| For those of you that use hotmail, Yahoo, etc. My email address is dryfly@eastlink.ca Throughout my years on the web I have received some wonderful emails. Sad to say that it was not until the year 2000 that I decided I should save some of the more precious ones. Each one has given me pleasure and to those that took the time to send them I convey a very sincere thank you. Having said that, there are times I am kind of disappointed that when I take time to reply to a query I do not receive a thank you. I know I'm a bit old-fashioned but I can remember my parents teaching me to write thank you letters for gifts and cards received. It took quite a bit of effort back then as compared to the present day system of emailing people. Paper or cards and envelopes and stamps were required. Pencils, crayons and pens were the instruments of creation. Tongues would protrude as pictures and text were added. One thank you reply might take fifteen minutes as compared to the one minute it takes to email a thank you today. Thank you. A word about viruses. I received thirteen emails with virus attachments in the year 2001. I deleted them without opening them (why take a chance). I reckon a virus checker is a must these days. Oh, while I think about it, Microsoft Word documents (.doc) are susceptible to viruses so if you do send a document make sure it's in a text (.txt) format. p.s. If you recognize your email and would like to have it removed please send me an email. I apologise in advance for including it. I received this email after responding to a request for information on a purple marabou fly ... Subject : Re: A Streamer-Fishfinder Date : Sat, 17 Jun 2000 Here in the Canadian and U.S. Northwest there are no 9 inch brookies! We have only 5 pound cuts with strong white teeth. One has to be careful in the play of such fish to use a 2x, 4 foot tippet on a 16 foot leader. Thanks for your prompt reply re the Fishfinder, I will relay this to my tyer. Now keep your tip up (even in the bushes), palm that reel well!! And at the same time mend that line!! So your 9 inch brookie will not swim into the mouth of a Mirimachi Atlantic in New Brunswick waiting for breakfast in bed!!! With a name like Patrick Donoghue you must be Mexican!!! and probably Islamic .... Whenever an old Irish priest friend of mine lifts his glass he always says "First one today .... in this hand." You might be Irish-Canadian and full of blarney. Sincerely .... Where in the world is Nova Scotia? Are you a Newfie or just a great fisherman? Subject : re : web page Date : Sat, 3 Feb 2001 13:26:49 I wanted to thank you for the hatch chart you put together. I always wondered what those little black bugs were at the start of the season, now I know. You have a great page. Thank you. Tim Subject : Re: Nova Scotia Date : Mon, 25 Sep 2000 Patrick, We had a wonder full time in Nova Scotia. We actually spent more time exploring than fishing on both the Middle River and the Margaree. We drove around Margaree Forks and stopped to talk with people about fly fishing flies and gear. Just about everyone said the same thing "pray for rain". Everyone was nice and very helpful. I obtained a fishing map of the Margaree showing the pools and the wonder full names associated each location. Very cool. As I have never fished Atlantic Salmon I was fascinated by the names and styles of the flies and think I'll have to start tying some (thought my girlfriend thinks it's just an excuse to buy more feathers etc...). We also had a chance to drive the Cabot Trail and do some hiking. Cape Breton is very beautiful. We also stayed at the Liscomb Lodge for a night. We didn't get a chance to fish, but explored the Liscomb River. While this trip was a combination trip mostly touristy stuff with my girlfriend. I plan on coming back for a trip exclusively dedicated to fishing. Great time. Now I have to get ready for Bow hunting as the Whitetail season begins October 1. Thank Bob Boudreau for the tips. I hope to stay in touch as I generate interest in going to NS with by fishing buddy's. All the best, Bob Subject : Thank you so much for sharing! Date : Sun, 01 Oct 2000 21:08:19 Hi Paddy, Thank you for telling me about your wildlife observations. I truly wish I could have been with you to see such sights. Nebraska doesn't offer the same type of opportunities to view the beauty of nature. No loons, few partridge and a few deer, but they are found in the corn fields. And a corn field is not raw nature. I have loved loons since vacationing in Minnesota many years ago with my parents. Dad liked to fish so our annual holiday was a week in northern Minnesota where I first encountered that distinctive "wail in the wilderness". I even have a few books on Loons. As I thumbed through one of those books, "Loon Magic" by Tom Klein, I find that loons gather when they get restless prior to migration south. Sometimes upwards of 600 to 800 loons! In an area north of Baxter State Park in Maine, flocks of up to 20 loons are not uncommon as early as June. The first leg of their fall trip usually begins in October in Maine lakes, Pushaw near Bangor, Great Pond near Belgrade, also in Michigan, Wisconsin and the Great Lakes. Up to 650 to 700 stage in Minnesota's Mille Lacs Lake. (Also a great Walleye lake). After staging to fatten-up, they go to the East coast, then South at 93 to 108 miles per hour. I understand wintering loons can be found all the way from Maine to Florida and to Texas with thousands found near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Many of Maine's 3,000 summer loons winter off the coast of Maine choosing a nor'easter to the human "snowbirds" in Miami. I guess I get carried away when talking loons. My wife will attest to that fact. She will also say I'm more than a bit "Loony". Thanks again for sharing as I enjoy reading about your outings since I can't join you. I'll leave you with the following.... " The woodland lakes would be solitudes, indeed, did they lack the finishing touch to make the picture complete, the tinge of wilderness which adds color to the scene, the weird and mournful cry of the loon, as he calls to his mate or greets some new arrival. Who has ever paddled a canoe, or cast a fly, or pitched a tent in the north woods and not stopped to listen to this wail of wilderness? And what would the wilderness be without it?" - Arthur Cleveland Bent, 1919 Loons truly are the Wilderness. Mike Subject : Klinkhamer Special Date : Thu, 8 Mar 2001 09:24:11 Last year, I received a flytying kit from my wife for christmas.(I wonder if she regrets doing that; I've been playing with hooks and feathers ever since.) Shortly after, I discovered your website while looking for the pattern for a dark Montreal. You have an awesome site, especially because it relates to Nova Scotia trout fishing. I live in Sable River, Shelburne County and fish in the Indian Fields, Tobeatic Wilderness, and Jordan River areas so your advice should relate to my area as well. I've tied most of the old time patterns and the easier flies like the Mickey Finn, Picket Pin, royal coachman wet, brown hackle, etc. but have not tackled nymphs or dry flys partly due to lack of material, but mostly because of the difficulty I perceive in tying them. Last year I went on a flyfishing trip in September as is becoming the custom. I went well stocked with my own flies, confident they would work. My friend had caught and released 10 trout before I finally yielded and pulled out my LL bean fly selection and put on a nymph of some sort. We ended up having caught 15 apiece with my potential 16th parting of my fly and slipping through my fingers. I think it was a trout, although it felt more like a football. I don't really remember what the fly looked like, but obviously, I've got a lot to learn. My experience has mostly been with spinning gear, lures and (gasp) bait such as minnows and worms and slapping a wet fly around until it's tangled in a tree. I need help. I thought I'd start with a few of your favourites since you are successfully fishing with these patterns in Nova Scotia but since I'm new at tying, where can I buy these flys? Especially the Klinkhammer. Ignoring the snow, dreaming of trout, Michael Subject : Newfoundland Snow Date : Thu, 26 Apr 2001  For you Mainlanders who were really wondering how much snow we really did get this winter..have a lookPete Just an update from the previous pictures on the snow. This shot is on the Baie D'Verde Barrens just about one hour from Whiteway. Subject : A Summers Day on the Test. (edited for length) Date : Tue, 22 Aug 2000 15:40:06 As requested a report... When I reached it the main river was blissfully clear of any drifting weed. The river keeper, knowing I was having my one day on the Test, had cunningly diverted the weed from all the cutting taking place up stream of me down the canal thus leaving my stretch of the main river clear. The fish in the main river were if anything even bigger than the ones I had seen in the carrier. I still had the problem of getting the fish to rise to my fly. What I need was a nymph, but I was not allowed to use a nymph. What's a dry fly but a fly that floats on the surface? Bingo! Gary La Fontaines Emergent Sparkle Pupa. It's got a big deer hair wing that floats the fly and a body under the water where they can see it. It worked a treat although you had to be accurate about where you placed your fly. A three inch difference in the line of the drift made all the difference. I spotted one brown on the other side of the river. I must have cast to him about twenty times. When he went for that sparkle pupa he turned to follow it before he took something that I hadn't seen him do for real food. They all did that. They would turn, you would see the gape of the mouth as they came up for the fly and if you timed it right then you would catch the fish. More often than not I would get over excited an pull the fly out of its mouth or the fish would spot me as it turned. This bit of the Test is a very artificial sort of place and seems to bear more resemblance to the expensive spring fed put and take fisheries that abound in Hampshire than what I would regard as a trout stream. The grass along the banks has been cut with a lawn mower and the trees are artfully placed so that you have just enough room for a back cast. The fish are big lazy and not that sophisticated. I think that the place would be better with smaller fish. All the fish I saw apart from the grayling had been stocked. There was even this obscene 7 1/2 pound rainbow, which I managed to snatch my fly away from in time. I didn't want to risk my rod on that fish. Later one of syndicate owners came along and caught it. I suspect it had only been in there for a day. One by one the members of the syndicate including Dudley arrived to fish the evening. They stomped around in much the way Dudley had earlier in the day. It turned out that I could have used up stream nymph if I had wanted to. I switched to a copper weighted pheasant tail and everything became much, much easier. I was really hoping that all the big fish would start to rise, but there weren't enough insects to interest them. I did miss a couple of takes on my cdc dun (too fast for the big fish) in the last half hour of day light. All in all It was a good day out. It may have rained nearly all day, the fish may have been a little domesticated, and the presentation problems weren't that challenging, but I had a really good time and I caught some nice big browns. It's not the sort of fishing I'd pay for, but I'd jump at the chance of another go at it if it were offered. Colin. Subject : The ice is finally gone Date : 23 April 2001 Hello, I don't know you and you don't know me, but I thought that I'd just drop you a line (Ha, Ha) to say how impressed I was to find a web site about Trout fishing by someone so close ( I live in Brookside ). Most of the sites that I have seen are by people so far away that it seems pointless to even contact them. I fish in the outbacks of Mooseland most of the time, with great success on a spinning rod, but without a single success on a fly rod, ever. For this reason I have never committed myself to fly fishing. Anyway, just thought that I'd say hi, and keep up the good work! Bill Subject : Hello Date : 6 June 2001 Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your web page. I visit from time to time, and had been missing the fishing log. I see it's back up now. Seems you've found a few fish this year. Too bad about the back though. Kind of takes away the enjoyment, huh? Anyway, I've just started fly fishing this year, so I have lots to learn. I find getting the fish to rise and take the fly not nearly so difficult as actually setting the hook and bringing them in! I guess I just need more practice. Keep up the good work with the web page. Makes for a good and inspirational read on a non-fishing day! It's nice to know there are others catching fish too. Heck, sometimes it's nice to know there are others NOT catching fish! :) Rob Subject : Fly fishing in Nova Scotia Date : 19 June 2001 I enjoyed your web site and thought you could give me some advice. I'm planning an August fly fishing trip for my husband. Which streams are running well and accessible then? Is there any special area that you recommend? Also, since it will probably only be a four-day trip, can you suggest a guide who can help him get the lay of the land the first day? We've never been to Nova Scotia! Any advice would be extremely welcome. This trip is a surprise present for our anniversary. Liz Subject : Fishing (edited for length) Date : 26 June 2001 Thank you very much for the haystack pattern. I hope it was no bother. The fishing is tremendous this year in all the rivers. I fished Baddeck a lot and had great success as I mentioned earlier. I was using an orange colored stonefly pattern fished deep but some friends had equal luck with streamer such as the Mickey Finn. Never caught a fish with a Mickey Finn myself but some guys swear by them. Now your chart is fantastic the dates were off a couple of weeks here but that is minor. We went into the Highlands on some trips and on June 3 there were some spots still hiding snow, temperatures were about 10 degrees cooler up than down. I printed off copies for all the boys down here that tie flies and we all find it a great asset. We all find your chart really accurate and as far as I am concerned it should be printed. I only wish I had it 12 years ago when I started tying I use it that much now. One of the keys to the chart would have to be the fact that everything so nice and easy to understand. The fact having patterns with dates, size, habitat,and times from a local it doesn't get any better than that. If I had a Digital camera I would send you some pictures that you helped us get. Many thanks hope to keep in touch. GARY Subject : Trip to Nova Scotia Date : 30 July 2001 My wife and I are taking our first venture into Nova Scotia, mostly touring, eating scallops in Digby and maybe trying a little kayaking. But your post on success with the wiggle nymph made me wonder if we should bring our fly rods along. Would it cost a Yank a small fortune to fish for a day or two? If not, do you have any recommendations for a couple of middle aged newbies? Thanks for your thoughts. Paul Subject : Robert Service fan here Date : January 2001 Hi there , I'm a lurker on the FLYTYER listserv and see this tag line to one of your posts... very much enjoy Robert Service's poems, all of them, the WWI, into ballads and the better known Yukon material, but this quote escapes me. I could look it up on the Net, but easier to tap into you .... what writing did he say this in ? "My hook is baited with a dream, I fish for Peace" Hi Sue, that line is taken from 'Fisherman'. It's included in the collection entitled More Collected Verse. The copy I have is dated 1966. Subject : Fishin Date : 24 January 2001 Thanks for the advice on fishing which has whetted my appetite somewhat. Incidentally I sit opposite a Newfie, and he informs me that only Baymen use the letter 'h' in front of vowels, and drop the 'h' when there should be one - as a naive Scotsman/Englishman who am to believe?! Dat feller dat sits across from ya is most prolly from St John's. Dere ha heducated bunch dey har. Hi suspec tongues hand cheeks hain't ne'er passed 'is lips, nor salt cod hor pickled moose. Still, 'e be one hof de finest kind, coming from de Rock like 'e do. I have perhaps a rather romantic perception of fishin in the wilderness of Newfoundland, going up river in a canoe, with a tent, a rod a stove and a bottle of scotch with a couple of mates. Is that kind of fishin at all possible, or have I been watching too much of the Canadian soap 'Northern Exposure'? Great show, eh. I've seen that moose on my travels. From William (UK) Subject : Pattern Date : 22 Mar 2002 Hi Patrick What is your pattern for the early Black and Brown Stone fly that you indicate on the HATCHES OF NOVA SCOTIA. There are many patterns out there an I am not sure which one is the best for early spring here. Just got a new fly rod and waders. Can't wait to go fishing!!!! Serge Subject : Nice Website Date : 7 May 2002 Just wanted to drop you a quick line saying thanks for your website. I think it's really great, high quality, lots of good Nova Scotia Fly fishing information, I also like your commitment catch & release. Your Hatch schedule/info, along with the corresponding fly patterns is super. Thanks for all you work keeping it up to date. Your tip for helping to keep those muddlers under is a classic. "Stamp them in the mud." I am going to try that next trip out. There is nothing worse than fishing some kind of terrestrial/hopper imitation on the opening day in a snow storm. Dave Subject : Klinkhamer Date : 7 May 2002 Hello Patrick. My father emailed me your info and I have pored over your wonderful site looking at the great patterns and feeling covetous of anyone who has that many patterns in their arsenal. I am moved to tie. I went to the site looking for the famed klinkhamer that you mentioned a couple of times in your note to my dad. I can't seem to find it on your site and I couldn't locate it in any of my books. Would you be willing to send me the specs? I would really appreciate it. I liked your notes at the bottom of the hatches of Nova Scotia page and I too seem to have my best day after I've gone in the drink. My father once got both feet stuck in the mud and went over face first in 3 feet of water - nearly drowning because he couldn't get his feet loose. Yikes. Todd Subject : Hi Date : 24 September 2002 I really enjoy your website and check back regularly to read the tales and logbook. I was on the lower section of the River system on Saturday between 3 and 7pm - had a beautiful day. I caught (and released of course!) eight nice trout in the deep hole below the bridge. The largest was about 13 inches. They were fairly finicky and required a delicate presentation - I used a #14 NS Blue Upright, tied by the Fly Guy, I believe. Then I went up to the Duck Hole(?), where the river enters a large pond, lots of rocks and pretty shallow. The fishing was pretty slow - a few rambunctious perch and a couple of small 6 inch trout. Later on, around 6pm, there was a hatch of mayflies and suddenly the water was speckled with upright sails. I was fortunate to be there and with a less than delicate presentation, I got pretty excited, caught another 7 or 8 trout. I caught the biggest just before I left. It was a 'beaut - about 14 or 15 inches long that made my reel sing as it stripped out the line. The greatest thing is that this is only my second year fly-fishing. I've only been tying flies since Christmas and I caught the majority of the fish at the Duck Hole on a wingless blue upright mimic of my invention. Very satisfying. Wonderful day, wonderful fish, wonderful feeling. It was very warm on the river - I saw a garter snake swim across the water below the bridge and stretch out on a sun-baked rock. Dragonflies and damsel flies were bombing around, and some ducks were lazing about. Thanks for the sharing your site. All the best and I hope your backs feeling better. Maybe we'll meet on the river. Andrew Sometime in August of 2003 I had a hard drive crash and sadly lost my treasure trove of emails. Subject : Tangier River Date : 28 August 2003 Hey checked out your web site and it seems we fish a lot of the same areas. So when i seen the Tangier story with pics i just laughed as this is where i grew up at the other end of the lake. My family has deep roots there on that lake. 3 uncles and grandfather who started it all. That camp you stayed at on that island me grandpappy used to own the whole island, his place is the huge red and white place on the other end of the island. Your pics show the pine tree hole then the next run above it has been called Tays run as this is where Mr.Tay had an accident and swamped his boat and lost his gear. I had found some of it for him. The pool above his run i call the Elbow Pool. The run into it i call my spot as its one of the funnest places to fish when you hit it right. Except for a wormer cleaning it out lately its always produced some nice trout and a salmon once that got away. Did You try trolling the lake above it, caught many a trout hiding along it. Then there's the Flats between lake and river fish thoses little runins but not make a lot of noise walking to them, i once caught 13 little buggers in 10 min or so in one of them all between 4 and 8 inches. Hungry they were. I've fished prety near the whole river system which i hope to do so by the time i die. Caught lots had some great trips. Hope you like the area mite see you there some time. I'll be the guy with the camoed canoe. Oh me folks live right next to the little dam. They have a huge wharf we built a few years ago, bloody ice won't take this on pa says...you could park a battle ship there its so big hehehe shermie... love your page and i thought i seen you getting ice cream i live in Truro now so i'll keep an eye out for ya Subject : Great website Date : 5 October 2003 Hi. I lucked into your website through a link. I am originally from Nova Scotia ( Dayspring ) and I enjoy checking out yours for the information as well as the links. Loved the ice cream survey. It's hard to get grapenut up here in Ontario! Milton Subject : Bug aquarium Date : 1 January 2004 Just found your website while researching info on Cased Caddis that I brought home from my last trip to the river. I have them in a mason jar on my tying desk. I read your Bug Aquarium story with great intrest. I plan to either make my own or talk my favorite fly shop into making one. I just wanted to ask if you still have your Aquarium up and operational? My complements on your web page also. Great info and the pictures are fantastic. Let me know if you ever get to E. Tennessee for some of our great tailwater fishing. Chuck And in later emails... Got my 'Bug Aquarium' up and running. A few cased caddis, some mayflies and a crippled crawdad! Facinating! I spend too much time watching it! No hatches yet. We are in a cold snap... My wife is threatening on bringing home the next tiny trout she catches and sneaking it into the bug tank. To see if I'd notice! I guess I spend a lot of time watching the tank. I told her I'd break her fly rod if she did! Don't want no trout interuptin my study! Chuck Subject : Just loved it Date : 10 February 2004 Just found your page. Just great. I am an X-patriated Caper who has been living in P.E.I. since 85 and love to fly fish. Find your information really helpful and hope to put it to use this year. I mostly fish the rivers around Summerside, such as the Dunk, Medow Bank, and Wilmot. Mostly all catch and release so you don't have to worry about your info being used against our friend the trout. One of my favourite memories is of my dad showing up at school just after dinner in his hip boots, knocking on the door and taking me out of class for the day to fish the searun in Middle River. Nothing can Replace that. Pat thanks for the great read. Good luck with your back. Hope someday we meet on the River. Wayne Subject : Thanks Date : 23 March 2004 Gary here from up in Toronto. Found your web site and just wanted to say thanks! Actually THANKS. I grew up in North River (outside Truro) across the river from the Fundy Dairy Bar (that was how I found your site). I was searching for Maple Syrup info....somehow found your site! I told my friend Jim about a tip on that page but forgot to give him the link. I started reading the web site this a.m., after I found it again. The baby is sleeping so I am home from work and helping out. That is why I have time to read. I fished mostly on Tangier grand. My grandfather and Uncle and some of his friends had a camp on an island. I love to fish. So does my friend Jim King. We might look you up one day if we ever get down there to do some fishing! Take Care and THANKS! Gary Subject : Thanks Date : 9 April 2004 Hello, My name is Dave and I'm from P.E.I. Canada. I was looking for a fly pattern called a Jerry Madiddler but couldn't find it anywhere. I posted what I was looking for on a fishing site and the guys there directed me to this site. I was so happy to find this pattern as I was looking for it for the last 4 years. I had the card it came on but didn't know what the fly looked like since I never fished the fly for over 10 years. Thanks for putting a page on your site with old flies it really made my day. I'm going to tell my buddies about this site it's very helpful you're a life saver. |
Subject : Inspired Date : 29 April 2004 My name is Richard and I just wanted to let you know that I love your website. I discovered it last year and it inspired me to start learning to fly fish. I spent the winter gathering up the gear I would need and I am now learning how enjoyable and relaxing fly fishing can be (When I am not hooking myself with my fly or cursing my line as it piles up ten feet in front of me on the "perfect cast"). Learning to fly fish is turning into one of those insanely addictive and truly challenging activities that I love (deer hunting being another). I have not yet caught anything but I am begining to realize that catching fish is ony one part of the equation. Of course, that could just be a young greenhorn justifying the fact that he can't catch any fish??? I don't know. Regardless, keep up the great work on the site and good luck on the water. Subject : Boyhood memories Date : 6 May 2004 I loved reading the above section, it got me all nostalgic, I could smell the gentles again. I'm from S. London now living in Montreal and since my old dad died 2 years ago I have been doing a lot of reminising about my childhood and family and how I had deprived my own kids of those special times I had. I know if I had it all to do again I would have stayed put, you give up far too much! Thanks for getting me all homesick (grin). Terry Subject : Licorice ice cream 29 May 2004 Do you know how or where I can buy some licorice ice cream? I have been trying to find some for years and it`s driving me nuts. I live in Holland, Michigan. LeRoy Subject : Fly-fishing Date 4 June 2004 Thanks again for the lessons and for including me in your logbook. I feel like a fly fisherman already. I realize however that I have a lot to learn and since a lifetime interest of mine has been natural science and the environment I look foreward to observing nature as I fish. Scott Subject : Wow, thank you Date : 8 June 2004 Awesome site. Thank you. I was just looking for fly quotations and sayings for a display I'm creating to generate some interest in a fly tying course I'm planning on teaching at a local art center... I have been interested in what I suppose we might call "old-timey" wet fly patterns for a while though I haven't taken the time to tie much of a selection of them. But your excellent and interesting site with its great description of the flies and their history has inspired me to tie up a selection for whenever I finally get off my rear end and take that first trip to the NC mountains... Anyway, thanks again for a great, entertaining, educating, and inspiring site. Michael Subject: Fly found 17 June 2004 Thought it was about time I sent you an email. The day we met on the river (May 19) will go down as one of my best fishing days ever. I have much enjoyed exploring your website and check every few days to see whats new. On Sunday we caught 8, 6 for me 2 for Dallas including the 11 inch beauty (Woodens Jewel) see pic. All on #16 olive Dry. Sorry about picking my own nickname but Picket Pin just would not do. Keep your Eye on the Fly.. Sixfoot Subject : Dobson flies/Alder flies Date : 27 October 2004 I found your web site a little late for this season but it is very informative and I have been trying to come up with the information for quite a while. I have never seen an adult of which ever type megaloptera which we have in Nova Scotia. I have found their larva in a number of rivers including the Musquodoboit, Gaetz Brook, the Stewiacke and the Fish. These are pretty big guys, the larva tend to run about three inches long, dark for about the first sixth of their length and a tawny colour in the rear (hard to find a good colour match – any suggestions?). I have had some success in fishing 2-3” woolly buggerish sort of flies with key chain eyes and either phyllo plume or marabou tails (of course these could imitate almost anything from minnows to leeches). I agree with you on the caddis patterns – my all time all around dry is a # 14 with peacock body, black palmered hackle and deerhair wings (this also works a charm in Alberta). Great site! I’ll be sure to use it over the winter when I’m tying. Mike Subject : Hatch chart Date : 26 January 2005 This is a great chart. I live in Michigan where we have all sorts of bugs of various orders and families flying around at once. This is helpful. I am considering a web site that would reference this chart. Lev Subject : Web site Date : 24 February 2005 Excuse my english it's not perfect because my primary language is french (I'm from Montreal, Quebec). Hello to you guys in Nova Scotia ! Just to let you know I think your site is great. I'm a newbe in fly fishing this year and found lots of good information on your site and hope it will help me for the beginning of the next fishing season. It's not commercial and that's what I like about it. Guy Subject : Great site Date : 25 April 2005 Just wanted to say what a great site, I stumbled upon it today looking for variations for Muddler pattern. Lots of great info for fly fishing in NS. I am originally from Cape Breton but now live in Sherbrooke where the trout fishing is spectacular, more lakes and rivers than I know what to do with. I was wondering if you have any advice on different ways to fish the Muddler. I have found myself gradually over the course of time becoming obsessed with the pattern. Right now I am using a floating line with a sinking leader and a weighted Muddler I tied. Ok in the deep stuff but in some of the shallow backwaters a bit of a problem. I find it hard to find the right depth and with the water so cold right now I never seem to do well at the surface with it and some times with a regular leader and non-weighted fly I can't get it down, maybe I'm not spinning the head sparse enough. Anyway sorry to babble on but I can tell from your site that you are quite dedicated and if you have any advice it would be taken greatly. My Uncle started me on fly fishing a long time ago but he is long gone now, he used to guide on the Margaree, Alec Libbus, quite the fisherman. Thanks again for the site, I will visit it regularily now that I know about it, Sandy Subject : Web site Date : 7 May 2005 HI Just love this site, its awesome, keep up the good work. Don Subject : Wow Date : 3 June 2005 Good evening: checking out your site........... unreal. I love to flyfish, but almost as much I love to learn more about hatches. I will have some reading on my hands here. Thanks Ron Subject : Thank you Date : 9 July 2005 Thank you for your hatch chart! I learned to fly fish late in life, pretty much on my own, when we lived in NS, largely from books and trial and error. My one frustration was that the books were always written for very different places - chalk streams in England, American western rivers etc. It is so nice to have some local knowledge and help. We live in upstate NY now near the West Branch of the Delaware which has wonderful fishing, but we hope some day to be back in NS. Best wishes, Lawrence Subject : Lunenburg fly fishing Date : 1 August 2005 Hello, I've enjoyed your site, having visited it on a few occasions trying to find a river to fish near Lunenburg. I tried fishing the Woodens river last summer one afternoon but didn't catch a thing. I wasn't sure I was in the right spot. It's a beautiful stream. I believe I turned around at Mill Pond and called it a day. To say the least it has been very difficult to find a river to fish in the area. I am traveling there again next week to visit family, and I am desperate to find a good river to do some catch and release fly fishing for trout or salmon. Can you make a recommendation? Or point me in the right direction? I would also consider hiring a guide for a day if you know of anyone. Best, Vander Subject : Atlantic salmon fishing in Nova Scotia Date : 3 January 2006 My wife and I visited Nova Scotia some years back and really enjoyed ourselves. We were then with our little girls -7 and 4 - who are now grown women -27 and 24! - but we would like to come back and fish for salmon this time. Our experience with Atlantic Salmon has been meager. I have fished them in Labrador on the Sand Hill River about 5 years ago; the water was extremely low and the fishing slow but I did get 4 for the week which I hear wasn't all that bad. Three years ago my wife and I fished the Humber River in western Newfoundland; we had an awesome trip and caught salmon every day! It was a wonderful trip. Pat Subject : Old flys Date : 6 January 2006 By chance I came upon your website and read much of the material with interest. I wonder due to your writings on older fly patterns if you might know the answer to a question I have been wondering about. There is a small book called "In the Mersey Woods". It is about the history of the lands and logging camps of Bowater Mersey company. It contained only one reference to fishing that has intrigued me: reading in its entirety as - Ike Smith was the Chief Guide for the company, and knew the Rossignal country well. His favourite trout flys were a Silver Doctor Number 1, the Parmachene Beau and the Dark Montreal. "If you can't catch them on one of those three then there just aren't any fish around". I have occasional opprotunity to fish that area and wanted to tie up this trio to give em a try. The pattern for the Montreal and a normal Silver Doctor easy enough. I just recently found a nice authoritative Beau pattern description in a Bates book. Do you have any idea what the "Number 1" addendum to Silver Doctor might mean ? Is that some sort of variation, just hook size ( tho I never heard of a size No 1) ? I found your writings on Woodens River very interesting, as I had just made my first ever visits to the upper river this spring and was rewarded by what I considered very good luck in May and June. Peter Subject : Congrats! Date : 7 January 2006 I just noticed the photo of Skye Elizabeth on your website. Congratulations, Grandad! What a Scottish beauty! Best regards, Reed Subject : Thanks Date : 11 January 2006 I'm an avid fly fisherman, and am quite sure that I've now digested every single page on your website. I must say, it's one of the more enjoyable sites for me to visits - for the patterns, the stories - be they true or false - all a great asset. In fact - I now have a modified Zonker strip muddler that my fishing buddies have named after me, that was inspired by your site. First off, I wanted to thank you for the entertainment and information. It's very rare to find such excellent information, so tailored to our Nova Scotian fishery. Mike Subject : Coronation Street Date : 14 February 2006 That Charlie is one nut, I hope ? puts a knife through his ribs. We have to wait about 2 weeks, my wife is going mad because of the Winter Games. And they're not going to get the 25 medals they bragged about, and they wouldn't carry our Flag, o well. Fishing is not far away, a man was down last week and he said that he fishes stripers all winter from New Minas at low and high tide. John Subject : Black Widow fly Date : 21 February 2006 I found your website while searching for the fly listed above. It was used in central Ontario about 40 or 50 years ago for brook trout. Apparently it was black with some white in it. I presume it would be a winged wet in that era. Thanks for your help, Greg Subject : Ingramport River Date : 17 March 2006 I wonder if you might be able to help me. I stumbled upon your website and was excited to come across someone who had information about fishing the Ingramport River! I have wanted, for many years, to try and fish further up river then where I have in the past. It certainly is a gorgeous river. I have mostly been confined to areas around the 103 overpass and downstream a short way, maybe 500 metres. I'd like to try further up toward the lakes. You mention Pogwa Lake; my father used to speak about a lake called Big Indian Lake in that same vicinity. Is it possible these are the same, or am I getting two lakes confused? Andrew Subject : Website Date : 6 April 2006 Great site you have developed and maintained. I have been reading it for about 5 years now and have really appreciated it. I have considered e-mailing you, but I never thought I had much to say - well, great job on the website. Between tying flies and reading your site and others, it has really helped to pass the winter season. I'm originally from NS - Fleming Heights near the Dingle, so when I read your site, it sort of feels like home although I have never fished the Woodens River. I used to fish Harrietsfield often, but with the development going on below Moody's Lake, it has pretty well been ruined. I still go back to NS for the mayfly hatch on the eastern shore and fall salmon. I met a friend of yours (G. Taylor) at ETB Lake last spring and he informed me that the locals want to start killing fish again at Woodens...........I hope this doesn't happen. I now live on PEI and have been here for 18 years. We have great sea trout fishing for brookies and steelhead. We too are notwithout our environmental problems. I feel like I know you even though I don't, yet I do know we share some of the same passions for fly fishing and the environment. Anyway, I want to re-iterate great job on the website and on the Woodens River, keep up the good work. If you ever want to toss a buck bug for PEI sea trout, give me a call. This offer is the least I can do in return for having the opportunity to view such a great website over the last number of years. Shawn Subject : Hey Date : 15 April 2006 I found your website via google because I was trying to find out the origin of one of my mom's sayings, 'talking what some good.' I'm going to assume it mutated from the NS saying, 'right some good'... ie: "That salmon was talking what some good!" I just wanted to let you know that you have a really neat site and it's made me nostalgic for the Maritimes. Good work. Jeff Subject : Grapenut ice cream Date : 23 April 2006 I am from Ontario (originally from N.B.) and every time down I look forward to my grapenut ice cream from Baxters. The last time down I discovered that Baxters no longer existed but were taken over by Farmers and they were still making the ice cream using the Baxters recipe. This time down I have found it no longer has that same appealing deep creamy look and unique colour. What happened? Leigh Subject : Alberta waters Date : 12 May 2006 Thank you so much for the pictures. That was an amazing day on the river, Megan and I had a great time. Since the trip, I've been looking to pick up a little 6 footer for the rivers I plan to explore this summer. I'm back at work now, starting up the tree planting season. During my drive from Nelson I stopped to fish a famous western rainbow trout lake called Dragon Lake, I only got an hour and 1/2 on the water as I had to make trail to Alberta, but my pals and I got some amazing action in the short time, we all got at least 1 hit and my friend caught (and released) a 18 incher that looked to be 3-4 pounds. He hooked it on a black and red leech, and my bump came on an olive chrominid. On my next day off I hope to explore a few rivers said to hold bull trout and rainbows to 4 pounds, can't wait. Thanks again Brendan Subject : Hello Date : 26 May 2006 I will be visiting Nova Scotia with my family in a few weeks and was looking for some information about inland fishing. I happened upon your site. You have a wonderful site and it is a pleasure to read, even at this late hour. Best regards, Joe Subject : Books of salmon fly fishing Date : 7 June 2006 I recently (last year) bought a house in Glenville, Cape Breton and being a fly fisherman from the U.S. tried to catch a Atlantic Salmon on numerous occasions. Once I even had one on for a microsecond being so astounded by its Trident missle leap that I forgot I had to set the hook. Needless to say, I got hooked and am aiming to learn how to catch this worthy prey. Can you recommend any other books besides the Joseph D. Bates, Jr. book which I hope to find. I don't tie flies but if there is a title on fishing technique, I would appreciate knowing about it. I'll be fishing from Mabou to the Margaree. Where are you? Your web site is very entertaining. Thank You, Robert Subject : Your recommendation of a river Date : 16 June 2006 Thanks for your great website. The pic of you eaten up by blackflies was -- well you got my vote of sympathy. Your other pictures and stories are excellent-- keep up the good journaling. Your site was recommended to me by a life long friend and fellow fly fisherman. I grew up in Halifax but I do most of my fishing in the Milford Lakes area of NS (ie Fisher Lake, Eleven Mile Lake, Mersey River, and surrounds). I'm wondering if you could give me a couple rivers and or lakes that would make for a decent half-day or full-day of fishing around the Halifax area-- catch and release mainly but I do like to eat what I catch occasionally. Generally, I like to go camping and fishing but don't get out as often as I would like to. So I thought I'd try doing a little fishing in the area around my hometown but faced with a hundred or more lakes and waterways its hard to know where to begin to start thanks for any advice you can offer. Sincerely, Mike Subject : Thanks for a great site Date : 29 July 2006 I just wanted to drop you a note thanking you for your site. I fly fish in western Canada (primarily the Kamloops area and the Bow river) and am always fascinated to read about fishing on the fly elsewhere in the country. Thanks for the taking the time, I found it very enjoyable. Best Regards, Al Subject : Nova Scotia in September Date : 3 August 2006 I am interested in coming to Nova Scotia in September to do some fly fishing. I have no idea where to start. Do you have any clues? Thanks, Dan Subject : Thanks Date : 16 December 2006 Thought it was about time I stopped lurking on your logbook pages and thanked you for the interesting reading you have provided over the year. I moved to Halifax from the UK back in Feb this year and spent some time looking for both some good trout fishing waters and some good web pages dedicated to fly-fishing over here. For a while I was worried I would find neither, until I happened upon your site and its wonderful commentary of life on the river and beyond. Fascinating stuff that has prompted me to explore the river for myself a few times this year as well as a number of other promising waters. Being a cosseted Brit, used to the stocked trout lakes back in the UK, I can’t say that I have had a huge amount of success this year, but getting to know a river system as varied as Woodens River will, I am sure, take me more than a few seasons; especially as I am still blighted by having to work roughly 5 days out of every 7. Anyway, just wanted to say hello and thanks for the stories and the fishing tips. Perhaps next season I will get to spend more time fishing and we will bump into each other on the river one day. Best regards Mark Subject : Bug aquarium caution number 2 Date : 17 January 2007 Here is another warning for your site: If you have small children, make sure you watch so they dont stick their hands in the tank cause some young dragon flies have attitude problems and can bite. Not to see they are a bad bite, but it just something to be aware of. I remember having a bug aquarium in our Enviromental Science class at Perham High School in Perham, MN. These lovely indicators of water conditions are called 'benethic macroinverterbrates'. They are so cool. They also indicate the condition of the body of water and what it may mean to other streams in the area. Benjamin Subject : Fly fishing Nova Scotia Date 18 January 2007 I'm going to be staying on Sherbrooke Lake Lunenburg County from July 1 to July 8, 2007 and would like to learn how to fly fish. Believe it or not I have been taking courses for several years in tying flies but never went fly fishing. John Subject : First trip Date : 17 April 2007 My good friend and I finally got our first trip of the year on on Sunday afternoon..we fished the river from about 3 until 6. There were lots of fish showing at the mouth of the pond which is where we stayed put for most of the day. We only had one hit on a stonefly, and only a hit..is there a science to catching trout this early in the season..In all of my april trips they have for the most part been without a catch.. its not until the mayfly that I start to feel successful..but nevertheless we still love getting out..any advice? Robert Subject : Your great website Date : 20 April 2007 Just visted your wonderful website and wanted to tell you I think it is great. I've been looking for some pics of NS trout flies for tying this season and found several on your site along with a great hatch chart. Jamie Subject : Thanks Date : 5 May 2007 I really enjoyed your site. I'm a lost Nova Scotian but will come home this summer for a visit and some fishing. I miss the water terribly. I'll study and treasure your site in preparation and anticipation of my return. The quotes, stories, history, and facts are great and I'll recommend this site to all my Manitoba fly fishing friends. Erika Subject : Fishing license Date : 27 July 2007 I am planning to visit Nova Scotia in August and was hoping to do some fishing in the various estuaries and salt water bays. I’m from Vermont and was wondering if I will need a fishing license ? Also, is there a license or permit needed to gather clams, muscles, or to trap crabs or lobster? Gene Subject : Memories Date : 31 July 2007 Yesterday I stumbled upon your website for the first time. I was amazed at how enjoyable it is to read. It is by far the most entertaining website I have ever visited. I have been fly fishing for over forty-five years and it is interesting to read your stories as so many of them bring back memories of trips I have had. I spent all yesterday afternoon reading the stories and articles. Alan |