Kent,
I can sympathize with you about forgetting your reel. Shame you didn't have a
spinning reel along so you could have jury rigged something... like a hand carved
cedar "bobber" to give you weight to get a fly out.
Question for you. You guys didn't pack in float tubes and waders, and boots, and
waders, did you? Those things are heavy.
I'm looking at getting back to backpacking again this year. So.. maybe we'll run into
each other somewhere.
I have a couple of "interesting" hikes that involve stream fishing. No heavy gear to
take along for those trips.
One I went on in the early 90's. We drove up to the trailhead over by Lake Wenatchee
and I had my mountain bike along and intended to use it to get to the wilderness
border. Turned out the F.S. changed the regs that year and I couldn't use a bike to
get most of the way in. Had to hoof it. Well.. we packed in 3.2 miles and had some
fun fishing for what I call "brown cutthroat". They're west slope cutts and a nice
looking brown color. Fished for a couple of hours and then hiked back to the truck.
Tried getting in truck. Found out I'd lost my keys back where I fished. Thought I'd
take my bike back and found out that it was locked up and that key was on my key ring.
Hiked back to the fishing spot... found the keys right where I'd set my pack down the
first time.. and hiked back to the truk. I'd planned on a 6 1/2 mile round trip
hike... but that second round trip sorta grated at me. I try to keep my keys safe
after that.
I had a trout up in BC yank my rod over the side. Besides having $700 of rod and reel
over the side, I found out I was out of business as that was the only reel body I had
with me. The rest of the gear was spare spools. I got my outfit back the next
morning after the fish finally broke off and the line floated to the surface, but it
wasn't fun waiting for morning so I could continue my search.
I was fishing a damsel nymph on a floating line. Just set the rod down for a second
so I could pick up something on the bottom of the boat. During that moment a fish
slammed into the fly and that's how I temporarily lost the rod.
Bill
> ----------
> From: Kent[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 9:09 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: Backpack Question
>
> This backpacking thread is probably as good a time as any to unburden my soul about
>my first pack trip in to a mountain lake last year.
>
> Former listmember and good friend Jeff Ryder and I were planning a hike into Janus
>Lake, just over Stevens Pass and along the Pacific Crest Trail. As Jeff is young and
>strong while I'm old and slow, I spent a considerable amount of time preparing for
>the hike, trying to pare down non-essential weight to keep my pack as light as
>possible.
>
> At the last minute, my mountaineering neighbor who had been following my packing
>efforts from across the street, offered me his old JanSport frame pack, a vast
>improvement over the old Kelty I was struggling to cram everything into. Grateful for
>the loan, I transferred everything from the old Kelty into the JanSport, lashed fins
>and rod tube to the back and I was ready to set out the next morning.
>
> The walk in was nearly 4 miles with a net elevation gain of about zero, although the
>rise and fall each way was about 750 feet. After the hour and a quarter 'death
>march,' I gratefully shrugged off the 30-pound JanSport when we reached the camping
>area at the southeast corner of Janus Lake.
>
> As we rigged up and got ready to put in, I discovered I had left my reel in my old
>Kelty in my garage back in Redmond!
>
> 'Loser,' was all I could think about as I ransacked my pack in futile hopes of
>finding the missing reel.
>
> Leaving me to my dark thoughts, Jeff paddled out to start trolling a wooly bugger up
>the middle of the lake as he made his way to the other end. After giving up on trying
>to string 10 or 15 feet of 4x tippet to my rod, I reluctantly paddled after him,
>struggling to co> ntent myself with taking pictures and enjoying his fishing
>experience vicariously. >
>
> Fishing was slow until Jeff switched to a #12 Goddard Caddis and started working the
>weedbeds along the the northeast shore. He picked up maybe a half dozen cutts in the
>12 - 14 inch range as we worked our way around the north end with me paddling along
>behind, avoiding his backcast, looking for rises and taking pictures.
>
> About 100 yards down the brushy west side, Jeff was working a brown humpy close to a
>fallen log near the bank when he got a really big pull that became the fish of the
>day. After an extended struggle, he finally released a fat, 17 inch cutthroat once I
>snapped a quick picture.
>
> Feeling satisfied with his efforts so far (and probably a little sorry for the loser
>in the next tube!), Jeff offered me his rod and we switched places.
>
> My first cast after his big cutt, I hooked its brother within two feet of shore and
>ended up releasing a thick 16 inch cutthroat. The next half hour saw me hook a fish
>after fish as we worked our way down along the west bank.
>
> We took turns with Jeff's rod several more times before finally pulling out
>mid-afternoon for the hike back. Aside from the two brutes we released earlier, most
>of the rest of the fish that day were from 12 to 14 inches. All told, we hooked and
>released nearly 50 fish between us. Not bad for two guys using one rod.
>
> And yes, I now double and triple check to make sure I've not forgotten some other
>vital piece of gear every time I pack.
>
> Kent Lufkin
>
>
> I, too, use a packrod.
>
> I have a 4 pc. 6 wt. fiberglass Fenwick. It was my mom's and was made in
> +/- 1967. It is in beautiful shape and I like using it, although I'm
> thinking of upgrading to a 4-5 pc. graphite rod...but I won't take any of my
> two piece rods into the backcountry. Besides being too long for off-trail
> travel, the rod case is too heavy.
>
> Jeff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Warner, Paul W [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 8:19 AM
> To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
> Subject: RE: Backpack Question
>
>
> Kent,
>
> I liked your story about backpacking with a 9', 2 piece rod. The first big
> trip I went on out here was going into Joe Lake off of Snoqualmie pass. I
> took in a 10', 2 piece 5wt and ended up using the rod case as a hiking
> stick. The last mile into the lake I told my friend that the shortcut down
> the ridge didn't look all that bad. understatement. At one point of that
> trip down I was hanging onto bushes with both hands and my feet were
> scrambling for a foothold. I knew if I let go I'd slide or tumble about
> 100' down to the lake. We had to do things like tie ropes to our packs to
> lower them down inorder to get to the lake. We sure made a trip down much
> harder than it should have been.
>
> That was the last trip I took my long rod into. After that it was pack rods
> for me.
>
> Bill
>
> > ----------
> > From: Kent[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 6:36 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: Backpack Question
> >
> > Hi Sean,
> >
> > I used to backpack a lot while in college years ago and even packed into
> some remote northern California mountain lakes with my old lightweight
> spin/fly Fenwick rod. The state of the art back then was a nylon Kelty on an
> aluminum frame to which one could strap all manner of stuff.
> >
> > Fast forward 25 years. I was reintroduced to backpacking last summer as a
> means to the end of getting into lakes that were much less fished than their
> drive-to counterparts. In dusting off my old pack, I found that its buckles
> had rusted and that many of its straps and zippers were all but unusable. To >
> top it off, I have no idea what ever became of the waist strap!
> >
> > > A mountaine> ering neighbor loaned me his ten-year old JanSport frame pack
> which I used for the first two expeditions. But its suspension system and
> nearly nonexistent back panels must have been designed by sadists, so I
> started shopping for other, newer alternatives.
> >
> > Several manufacturers still make frame packs, but over the past several
> years, more expensive (and profitable) internal frame packs have become all
> the rage. Originally intended for mountain climbers, they have a single
> large compartment into which all gear is packed and the internal frame
> allows it to fit closer to your back.
> >
> > I comparison shopped at REI, Marmot Mountain, Outdoor Emporium and Sports
> Authority. Internals started at around $175 and ran up to over $500. The few
> frame packs available were more modestly priced at from about $90 up to $250
> or so. After trying on several dozen packs, many with dummy weights to
> simulate a real load, I ended up buying another frame pack, a Kelty West
> Coast.
> >
> > I chose the frame pack for several reasons:
> >
> > I tend to sweat profusely when provoked through exertion and the
> frame pack sat further away from my back than the internals, offering better
> ventilation.
> >
> > The frame design is definitely easier to attach extra stuff like rod
> tubes or fins to. Just use a couple nylon straps, twine or even some duct
> tape and away you go.
> >
> > The Kelty West Coast had an awesome suspension system that was
> easily adjustable to my particular body shape. It distributed the weight
> well between my shoulders and waist and allows me to easily change the
> weight balance without taking it off.
> >
> > Finally, it was cheaper. I got it at REI for about $160.
> >
> > So here's what I'd suggest:
> >
> > Try on lots of packs.
> >
> > Make sure you dummy load 'em up with 25 or 30 pounds to see how they
> feel with a load. REI and Marmot will let you do this, but the chain stores
> will just give you a blank look.
> >
> > Ask for help in adjusting the pack to your own body size and shape.
> Better packs tend to offer a wider range of adjustments.
> >
> > Make sure it'll hold all the gear you'll need.
> >
> > For day trips, I take a deflated float tube, breathable waders, flats
> boots (NOT felts, they're too heavy), fins, PFD, extra clothes, rain gear,
> lunch, water bottle/filter, compass, maps, camera, patch kit, first aid
> stuff, plastic garbage b> ags to put wet tube and waders into, plus rod,
> reel and gear. I seem to always end up taking more than I use, but not by
> much. My pack has been weighing about 30 pounds or so. >
> >
> > My first couple trips I took along my 9-foot 3-weight two-piece in its
> tube. I lashed it to the pack but it kept snagging low branches so I ended
> up carrying it instead. I've since bought a five-piece 4-weight in a short
> tube that'll fit inside my pack.
> >
> > I haven't done an overnighter with tubing gear yet, but I'd guess that
> tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, toiletries, flashlight, stove, pans and
> cooking/eating gear and food would add another 15 pounds or so. If you pack
> in with a buddy, you can share the weight of the tent, cooking gear and
> food. That's where having a pack that's big enough to stow or attach all
> that stuff really comes in handy.
> >
> > Sorry for the term paper length. Hope this helps,
> >
> > Kent
> >
> >
> > Since everyone is talking about hiking into lakes recently I figured
> I
> > would ask about what packs you use. I saw somewhere recently a pack
> that
> > had came with rod tubes and a dry storage area but have not been
> able to
> > find it. I am curious about what you guys use to pack in your rods,
> > float tubes, tent, etc. Basic frame packs or are there some specific >
>
> > > packs built for flyfishing out t> here.
> >
> > Any suggestions are appreciated as usual.
> >
> > -sean
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