New to Flyfishing Stripers

[Frank Daignault]

I know all that Peter. It might also have to do with the importance of distance fly casting. You can pick up a few yards if the stripping is in a container. But I maintain that in well chosen places distance has less meaning. BTW, that is also true in traditional casting. Everything in shore fishing is not distance, distance. Shore fishing is a lot of other things too. Lately, my wife and I have been going fly fishing with no other gear in the buggy. But normally, and over the years, when we pull up to a situation we would decide how to fish it -- rigged eels, plugs flies, whatever. Still I respect your informed opinion and do see your point.

[halfhitch]

Well, the debate over stripping baskets go on and on! I have found that sometimes you need 'em and sometimes you don't. If you're making your own basket out of a dishpan, instead of using a bungee cord cut two slits in the dishpan where it rests against your body(at both corners).Then slip a wading belt through the slits and use the wading belt to fasten the basket around your waist. This way, the basket can slide. If you are in a spot where you don't want to use the basket, just slide it around to your back so it rests above your behind. Believe me, you'll never know its there. Then, if you come to a spot where you need a basket, just slide it around to your front and use it. You're wearing a wading belt anyway so it's no additional bother to take the basket on or off at the car. If you buy a stripping basket, most of them are manufactured using a wading belt so the work is already done for you. This way it's there if you need it and out of sight if you don't.