This past Friday was another steller day fishing Smith Lake for bluegill and spotted bass. I was alternating between my 3, 4, and 5 weight fly rods. All the fly rods I use to fish the lake are nine feet medium to light action. I like to use 4X, 5X, and 6X weight leaders in 9 ft. and 7 1/2 ft. lengths. I always snip at least 24 to 30 inches of the tippet section off and add a micro swivel to the remaining leader. This tiny little swivel is a must when fishing surface flies and poppers. The swivel gives me the advantage of adding tippet to a leader that lasts me a couple of seasons. The swivel also keeps my tippet line from twisting, when casting different size popper. As soon as the tippet section reduces to 8 to 10 inches from changing poppers I tie on a new tippet line. By following this procedure I'm always fishing with a new tippet line. You may be thinking I am spending a bunch on tippet material; not so when I can buy 100-yard spools of Berkley Fluorocarbon Vanish 4lb. 6lb and 2lb. test line that will last me years. What impresses me about this line is its low memory and being super clear. The spooled Vanish line and the Micro Swivel are money savors for the fly fishermen on a budget and retired!
The orange Bea Popper is still the favorite of the bluegill and bass! I use the size 10 for bluegill and the size 8 for the bass. The next 5 to 6 weeks is prime topwater action on the lake using surface poppers. Hopefully, I can make a trip happen soon on the tailrace.
Bill your set up sounds like it fits your fishing situations just right. I like the fact that you buy bulk in tippet material. Being frugal at any age is important but especially when your income is fixed. I use Orvis Mirage, I really don't use a great deal of it for the simple reason I don't change flies often.
ReplyDeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteI found out a couple of years ago one doesn't have to spend a ton of money on leaders and tippet line when regular mono line will work just as well. The set-up I described in the post will last me the rest of my fishing days. Thanks for the comment
I often use the exact same setup, although a bit heavier in the tippet section (and sometimes a bite tippet). There are no fly shops near me so much of my material is mail-order, but the local sports/bait shops carry Berkley Flouro and all sorts of mono. I do use some long 6x and 7x for trout, but most of my leaders are homemade. 100 yds. of tippet? Yeah, that should last awhile! Good fishing!
ReplyDeleteHey Bill. My secret for catching trout. Fluorocarbon leader.
ReplyDeleteBill, I enjoyed reading your tips on tippets & lake fishing, as well as your previous post-- a thoughtful account on keepsakes from the heart of family traditions. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteMark
ReplyDeleteVanish Fluorocarbon is my choice of line to fish in the clear water on Smith Lake. In fact II can't see it being visible at all in the clear water. Thanks for the comment
Air
ReplyDeleteGlad to know someone else beside me has found a way to save on some of the accessory items in fly fishing. Thanks for the comment
Walt
ReplyDeleteA fly fishing buddy of mine got me to try the swivel. I changed all my leaders from the tippet ring connection to the swivel; that's how impressed I was with it. The only time I use the tippet ring now is for adding another fly above my point fly when fishing for trout. Thanks for the comment
Lucky you. Our bass season is quickly coming to an end. We will be in the 40's in two weeks. I use a tippet ring to add on the last two to three feet It's worked for me just fine. I don't have to replace too much line, even when it gets snagged under a rock. Good to see you catching those fish!!
ReplyDeleteEmily
ReplyDeleteI wish we had cooler temps here instead of all this rain. I've got a few more weeks of fishing on the lake before the top action stops. I couldn't do without my tippet ring. Thanks for the comment
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog spot thru Alan's list on Small Stream Reflections! Your site is fantastic! I found your thread about using a small swivel and Vanish brand flourocarbon as tippet especially fascinating and extremely useful! I can pick up the flourocarbon easily at different stores but, what about the micro-swivels? Please gimme a name of the place you buy them! This system should fit my style of fly rodding quite well as well as my budget! What a tremendous idea! I can't wait to try it out soon!
Wow! What a great site you have! I will be prowling around it's pages in the near future and following it nearly daily!
Doug Duvall aka Dougsden
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog spot on Alan P.'s site. This is fantastic Bill! I read your thread about using a micro swivel and some flurocarbon line as tippet! This sounds like a terrific idea and right within my budget! Great idea!
I also liked the latest thread about fishing for bluegill and spots (spotted bass) using poppers and such! Again, right up my alley! I will keep watching your blog for more interesting stuff!
Doug Duvall aka Dougsden
ReplyDeleteHi Dougsden
I should have put the link for the swivels on the post, but just forgot----here is the link for the swivels which I ordered from Ebay----I got the size 14 which is the smallest you can get. I think you will be impressed with the results this little swivel will make in keeping your leaders from twisting. Thanks for the kind words concerning my blog and I hope you continue to check out all the posts. Thanks for the comment
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=micro+swivels&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=micro+swivels+&_osacat=0