The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

A little report...and some help needed.

Went to Sycamore Island in Fresno yesterday. Some old gravel pits on the San Joaquin River. We started on the river. Floated down-stream in float tubes until the river turned into a large pond. We took the turn. Otherwise, we may have ended up who knows where...high and dry. Not good.

Anyway, we went looking for bass. Four of us. Two are outstanding bass fishers, I'm not one of them. The water was very cold. We fished for 7 hours. Tubed a couple of ponds. We hit it hard, and covered most all the water. Lots of brush, trees and logs on the sides of the ponds...boy, I'm not a bass fisher but, this looked like really good habitat.

Zero, zip, nada. We speculated that the water was too cold. A couple more weeks might do it.

That aside. During the day, my buddy shared his new rod with me. He bought it at the Plesanton Fly Show. Winston. First thing I noticed was how smooth it casts. Rod aside, it was the line.

Seems my 3M Mastery intermediate sink tip is all bumpy. It was real obvious after casting his. My line seems like it's got "bumps" on it. As I looked closer, it looks like it's been twisted. Thousands of times. Even laying in the water, it looks twisted.

Anyone ever had that happen? What's going on? Obviously time for a new line, but I wouldn't want it to happen again. Did I do something wrong? It's been stored in the house..not the garage in the heat. Perhaps, 2-3 years old.

Second. One of the group was using a pair of diving fins with his float tube. Wow, they were good. Fast. He paid $25 at Big Five. Little race with one of the others, who had Force Fins..it was a tie. Patrick has had both, and swears the dive fins are better. Anyone use dive fins with their float tube? $25 versus $130. Plus, the dive fins float. We tried them both side to side. The Force Fins sunk like a rock...the dive fins floated.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

CharlieJ

Hey Charlie,

Do you have a picture, or the brand of the dive fins? Do they slip on
over the neoprene booties, or the kind that go over boots?

I need to get something WAY lighter. I currently use the ones
that go over wading boots, but they are heavy.

Eric

PS: How did the crane fly/wasp flies turn out? Did you use them?
Funny, about two days after you posted those fly pics I was taking
a walk and wouldn't you know, I saw crane flies. Are you prescient?

Hey Eric: The above is by a much nicer Charlie than me!!!

The wasps worked but not as well as a dragon nymph imitation I tied up. We all caught good fish from 8"-26". Here's one that was dumber than the rest and bit my fly!!!!

Sorry Charlie....I mistook the J for an S.

Maybe I need glasses.

Nice fish! Whoa Nelli!

Eric

Eric,
When I was younger and more coordinated, I used US Divers (Brand) Jet Fins when I float tubed...very light and they facilitated ease of movement (because of those "jet" holes in the fins that were the source of the name). Only problem is, they were oriented with the tip of the fins, down...and, they were long...getting them on over the stocking feet of waders or diver's booties (this was before fly shops sold tuber's booties)wasn't too difficult...it was just the getting around on land that was tough...which is why Force Fins were (are) such a hit...they curve up (because they were designed to create more resistance and build strength for swimmers who were training for swim meets) and are easier in which to walk (forward) so that the user doesn't have to back into the water...creating an opportunity for (not so innocent) by-standers to see interesting methods of getting wet from falling.

Paul

Hey Charlie

Better brush up on your bassin' skills. Gonna need them in a couple months.

I've used a couple different brands of dive fins for float tubing. I always had serious problems with leg cramps while kicking around. I'd say, 5 out of 6 trips, i'd have some issues with my calf, or hamstrings cramping up to the point of having to stop, stretch, and rest. I bought a pair of Force Fins, about 3-4 years ago, and cramps are not an issue anymore. I'm not sure which fins are faster, but I feel the Force Fins are easier to kick.

For me, the cost difference is not an issue. It's all about being pain free.

brians

Thanks Paul,

I am just trying to lighten the load when I hike into lakes. I wear hiking boots
but have to pack along my wading boots too since I need them for my fins.

I guess I have to search for a reasonably priced fin that I can wear over my
neoprene booties and eliminate the heavy wading boots.

I know when I used to abalone dive I used dive booties with my fins. They are
similar to flats wading boots....neoprene with hard rubber bottom. Maybe I need
to explore that option

I need to figure something out for this summer. And packing out wet wading boots
isn't fun. Unless of course, you are Carpy and you only have to walk to the parking lot.

Eric

Anglernut wrote:
Thanks Paul,

I am just trying to lighten the load when I hike into lakes. I wear hiking boots
but have to pack along my wading boots too since I need them for my fins.

I guess I have to search for a reasonably priced fin that I can wear over my
neoprene booties and eliminate the heavy wading boots.

Eric

Wuss. If you can't pack in at least 75lbs, you might as well stay at home.

Looking for more compact fins for packing to lakes, I found this site.

http://www.swimfins.net/

About 1/2 the size, and I assume about 1/2 the weight. BTW, keep an eye out for your mail person.

brians

Hey Charlie,
I've been down in that area in my kayak and I didn't catch much either. I did see some really big bass down there though. That whole section all the way down to Milburn has sections where the river backs up into ponds. They're all pretty much the same, deep and no weed beds to speak of. Mostly stick piles and sunken trees and stuff. Good bass habitat but not the best kind of water for a fly rod. I bet the gear guys do well down there. Flippin' weedless jigs and stuff into those stick piles is the way to go. Don't know how old your line is but you should contact SA about it and see if they'll do anything.
http://sol...fic_Anglers/Fly-Fishing/

75 lbs? LOL. Never!

Actually, last year I ended up carrying my son's tube in my
backpack, along with another blown up float tube (V boat style)
with fins, rod etc all strapped to the pack.

So what I'm trying to say is....I RULE.

I'll check out that site.

And I'll be watching the mail

Eric

Charlie,

Think trolling motor. Saves a lot of work on the legs. I figure a 25hp motor should do it.

I have a similar opinion. I used dive fins for years since I already had them from diving and they do work really well. A couple years ago I bought a pair of force fins and in my opinion, they are much lighter and easier to get around in out of the water. I wear them over my scuba booties. Never had an issue with them falling off and sinking either. I have to go along with the muscle pain as well. After a lot of hours on the lake with dive fins, my legs hurt. Never had that problem with the force fins. Pain vs. $$$ = force fins! Maybe it's an age issue, but that's okay.

I bought a kayak about 1-1/2 years ago and found that I like that even better on the lakes. No waders. No fins. Just a pair of shorts and my scuba booties. Love it! I even put my flies & gear in a fanny pack that I carry inside the kayak .... no vest! And I get around 10 times faster than any float tube to different locations on the lake. Now that's comfort!

Beerfly