Hi, guys, My name is Skip James (Retrotrout), and I live just over the St. Croix River from Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Hudson, Wisconsin. I'm 66 years
old, and have been trout fishing since I was ten. I began in the Pocono Mtns of Pennsylvania, fishing the Brodheads from Canadensis to Analomink, later, as a
teenager, poaching at the famous Henryville stretch. Actually became a legal visitor of the Henryville Flyfishers in my twenties. I'm a classical musician,
principal keyboardist with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and a Steinway Artist. I build harpsichords as well, and if you think trout fishing is fun, right
up next to it is playing Handel or Bach with a bunch of great musicians and actually getting paid for it! Having grown up in New Jersey, where there's
almost no fishing for trout unless you own the water, it's delightful to be in Wisconsin and Minnesota where the water belongs to everyone, and it seems
that because of that, people around here get active in TU and other organizations to protect wild resources. Anyway, I have two wonderful local spring creeks
within 45 minutes of home, the Kinnickinnic and the Rush, both of which have self-sustaining populations of browns and the latter also has the occasional
brookie. During the season, I probably fish three or four days a week. I was the editor of RipRap, my local TU magazine, and have been published in The
Angler's Journal, an article I wrote about silk lines "The Swish of Silk". Also, I'm featured in The Second Fly Tiers Almanac. I teach
advanced fly tying at Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop in Lake Elmo, MN, and I fish with, among several Sage graphite LL's, two #35 Heddon Featherweights, a 7
1/2 footer and an 8 footer, plus an Orvis 7/3. I love Phoenix silk fly lines, furled leaders, (although I also tie my own Harvey leaders out of Trilene XL),
and am always looking for vintage fly tackle. Evolution happens very, very slowly. I'm glad trout still strike at ancient wet fly patterns, can still be
fooled by a gut leader, and that silk fly lines can be delivered best with a fine cane rod. I'm happy to be a new member of your group. Tight lines.
This forum began as Clark's Classic Bamboo Rod Forum, founded by Clark Davis for all who share a passion for classic rods. The forum is now owned by Whitefish Press aka Dr. Todd Larson - banjo.
For those who don't use English as their primary language we now have a translator for your language of choice hosted by Google.
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Got room for a classical musician?
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 retrotrout |
Got room for a classical musician? |
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Posts: 2 11/30/2007 20:26 |
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thegubster |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 1073 12/03/2007 11:52 |
Welcome aboard Skip.
I cross that Hudson bridge too many times during trout season and hit those same streams you do. They're gems in their own right. I come from just no. of Mpls. and enjoy taking my vacation in 1/2 days (to double up on the amt. of times I can hit the streams) most often during mid week so I can fish around fewer people. That works...sometimes...*grins* In two yrs. when I leave the workplace for good I'm hoping to spend much more time with my feet wet, keeping a low profile and loving what the rivers have to offer. And then some.... If you see a gray Toyota Tundra, leave a note to say "hello"... Jeremy. |
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pcg |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 897 12/03/2007 18:51 Admin |
Glad to have you on board, Skip. You have great experiences and your comments will be welcomed. 'Looking forward to seeing your name again!
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Soft Hackle |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 923 12/07/2007 21:04 |
Didn't you have a rather influential stint as a blues musician? I seem to recall you were the most compelling personality from the "Bentonia
school" of Delta musicians , not to mention penning the classic " I'm So Glad ". Welcome to the board, glad you moved out of Mississippi, no
trout there. P.S. Those model 35's are beautiful rods, I am a Heddon fan also. What ferrule size is the 8'er?
Last Edited By: Soft Hackle 12/07/2007 21:20.
Edited 1 time.
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PYochim |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 3 12/24/2007 17:22 |
Skip,
Hello. I was introduced to you by Mike Alwin at his shop a few years ago. You gracefully showed me a method of mixing two colors of dubbing utilizing a small cardboard box. See you on the Kinni or the Rush this spring. Paul D.Yochim |
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croix boy |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 1 01/01/2008 11:32 |
Skip I live in St. Croix Falls Wi and have a cabin on the Namekogan River in Hayward Wi. Fishing is tough but there are some beauties to try and fool.Just
purchased an old Orvis Superfine on Sunday that has not seen water in 40 plus years. Came with an Orvis Battenkill Featherweight also. Can't wait til March
Darrell Anderson or croixboy
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bobbeegee |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 1359 01/03/2008 20:01 |
Hello Skip! Welcome! Ever run into a chap on the Kinni by the name of Ken Olson?
Bob |
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 afgantrout |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 292 01/05/2008 23:28 |
Hello Skip, Thank you for your introduction. It is wonderful to hear the words of a fellow mensch. I'm a bit
younger...61, but I feel I've lived your life somewhat; youth in NJ, catching my first trout there on a worm and ever lusting to catch same on a fly
I'd tied myself. I got my first gear (from my Mom, from Reed Tackle when I was 13). I love music of all kinds, play guitar and sing folk songs
and....sang in the chorus of the InterMountain Opera of Bozeman, MT when I was 50! It was Verdi's il Trovatore. I fished the Gallatin sometimes after the
long rehearsals. Other times I nearly lost my life on the return home over the Bozeman pass in a springtime ground blizzard at 6 PM. Since I'm still
alive, it was a great experience.
Many of my good friends are in the Classical Music bidness...for example, Joseph Scheerer, first violin w/ Boston Pops. I've got one of his rods which I hope to fish on the Rapidan this spring. Please stay in touch. Petri heil! Michael |
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czkid |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 3047 01/06/2008 21:01 Moderator |
Welcome aboard Skip. I had to make a decision early in life as to eating or music... so I chose eating on a regular basis. Just retired from 40+ years as
an engineer... now maybe I can get back to the music. I've always loved the harpsicord, especially since my days in Lincoln, NE where there was a
manufacturer/kit builder of those wonderful instruments. If you ever get into an overstock situtation I'd love a 2 manual instrument!
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dwalkerman |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 46 01/07/2008 15:16 |
Glad to have you here.............sounds like you enjoy life....almost...as much as I do!!!! I left you a message.......take care |
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retrotrout |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 29 01/10/2008 12:05 |
Ken Olson, the poet? Used to enjoy visiting him, talking about the arts, and hearing his tales of trout on Summer evenings at El Paso. Quite a good
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bobbeegee |
Poet? | #11 | ||
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Posts: 1386 01/14/2008 17:17 |
I guess he most probably writes poems. He works in the English Dept. at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
The only reason I ask is that he refinished a rod for me and we had many conversations via email. A very fine fellow indeed and a frequent fisher of the Kinni. Bob |
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- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
- Collecting Bamboo Fly Rods
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- Rod making, restoration, repairs and discussion on those related topics concerning bamboo rods.
- Rod and Reel Makers Forum
- Information About Makers & Manufacturers
- Taper Exchange
- Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods
- Ephemera, empherma and Ephemerella.....
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- The Cooks Kitchen
- The Classic Fly Rod Classifieds
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