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John's Journal... Entry 206, Day 3

FLY-FISHING WITH JOHN AND ELIZABETH EISENBARTH

Eisenbarth's Clientele

EDITOR'S NOTE: John Eisenbarth, owner of Riverside Outfitters and Fly Shop, and his wife Elizabeth, have fished the Sipsey Fork, the tailwaters of Smith Lake, for 13 years.

Question: Why is sixty-percent of your clientele women?
Answer: Fly-fishing isn't considered as much of a blood sport as regular fishing is. Some women don't like to cut live fish and clean it. Fly-fishing appeals to outdoor-minded women because it can take you to pretty places, the equipment is not heavy and bulky, it leaves the fish unharmed, and successful fly-fishing requires finesse and other qualities that come natural to women.

Question: Children are also a large part of your clientele, why is that?
Answer: Fly-fishing appeals to children today more than regular fishing does. Today, kids play video games and are accustomed to always having action. Fly-fishing involves more action than just casting bait and reeling it in. With fly-fishing, you are always moving and actively pursuing the fish.

Question: What does fly-fishing cost, and what is included when someone books a trip to fly-fish?
Answer: If I take someone fishing or on a teaching trip, it costs $250. I supply the waders, the fly rod, the flies and whatever else they need to fish that day.

Question: If someone else wants to come, how much do you charge for a second person?
Answer: If another person comes, I charge an additional $50. Usually if it's a child under 16, I don't charge for the parent because I require a child under 16 to have a parent.

Question: What makes this trout fishery so good at Smith Lake Dam?
Answer: Water that comes in to the tail waters flows from below the 90-foot level of the Lewis Smith Dam and that is below the thermocline. That water averages 58 degrees, which is ideal for trout. Trout fisheries around the nation prefer this temperature and report their maximum growth at this temperature. The tail waters are stocked year-round.

Question: What kind of waders do you use?
Answer: We use ProLine breathable waders. During the summer it's 50 degrees in the water and 70 degrees right above the water here. When the temperature is 95 degrees, and you have to put on Neoprene waders and walk to the water, you'll overheat and sweat before reaching the water. The breathable waders are lightweight and comfortable. We also use Bite wading shoes. The streams we fish besides below the Lewis-Smith Dam are warm-water streams that don't require waders. These shoes allow a person to wade the river without slipping and falling.

Riverside Outfitters and Fly Shop is located in Jasper, off Hwy 69 N, 4 miles below the Smith Lake dam. For more information, call John Eisenbarth at (256) 287-0050, go to www.1flyfish.com or e-mail him at JE@1flyfish.com.

TOMORROW: TYING FLIES WITH ELIZABETH EISENBARTH

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about FLY-FISHING WITH JOHN AND ELIZABETH EISENBARTH ...

Day 1 - Fishing For Trout At The Sipsey Fork
Day 2 - Eisenbarth's Favorite Flies
Day 3 - Eisenbarth's Clientele
Day 4 - Tying Flies with Elizabeth Eisenbarth
Day 5 - Fly-Fishing With Karen Jordan


John's Journal