The Gamefish Fly Fishing Fisherman's Club Of Western Pennsylvania And Northeast Ohio (TGFFFCOWPANO)

aka The Whatever Bites Gamefish Fishin' Club    toc

child pages:

Casting Techniques & Rigging includes leaders and tippet sizes [sub-page]

Current Setups

Fishing Tips [sub-page]

Fish Species [sub-page]

Flow Readings

Forums

Fly Patterns [sub-page]

Gear fishing     

Hook sizes

Insects - Mayflies, Caddisflies & Stoneflies [sub-page]

Knots [sub-page]

Landing Fish without a net [sub-page]

Lessons with Dan P.

licenses

Locations [sub-page]

misc

rod case to make someday    

Split Shot & keeping it in place

Tools [subpage off Fishing Knots ]

Two Handed / Spey

Tying Flies [sub-page]

Waders, Wading Boots and fixing leaks

Current Setups

• 6 wt
  • line: 2024-08-03  Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Infinity with AST Plus WF-6-F
    • Features:
      • "Half Size Heavy Line"
        • It is a half line size heavy to load faster-action rods at shorter range and push easier through the wind
      • all purpose taper
        • 50-foot head that allows for long, accurate casts and exceptional mending on the water
      • braided multiple-filament core it [can] be used in a wide range of temperature conditions for throwing dries, nymphs, and streamers for most freshwater species. 
      • With the addition of AST Plus, the Amplitude Smooth Infinity Taper, easy-casting line comes as close to any as the one fly line that can “Do It All”
      • the highest-performance smooth fly lines in the world. With up to five times less drag and eight times the durability of traditional lines, this will change the way you look at fly line performance
      • video describing features from SA
    • head 50' [chart]    but 53.3' [scaled off drawing]
      • front taper 5.8'   [scaled off drawing]
      • belly 23.7'   [scaled off drawing]
      • first rear taper 13.5'   [scaled off drawing]
      • second rear taper 10.2'   [scaled off drawing]
    • total 90'    [chart]
    • Head Weight
      • 265 grain head   [chart]
        • 175 grain for the first 30'    [chart]
    • note that chart differs for different weights but only 1 drawing for all weights
    • bamboo / buckskin / camo
    • AST stands for Advanced Shooting Technology
      • a proprietary slickness technology that uses a physical particle additive within the coating to reduce friction
      • resulting in increased shooting distance, greater durability, and longer-lasting slickness.
    • package scans
      • front
      • back
    • website captures
      • landing page
      • tapers drawing & chart
        • detailed chart
      • should line be streched
      • MPX vs Infinity
        • Frequency MPX page on SA www
        • Ampltude Smooth MPX page on SA www
          
        • Ampltude Textured MPX page on SA www
      • Ampltiude MPX vs Amplitude Infinity
    • from Andy when he visited with Christine
    • There are a bunch of other Amplitude Smooth lines
      • includes the Amplitude Smooth Infinity Plus (which is 1 size heavy for "slower rods and advanced casters")
  • leader: 2025-03-14 put 9' 3x leader on floating line, didn't even wet the line when thunderstorms rolled in

flow readings:

Chagrin flow   
Grand flow  
Conneaut flow
Elk Creek (Brandy Run) flow
Walnut Creek
Oil Creek flow  
Penns Creek
Youghiogheny River below Confluence, PA
Yough Dam flow  precipitation
Yough Ohiopyle flow  

Forums

2025-08-2x April Vokey's anchoredoutdoors.com

fly fisherman online subscription  

George Daniel youtube videos

This is Fly Daily   

Trout and steelhead .net

speypages

dark skies youtube channel & website blog  (PA specific)

Gear Fishing

putting line on a spinning rod

2026-01 video using a pot of water with hole in lid to spool on new line

from email I sent to myself 2014-11-29 but not added to www until 2023-08-29 - don't know original source
For a spinning reel (the kind that hangs down underneath the rod), you place the supply reel on the floor. You need to determine whether to place it label side up, or down, in order to minimize introducing line twists during the loading process. This needs to be done for every supply reel, as the direction the line has been loaded can vary from reel to reel, even among the same brands of line. The following 3 [sub]steps detail how to determine which side of the supply reel should face up.

•  Determine correct spool direction:
  • Look down at the top of your spinning reel, and turn the handle as if you are retrieving the line. Note the direction that the bail rotates around the spool. Most spinning reels rotate in a clockwise direction.
  • Examine your supply spool, and find the end of the line (the lead). It may be secured by tape. Orient the supply spool so that the lead is at the top and the label is facing you.
  • If the lead is coming off the spool in a clockwise direction (i.e., if the free end of the line were an arrow, it would be point to your left), you want to place the supply reel on the floor label side up. Otherwise, you want to place it on the floor label side down. If your spinning reel turns in a counter-clockwise direction, you want to reverse this.
• First lift the bail arm so it will loop line as you reel and then run the end of the new line up through the rod guides to the reel, and tie onto the spool. Once the line is tied onto the spool lower the bail arm.
• Hold the line between two fingers to keep it taut as you reel a couple of feet onto the reel.
• Stop reeling and dip the rod toward the spool on the floor. If the line twists onto itself, turn the spool over before putting more line on. If the line is okay, go ahead and finish. 
  • For a spinning reel, a good way to spool the line is to take a soft cotton cloth and hold the line in the cloth at about the first eye. Apply a good amount of tension, so the line does not spool loose, and you can real as fast as you like.
•  Fill the reel only until it is about a quarter inch from the rim.

Hook sizes

TMC hooks - see p2 for dry fly sizes
this post points to    1     2      other good info in 3

Mustead sizes (not as nice) from here

Lessons with Dan P. and results

Dan 2024-07-08

1.Grip:thumb down the back
2. Slower start up on both back and forward Cast
3. Stab the sky on backcast
4. Let line hand drift back near reel on backcast after haul
5. Do not let go of line to soon on forward cast, wait until you see it going away from u
6. Forward cast take arm and elbow back where they started
7. Timing is everything, don’t let the line start to fall/drop on the backcast. Watch it with an open stance amd when it’s 3/4 extended start slowly with forward motion then accelerate to clean stop

Fly Fishing 101 2024-07-27

1. 6 wt on 5 wt rod in our area common because short casts make loading rod togh w 5wt
2. match leader size to fly weight not rod size, fish size, etc
3. Dan says 0x leader for nymphing steelhead (and trout i think); only add tippet to get back to orig length eg 9' don't put tippet until at 7' to get back to 9'
   (at least for new fly fisherman in the class)
4. shorten strike to tighten a wide loop
5. bottom on my loop is wigedty because rod tip is swinging out on back cast. keep rod in 1 vertical plane

Dan 2024-08-20

• begin haul on back cast just after low pick up
• on forward cast don't begin haul until after forward stroke begins
• i sometimes don't pause long enough before starting forward cast
• several times he mentioned i cheat forward before starting forward stroke. i should actually reach further back a bit or at minimum i should stay in constant location

To Break or Not to Break the Wrist? (aka stabbing) video from Mad River Outfitters

Licenses

OH good through 2025-11-17

PA good through 2025-12-31

misc

2025-12 flex lite flashlight replacement led bulb thread here
later found end is threaded, mine was just corroded. the led bulb makes it brighter when installed because the focus of the lens works at all distances, rather than just when paritally unscrewed as it was with the original filament bulb

How to Strike, Play and Land a Trout Correctly

De-Mystifying Stillwater Fly Fishing For Trout - Brian Chan

How to Remove Wind Knots and Snarls from Leaders and Tippet

Choosing a Spey Line - RIO Products

Quick Seine net fits over fishing net to check for nymphs

2025-05-07 Specer durrant at Flylords - Fly Fishing's only rule: ...you never leave fish to find fish

rio on setting the hook for Trout - Dry Fly, Nymph & Streamers

• 0:40 dry fly
  • wait after take until fish goes towards the bottom
  • lift rod tip staight up
• 2:20 nymphing
  • low and to the side if take is downstream
  • goal is to hook in side of mouth
  • must change angle if not downstream
• 4:45 streamers
  • strip set
    • until you know feel tension and that fish is on, continute to strip in (don't move rod)
    • 6:25 when you feel the tension and know it is on "lay into it" and move the rod tip

How to Retrieve a Snagged Lure – Expert Fishing Tips

PSU 2022 article from GoErie   (local .pdf pics of Joe Humphreys and George Daniel didn't make it)   
George Harvey started the fly fishing program in the 1930's
became a credited course 1947–the first of its kind in the U.S. 
Joe Humphreys 95ish born 1929 led the fly fishing program at Penn State for 19 years renamed for him "Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program"

George Daniel 44ish   December 2019 he became lead instructor and director of its fly fishing program

funny video street streamer tyer 7WT vs dry fly shop owner

throwing a castnet
2

birds eating lead    2   3

old bookmarks moved here 2025

rio spey lines in depth

Beginners Guide – Build Your Own Pole Rigs / Angling Direct Blog

2013 Wadershoot Out Charts - Yellowstone Angler

Skagit vs. Scandi Heads | Keeping It Simple by Whitney Gould

Adding and Removing Shot with a Stonfo Levapiombo - Ted Carter TV - YouTube

Paflyfish - International Angler Fly shop Update [Forums - Paflyfish General Forum]

Tip: Stop Grossly Overpaying for Wading Boot Studs | Hatch Magazine - Fly Fishing, etc.

fishing rod holder

custom case                    shopnotes 57 p.24
toolbox                            woodsmith 183 p. 31
steamer case                    woodsmith 73 p6
underbed storage box      woodsmith 125 p20

Split Shot

Troutbitten on keeping split shot from sliding

backing barrel to keep shot in place and using it as a sighter

Dr. Slick split shot pliers "split shot clamp"

Two Handed / Spey

1. Orvis Helios spey 13ft 7wt Spey
   1. 2015-05-05 $599 closeout from Confluence [OR] Fly Shop
      1. unused, includes 25 year mfg. warranty
2. Temple Fork Outfitters Deer Creek Series 11ft 6wt Switch
   1. 300-500 grain recommendation
   2. "by R.B. Meiser & Mike Kinney"
   3. threads on favorite grain weight lines  1    2  

spey casting stroke downward motion on top hand that Jeff Liskay told me about

list of casts to use for upriver wind v downriver wind for each side

• When there is wind one must keep the anchor on the downwind side of your body at all times
• with no wind use any cast
• right handed caster wind blowing up river
  • left bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the left)
    • single spey
    • spiral single
    • circle or snap-t
    • perry poke
    • upriver snake
  • right bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the right) [anchor upriver on left side]
    • backhand single spey
    • backhand spiral single
    • backhand snap-t
    • backhand perry poke
• right handed caster wind blowing down river
  • left bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the left) [anchor downriver on left side]
    • backhand double spey
    • backhand snake roll
    • backhand perry poke
  • right bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the right) [anchor downriver on right side]
    •  snake roll
    • double spey
    • double poke
    • snake poke
• left handed caster wind blowing up river
  • left bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the left)
    • backhand single spey ('reverse', cross-body)
    • backhand spiral single
    • backhand circle or snap-t
    • backhand circle + poke
  • right bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the right)
    • single spey
    • spiral single
    • circle / snap-t
    • perry poke
• left handed caster wind blowing down river
  • left bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the left)
    • double spey
    • snake roll
    • perry poke
  • right bank (looking downstream, closer bank is on the right)
    • backhand snake
    • backhand double spey
    • backhand poke,etc.

2025-04 I haven't watched many, but Jan Erik Granbo seems to have some good Scandi videos

Notes from 2023-08-27 Jeff Liskay lesson
sweep outside and away (think stake exercise)

continue upwards lift as sweep around, except when we did double spey (maybe) , it was lift to 45 then pause
double spay off left shoulder hold left hand on top just barely flick line upstream so setting anchor on downstream side

at one point - I don't remember which cast - I had to start my rod tip closer to the

pull then stop with bottom hand

Skagit vs. Scandi from flyfishusa.com

scandi leader formulas

sonar sinking leaders

for 10' that Jeff said I should always use - mfg page

circle c

blurry video that shows path well

is snap c and circle c the same cast?
Ian Gordon (larger Scottish guy) video on where starting the circle while still pointed downstream will avoid L and keep d loop out of obstacles near bank

Single Spey

Simon Gawesworth, British guy who did the Rio Single Spey video and also does Far Bank videos
Rio Single Spey video   part of Rio Spey playlist

• 0:36 used when wind is blowing up river
  • "NEVER MAKE SINGLE SPEY WITH DOWNSTREAM WIND TOO DANGEROUS"
• 1:04 single spey starts with rod pointing 35 to 40 degree angle from bank
  • it is the only spey cast that doesn't start with the rod pointing directly downstream
• lift rod straight up
• after reaching top, start down at 45degrees towards water while sweeping at same time then level out
• raise up at 45 degree angle while continuing to sweep and arrive at the "key position"
• wait for small splash of theline at the anchor point which is 1 rod length out and 45 degrees upstream
• 1:50 skier path simile
• 2:50 path is skier at bottom of precipice he climbs is vertical
  • not a drift lift which is up at same time as horizontal thus diagonal tip path)
  • no pause at top
• 3:25 skier skis to down the mountain at 45 degrees
  • no pause between vertical lift and start of second motion.
  • Aussie style has horizontal sweep at start rather than 45 degrees immediately
    • this results in the "bloody L"
• 4:10 anchor shoule be one rod length away at maybe 15 degrees upstream,
  • see 5:00 for little spash in correct location and path of forward cast is straight across
• 5:10 mistake Ausie style is when skier is at top of lift then doesn't have 45 path towards water but instead is straight acros
  • this results in bloody L where splash is in correct spot, but leader from anchor to fly is straight upstream from anchor

snake roll

Rio video with Simon Gawesworth

0:30 use when downstream wind or no wind at all

downstream hand is on top

not for skagit

try with but section large lowercase e on chalkboard, but at end lift to key position

pause at key position for line to kiss water, then fire forward stroke
4:30 good description of the two portions of the forward stroke 1 loading move 2 pivot move

5:15 slow middle fast pace

8:40 touch and go timing needs to be quick, shouldn't be rooster tail

10:25 circle size to keep anchor in correct place depends on amount of line out

super long caster

Tim Arsenault of Bridge Fly Fishing Products

right handed      left handed     the lift

Waders, Wading Boots and fixing leaks

1. Men's G3 Guide Boa Boot size 12 in Vibram Hickory
   1. Simm's landing page
      1. "BOA® Fit System with an improved M4 dial"
      2. interestingly, "Re-soling available"
      3. local screen capture .png
   2. bought 2025-07-02 from Chagrin River
   3. 2025-11-23 pulled out the cable too hard on boots and lace came out of boa system knob
      1. little figure 8 piece apparently folded in on itself no longer was wide enough to seat the lace in the knob tunnel
      2. info on how to replace laces in my boots
         1. BOA Fit System | Repairing M4 Eyestay + CS3 boa landing page
            1. youtube video
         2. .pdf of 38 steps to repair a lace (local .pdf)

good article - start by turning inside out

ORVIS: How to Repair Your Fishing Waders video

last updated:    Thu 2026-03-05 8:52 AM