
Thats situationally dependent. It may just be better to take a different route.
In the summer we would sometimes SWIM to get to the next hole on the Chattahoochee then walk back on the bank.
TRUE. I WAS THINKING OF USING YOUR FLY ROD, BUTT DOWN AS A WALKING STICK WHEN NOTHING ELSE WORKS. G.
7.) You went in and, fortunately, floated just a short distance downstream. You grabbed the brush hanging from a cut bank. There is enough water in your waders that you can't possibly pull yourself up onto the bank. Now, how do you get out ?
I'm thinking to look down stream and drift to the next safe spot to climb out.
THAT IS ONE OPTION. ANOTHER IS TO USE YOUR KNIFE TO CUT THE WADERS DOWN LOW SO THAT THE WATER CAN EXIT AS YOU GRADUALLY PULL YOURSELF OUT. THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN FRIGID WATER WHERE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. G.
8.) Return to question # 4. This time, you have gone as far as you dare. You feel that with one more step in any direction, you'll go over into the river..... so you stand still to think. You're afraid to go all the way across. Now what do you do ?
Follow your gut, don't go if it isn't safe. Go for it, if it is safe and your not worried about getting wet.
OK... THAT'S ONE APPROACH. I'D ELECT TO GO BACK. I'D TURN SLOWLY USING MY WADING STAFF WITH THE END ANCHORED DOWNSTREAM BRIEFLY INTO THE CURRENT AND THEN SIDEWAYS TO IT QUARTERING SLIGHTLY UPSTREAM AS I WENT BACK FROM WHENCE I CAME. G.
9.) You are fishing a tidal estuary in Alaska. As you wade out, the bottom gets muddy. The river current is going out, but the tide is rising. You can see the salmon, but your cast won't reach them. What do you do ?
If there is concern for safety that comes first. Can you make a cast and section off the stream with a series of casts that can be lengthened by the current taking the line out?
ALASKAN MUD COMBINED WITH VERY HIGH INCOMING TIDES IN THOSE ESTUARIES HAS CLAIMED A NUMBER OF LIVES. MY WAY OF HANDLING THIS IS TO GO BACK AND TRY TO FIND MORE ACCESSABLE FISH. JUST NOT WORTH THE RISK. G.
10.) While wading for bone-fish on a flat with water up to your knees while wearing sneakers and shorts, you see two huge barracuda slowly swimming toward you. Your skiff is 200 feet away. What do you do ?
Been there done that. The best thing to do is not catch a fish, just let them pass. If you are brave (I wasn't), tie on a large deciever and hang on!
YES. I LOVE CATCHING CUDA'S ON A FLY WHILE WADING ! POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE, HOWEVER, IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE FISH ARE SCARY AND CAN INFLICT NASTY WOULDS, THEY NEVER DO SO TO WADING ANGLERS. PROBLEM WITH NOT CATCHING THE BONEFISH IS THAT THE CUDA'S ARE CURIOUS AND MAY HANG AROUND YOU FOR HOURS ...... SO YOU MIGHT WISH TO FIND ANOTHER SPOT. IF YOU FISH THE CUDA'S AND HOOK ONE, YOU CAN FIGHT AND RELEASE THAT ONE AND THEN THEY'LL BOTH LEAVE. IF YOU BREAK ONE OFF THEY'LL LEAVE, TOO. G.
11.) How do you handle this, "bad dream" situation? You are wading in water up to your mid thigh. A 6 ft lemon shark is swimming right toward you. He's only 10' away and slowly coming right to you.
This happened to me too! Okay the shark was only a few feet long but still an odd situation to be in........I put my rod tip in the water and tapped him on the nose. He was gone so fast I couldn't follow him.
I'VE DONE THAT, TOO. USUALLY WORKS. AN AGRESSIVE LEMON SHARK IN THE BAHAMAS SOMETIMES BITES YOUR ROD TIP OFF AND THEN LEAVES, HOWEVER. MAKES YOU FEEL KIND OF FOOLISH, AND SPOILS YOUR FISHING !
WE'VE FOUND THAT THE BEST METHOD IS TO SPLASH THE WATER VIGOROUSLY WITH YOUR ROD TIP .....NEVER IN FRONT OF THE SHARK, BUT BEHIND HIS EAR ON EITHER SIDE. MOST SHARKS ARE TERRIFIED OF ANYTHING WHICH MAKES A SUDDEN COMMOTION BEHIND THEM WHICH THEY CAN'T SEE! (IT IS ROUTINE FOR US TO PLACE A POPPER ACCIDENTALLY JUST BEHIND THE SHARK'S EAR WITH A BAD CAST. RATHER THAN GOING FOR IT, THE SHARK INVARIABLY BOLTS AWAY. THIS EVEN HAPPENS WITH HUGE DANGEROUS BULL SHARKS ON THE FLAT.)
G.
Sorry for the short answers, I'm on a break at work.
I LOVE SHORT ANSWERS, RENE ! G.
ps, Eric called me and told me how you put them right on the fish today---I could see his smile through the phone!
Rene
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Eric fought that tarpon like a PRO !
Gordy