Michael Phillippe
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Thanks for the advice all!
Matt, I like the look of Woodland. I may have to try that next year.
Michael
I just booked two days with a guide in New Orleans for redfish at $525 per day. And, he “will stop on the way so we can get ourselves (and him) some lunch!”
Thanks guys! According the the info we received, the guide will have gear but I prefer to use my own rod when possible. I will take my Sage 9 ft 8 wt with Orvis larger arbor reel. Was thinking of taking my 6 wt as a back up. Is it too light for redfish?
I spent a few days on Morraine Creek in the Katmai in September. The most amazing place I’ve ever seen. Fish, bears and nothing else as far as you can see.
I found this on a very new, upscale restaurant menu here last year. We asked the waiter if it was a salmon or a steelhead. He said something to the effect of, “Oh no! It’s a wild steehead salmon!” I had the pasta….
Interesting that you should ask this Joel. My son is a guide in western Montana and it seems that every year when he is ‘back East’ for the holidays we end up in a conversation about guide prices. Most of it is me ranting about the rapid escalation and he about the rising cost of gas, shuttles, etc.
This past summer, a buddy and I paid $500 plus $100 tip to float the South Fork. I think that is outrageous actually – and our guide was a great guy who worked really hard and we caught a lot of fish. But that’s not the point. I am convinced that if outfitters had put together some ‘deals’ in recent years, the total number of guide days would not have dropped so dramatically in the economic downturn. I’ve seen shops drop from putting 7 boats a day on the water in 2000 to 2 boats a day last summer. There is a price point at which the average angler will/can no longer pay.
As far as the tip goes, don’t get in the boat if you don’t intend to tip $100 for a good guide day. You only see them keeping you alive on big Western rivers, putting you on fish and untangling your bird’s nests. You have no idea what these guys do that you don’t see. Before you meet them in the morning they have probably shopped for lunch, arranged a $30-40 shuttle, gassed up and bought those flies and tippet you are going to put in the trees!
I do think guides should earn their tips. I’ve floated with guides all over the world. Some were really good and some I had to teach to tie knots. A good guide can make for a wonderful day. They keep you safe and comfortable, feed you, are hopefully good company in the boat and tell you something about the environment you’re fishing.
Zach, I’ve experimented with ways to make good coffee for years! If you are OK with French press coffee one like GSI should do well. I’ve used a similar (and less elegant one) for about twenty years. But, I’ve been taking a look at the new Jet Boil units since I wouldn’t need a separate stove.
My bigger problem is that I hate powdered creamer….
I retired my two Blackberry’s when I retired this past summer. And, I switched to Verizon because AT&T for some reason doesn’t have coverage on the upper Delaware River or much of Montana. I will probably go with the iPhone when Verizon finally gets it.
I would hope that you are experienced in hiking in the mountains in winter. Survival in those conditions is much different than in the spring/summer/fall. If you are not, wait until spring and enjoy the wildflowers and fishing.
Hey Zach! Nice interview with an interesting individual who seems to be able to keep ‘reinventing’ himself and make a living.
BUT, I think it’s time for another IA Music Podcast! It’s been awhile and you’ve introduced to some new bands, so….
This thread is making me depressed. I retired in April and stopped flying, so on 12/31 will lose my ‘status’ with the major airlines. This will be the first time I’ve every had to pay for checked bags! Ugh!
I never, ever check my reels and camera gear. They go in my boat bag, aka Patagonia Great Divider, which serves as a dry, safe place for them once I’m at the destination. I then carry a basic backpack (my personal item) with a couple 4-piece rods tubs tied to the sides.
I think any of these bags will serve you well. I have three serious suggestions:
1. Make sure your rods tubes fit inside the bag and can be concealed by clothing.
2. Measure the overall dimensions very carefully – with the bag fully extended – as airlines are getting very picky about size and the 50 lb limit. I have an older Orvis bag that is now 2 inches too big!
3. Get a TSA approved lock for the bag. That will give you at least some measure of security.Neil,
I’d definitely trust the Yak rack over the factory issue. They are bomb proof! And, the Yakima cradles are terrific. I’ve spent a small fortune on new towers over the years so I could continue using my Yakima ski, kayak and canoe rack accessories.
The best winter reading – at paperback prices – are the two volumes of Traver Award winning fiction from Fly Rod & Reel publishing. All the great writers before they were famous.
I think Lon Deckard in Cincinnati would be your best source of information. I believe he still owns all the stock.
Zach,
I admit to being one of those who faithfully listens and never comments, so I’m going to add mine here.
I think you do a great job in the selection of the topics/interviewees. I personally do not find some of them of interest (Film Flies) but others I thought were fantastic (Chris Wood, among them). It all depends on the listener and I think you do a fantastic job of trying to cover all the fly fishing bases – gear, conservation, publishing, salt versus fresh water.
