The Board

easterncaster wrote:Hi Rick,

I'm curious about your casting grip:
- what is it?
- has it too changed over time?
- different grips for different rod wgts?

etc..

Thanks!

Craig

Great to hear from you again, its been a long time. My grip is a modified thumb on top. My forefinger is of course on the opposite side of the grip, but slightly higher than the thumb. It has changed over time, but not since I have been distance casting. I use the same grip on all rod weights, and put more emphasis on the haul hand. I don't know if that answers the question, let me know.

Rick Hartman wrote: I am not going to open a can or worms with loop shape in regards to end of your stroke, or the stop.

Ah go ahead Rick ,this place thrives on worms. ........John

Hi Steve, I had alligator gar in Louisiana - I think on Clousers but my memory in these things is not the best. I'll find out when I'm back over the weekend.

Paul,

I've tried several varieties of Clousers, mostly in 2014. So it may be worth trying again. I've tried a great many streamers, including the 'rope' fly. I suspect part of my problem is I am casting from shore. A kayak would be ideal, but that's not likely going to happen. I've spent a considerable amount of time watching them for behavioral clues. I've watched a dozen or more YouTube videos, and nothing so far have worked fir me.

The spotted gar in the pond cruise the surface after sun-down, as many as a hundred of them. I've used floating streamers, unweighted sinking streamers, weighted fast sinking, ... I've got an impressive collection in all sorts of colors, too. I lead a surface wake, can sometimes I get the gar to turn towards the fly, but it rarely leads to a strike. I can throw a fly into a group of wakes, and I get them to turn, but again, rare strikes. I've been to the old Intercoastal and the new Intercoastal with locals, and they do bait and a bobber method and have told me that gar don't aggressively attack a live fish. However, I've witnessed several times, spotted gar cruising under a weed patch, and when bream or bass breaks to make a run, I seen 'pike' like speed and attack.

I'm after them, because they're not easy.

I apologize Rick, in holding this conversation with Paul on your thread.

Steve

Rick Hartman wrote: Hell yes, I am all about steroids in casting, lets make it a freak show, especially for the women, LOL. I assume the question was a joke.

Sorry Rick - I meant stereos. Can't stand all that loud music...

Paul needs all the help he can get. He turned 39 again this year.

Thanks for the answers to the serious questions.

Rick Hartman wrote:There are a couple of full time fly guides down here, myself, and Eric Glass.
Weather here can be a bit tricky. What time of year did you come down?

I think Eric was one of the guides I fished with on that trip.

I think it was in May but it was a long time ago.

We've got dope testing in Australia and we all passed.

You were all dopes?

I have never passed the dope test. Wait............

petevicar wrote:

Rick Hartman wrote:There are a couple of full time fly guides down here, myself, and Eric Glass.
Weather here can be a bit tricky. What time of year did you come down?

I think Eric was one of the guides I fished with on that trip.

I think it was in May but it was a long time ago.

I would be surprised if Eric was not the better of the two by a long shot. May can be quite windy if a system comes through. It is common for that time of year.

Rick Hartman wrote:I have never passed the dope test. Wait............

I've never failed one. Maybe I should move to Australia.