Beetles are Best if Plopped

Fished July 9th, wanted to try Bald Eagle but after having quite a few floaters pass me by and seeing more on the way I decided to try Spring Creek, I'll do The Eagle when the Trico's are on. I went to a favorite secluded spot on Spring and knotted on a large black beetle and got instant results. Moving upstream and casting in shallow water first then into the gut of the holes gave me great results, just make sure the beetle plops. Remember that all land based insects do in fact fall into the water and not gently but with a discintive plop, even if the trout do not see the fly they will feel it and are conditioned to come look for the food in the summer months, if the black raspberries are ripe it's time for terrestrials to be on the water. Took fish from 4' to 14" all nice fat browns and willing to attack the beetle. This is really not hard and does not require a lot of tackle, beetles, ants and crickets some tippets- that's all. Be warned that you can not fish the same water over and over again and expect to fool them, think change of patterns or locations. I love to use a small chest pack and wade light, yes I'll still use waders I'm not that brave to think that I would not get poison. The type of beetles and ants that I use are foam and are easy to tie and hold up well enough but with the larger browns teeth they will get battered, so tie a bunch. If you need instructions, just ask.
  I'll comment on a few new products that I have been using and give you a run down on them. First is SA Sharkskin fly lines, when I first used it I loved that it added about 10 yards to every cast and it handled like old silk, I did not mind that it sings as it moves in and out but my love affair has come to an end. I have had a heck of a time trying to find a leader combination that turns over well and it seems to want to not fall as I want it to. I keep holding back and do not get the accuracy that I want, also the dam cuts to my finger are getting old- yea you try to remember to take a bandage along every time. the line is about one size heavier than it is marked. Ok I know what your saying, well this past weekend I used my XPS New Zeland Grey WF3F and it was wonderful, the line acted just as I wanted it to, not that I'll give up on the Sharkskin I'll just use it less- sorry I do like the music it provides.
  Next item is Simms new Vibram Streamtread wading shoe soles, tried them a few times and looked as if I was wading on ice but I felt great walking to and from the stream, really nice support and spring in them but not for our streams. I called Simms and they suggested I use Hardbite Studs, well ok. Received the studs and installed them (really easy) and Wow what a difference, great grip and no noise when you walk in and out and when your wading- they clearly have a winner, I give them the best ratings that I can give!
  Another item of note is Trout Hunter tippet material and leaders, if Rene Harrop tells me it's good, take it to the bank it is. Fine tippet material made in Japan and the size of the spools make it easy to carry and the material comes off the spool with little effort. Trout Hunter leaders have been a good addition, I tried them with the Sharkskin lines and was not happy with the results but using them with the SA XPS line made a difference. Yes I'm to lazy to tie my own leaders and I do not like George Harvey's formula, Barry Beck got me hooked on Doug Swisher flat butt leaders 30 years ago and it's hard to stop now. As a side lite the Swished leaders seem to have gotten softer butts on them and just do not turn over that well.
  As I promised here is the results of a test we did 30+ years ago, we wanted to see how trout in Johnson's Hole took crickets and hoppers, well we collected them and threw them in and watched. All the crickets were taken upstream with little or no inspections a very confident take, hoppers on the other hand were taken downstream only after considerable inspection. Our conculsions are that crickets are something they see from time to time but hoppers are just not that normal and our wood land hoppers are not that evident along Penns- so try Crickets and be happy.
  Yes I know I told ypu that I'd get the Black Rat snake mating pictures and post them well I just have not see Posey Bowersox yet! I'll make an effort to get them and share it with you.
  There seems to be a fly shop war going on and if you read between the lines the Swarm guy is telling us the other shops need to stop their customers from fishing while he does something else- BS! The water in Penns is getting too warm but Fishing Creek, Spring Creek and Bale Eagle are fine, just don't play them to death. Yes other fly shop do emblish the facts but they will not insult like the Swarm fellow will, this guy always seems to catch more and bigger fish than his customers- not smart. Fly shops must remember they are in the service industry not I'm better than you are mode. Make sure your customers expecitations are not over sold or that you do not get on a soap box and tell everyone how great you are, for heavens sake measure your fish!