Wind Knots And Tailing Loops

Jim N. & Steve -Lordville rattlesnakes - They are endangered and protected. By nature they are not aggressive would rather retreat than fight. Biggest danger is stepping on one or falling on one going down the bank from the railroad tracks to the river. Have seen numerous ones on Lordville Road at night soaking up the heat. They are also commonly seen in the evening laying on the railroad rails. Have had a couple cross the river from behind me when wading, which I find unsettling. Most sighting have been during the heat of summer. The two dead ones in Lordville are the first I've ever seen in May. The river along the southern facing hills from Buckingham down to Callicoon is the most likely place for an encounter.

Ed Smith - Our granddaughter's team won the state section 3 championship tonight and will head on to the state regionals. How did yours do?

As to the spills -  The tailwater flies are most likely to be negatively affected. Mayfly maturity is regulated by degree days and the summer sulfurs, (Dortheas), and the late summer olives are likely to hatch much earlier with the warm release waters. Years ago the Region Fisheries head and I compared my summer fishing records with stream temperature records and it seemed quite clear that the best sulfur fishing were when the water stayed the coldest and there was little or no summer spill. He used the data to get increases in the release to cool the water during summer spills.

John H. - The big Green Drakes are the females and the little guys are the males. 

As to the giant caddis - I happened to leave my porch light on a warm night last week to see what bugs were hatching. There were coffin flies, isos, one brown drake, lots of the big black caddis and lots of the little sister sedge that I wrote about several years ago. There was also half a dozen big flies, (a good inch long), with thick bodies and wings that widened at the back to form an "A". When I flicked them off the screens the wings appeared to be yellow, (they were not golden stones). Can any one help here?

Jim Dygert - I have not used traditional Catskill Patterns in many years. I am a mediocre tyer at best, (a guide I know once said, "Your flies are so simple a child could tie them." (Which may be why Jim N., known for his exquisitely tied flies, refuses to use real flies as models. My GHOF gave me the only compliment my fly tying has ever received when he said, "They're not as bad as they use to be". And, before we go any further, tip of the cap to you on the Meatloaf find.

Will undoubtedly have time to finish up answering the questions tomorrow.