Daylight Fishing a Way to Beat The Heat

 Tuesday’s heat wave reached 98 by mid-afternoon, and under those conditions, it's hard to do anything outside. To make matters worse, Tuesday's heat index was 105 to 107 degrees. I learned long ago that if you're going to fish in July, August, and even September, you need to be on the water at daylight. Very few people fish in the heat of the day, and if they do, they need to find shade to avoid overheating.

As I pulled into the Smith Lake Dam parking lot at 5:30 AM Tuesday, I noticed a couple of boats that had launched, and when I left the lake at 9 AM, I noticed four trucks, including mine. There is a big difference between spring fishing and now. The lake's pulldown and the heat will cause the fish to get lockjaw. So very few fishermen show up to fish this time of the year, and the ones that do fish at daylight. Very few fishermen fish the lake the way I do; in fact, I have never seen anyone other than me fly fishing or using micro-lights to fish live bait on Smith Lake. I've had a lot of success over the years landing fish with a fly rod and using micro-lights on Smith Lake—but during the heated months of August and July, even the fly rod can get skunked. Surface action is limited during this time of year because fish won't come to the surface to hit a popper when the surface water temperature is 90 degrees. The fish go deep and become somewhat inactive. So what do you do to catch fish in these conditions? Change tactics, bait, and tackle to go extremely light, and you will catch fish!

Enter the redworm, not the cricket, but an old-fashioned redworm, threaded through its middle a couple of times using a number 6 Eagle Claw hook and a 1/16 oz worm sinker with a bobber stopper. The sinker and bobber stopper are placed about 12” above the hook. When you cast, the sinker hits the water first, with the hook and worm pointing upward as the sinker sinks.  Don’t thread the worm onto the hook because when you do that, you kill the wiggling action of the worm. A huge bluegill and even a bass or catfish can't resist the movement of that worm.

Cathey landed these three bluegill before I got a hit. She has adjusted well to light-action fishing with light tackle. I may have mentioned this before, but she doesn't touch the fish or bait, so I have become your bait/fish guy. We usually even out the catch rate before our trips end. All of these fish were hitting the worms 15 to 20 feet deep off rock walls. 

Redworms attract catfish and bass too. This was the largest Largemouth bass that I have landed since 2024 and the largest catfish that Cathey has ever landed. The fight with both of these fish was astounding. In other words, it took skill and time to land both fish. I released both to fight another day.

All the fish Cathey and I landed this Tuesday morning were taken deep. All the bluegill were fat, with no sign of spawning. I am guessing these fish never spawn, but hang out in deep water near the rock walls, eating insect larvae. The cricket and redworm are excellent live baits to land these fish when they are deep and not willing to move much for a meal. I would choose the redworm over the cricket because the fish can see it is alive, whereas the cricket has no action at all but emits more scent than the redworm. Both have their advantages; my only fault with the worm is that it can be extremely messy at times. 

These three micro-light combos are the ones I use all the time when I am fishing live bait. Light tackle gives me the ultimate fight; it mimics a fly rod so well that I feel like I have a fly rod in hand while landing some of the big bluegill, bass, and catfish. My grandchildren like to fish these combos because landing an average fish is a challenge.

If you want to keep the skunk away on hot summer fishing trips, then give light tackle and give live bait a try!

Fishing the Late Season Spawn For Huge Bluegills

 Cathey and I spent Thursday morning on Smith Lake searching for some late-season bluegill still in the spawning mode. This may be the last spawn of the season. The lake is on the pull-down, getting ready for next Spring's rains, so we will be fishing falling water, which means the fish will be moving out of the nooks into deeper water. I hope I am wrong.

We started the morning in Rayon Creek, which, of course, is my favorite place to fish Smith Lake. This quality bull gill inhaled a size 6 Boggle Bug Popper near one of many floating docks on the lake. I am amazed at how these big bluegill have enough suction power to get this size popper wedged in their mouths so quickly. I thought I had hooked a spotted bass, because of the fight of this fish. My 5 wt. was tested during the fight. Sorry to say, this would be the only bluegill I would take on the fly rod this morning. The rest of the morning was consumed with Cathey and me landing bluegill in four spawning areas where there was one or two fish still on their beds. Towards the end of the spawning season, one is lucky to find more than a couple still guarding their beds. All the beds were still in water 5 to 6 ft. deep. As the lake is drawn down even more over the next couple of months, these beds will be exposed on the dry bottom. Once the spawn is over, they move to cover, which is the rock walls, where there is the insect larvae to keep them well fed until next year's spawning cycle starts all over again.

The cricket is the perfect insect to mimic the insect larvae found in the crevices of the rock walls on Smith Lake. The boat traffic is churning the water, keeping the larvae moving for the bluegill to feast on.

This size bluegill will produce two nice fillets. When you add french fries, coleslaw, and hush puppies, along with some tartar sauce and ketchup, you have a great meal. To me, the bluegill tops the crappie when you compare both of these fish for a meal.

The way I like to fish for this size bluegill is with a fly rod and small surface poppers in April through June. Then, from July through October, I use my micro light 7 1/2-ft rod, rigged with a slip sinker and 4-lb test vanish mono line. This time of year, they go 15 to 20 feet deep, and using a cricket with a nibblet in red or white color attached to the tip of the hook gets the hits. Letting the cricket sink to the desired depth, showing on the depth finder, and working it with a slow retrieve gets their attention. There is no mistaking when they hit. In fact, my Micro light is duplicating my 7 1/2-ft fly rod. A ton of fun for sure when you connect with one of these beauties down deep!

I can’t end this post without showing you this average male spotted bass I landed a few minutes after landing the big bluegill. Nothing really special about this fish but the FIGHT! I was using my 4 wt. fly rod trying to get another big gill to take my size 8 Bullet Boggle Bug popper when this bass exploded on the popper. The fight this fish put up on the 4 wt. was amazing, making me think I'd hooked a 2-lb spotted bass. He got me hung a couple of times before I finally released the fish. I was thinking I wish I had my 5wt. It was lying at my feet, but the 4wt. got the job done. This fight was amazing coupled with the numerous runs it made trying to free itself! This one fish today reminded me why I love this sport so much, especially pursuing them with the fly rod. 

 Guys I am sharing this video so you guys can see the fight this small male spotted bass gave my 4wt, 9ft Redington fly rod. What made me think he was a much bigger bass was the explosive hit. I was using a 7 1/2 ft. leader with a 6X tippet. Just goes to show you never underestimate the spotted bass. Sorry for the video being angled at times; my wife was learning how to film.

Fly Fishing For Bass Using Plastic Worms

 Dry flies, nymphs, wet flies, and terrestrials are all associated with fly fishing, but are plastic worms? What inspired me to try fishing with plastic worms on a fly rod was our family get-together a month ago at Greystone Lake, where Jason, our son, lives. I had everything ready for the grandchildren's two-day trip that day, including 7-ft ultra-light combos, small sling packs, and tackle boxes for each sling pack with various lures and plastic worms. The worms were the winner for the two days. A few bass were taken on crank baits, but the worms really shined!

I wish I had a dollar for every bass I have landed fishing a little 4” worm using my ultra-light combos fishing our two-acre pond and small lakes in Mississippi. There have been variations of fishing worms over the years, but still it's just a plastic worm. I have always fished a small plastic worm in the four- to six-inch size. My favorite was the four-inch size, sometimes using the curly-tail version or the straight-tail version. In other words, this is not a bait I just discovered during our family time trip recently, but it is a bait, not a fly, that I have fished for years and to my surpirse can be used with the fly rod effectively.

First off, the setup for rigging the bait to match the fly rod is very different from how you'd fish it with an ultra-light combo. My 5 wt. 9 ft. fly rod works best for me, because I want to feel the maximum fight of a 12” hybrid bass and larger. “The hybrid bass will be covered in a future post.” With my 5 wt, as opposed to my 6 wt, which could result in overkill for this size bass, gives me more of a challenge. I am using a sink-tip 7 1/2-ft leader, tipped with a Vanish 6-lb-test fluorocarbon tippet. The sink-tip leader helps me get the worm a little deeper,quicker, without using a split shot. The lighter you can keep the worm, the easier it is to use some false casting to achieve the distance you want. Instead of using my 5wt. fly line, on my 5wt. fly rod,  I switch to my 6wt. fly line, which propels the worms a greater distance without using as much false casting.

The slight bend in the worm causes it to rotate in the water as it is retrieved, triggering the hit. I learned years ago that fishing this worm rigged with the bend will twist your line, so I added a small swivel, which eliminated the twist. The size 22 ballbearing swivels are perfect for the 6 lb fly rod tippet. Another advantage of the swivels is not having to spend time tying knots when changing worms, or any fly related to woolly buggers. I also use the size 10 Durolock snap swivel when fishing streamers and poppers larger than size 6. This tiny snap swivel has no effect on the popper's action. Both the snap and ball-bearing swivels have a 20-lb test weight. The hook that works best for me when fishing the worm is the Gamakatsu light-wire hook in size 2. This is one of the sharpest hooks I have ever used to fish worms. There is no mistaking the hit; sometimes it is a soft grab, and other times it is a hard take. As soon as you see the line tighten, raise the rod, and the fish will hook itself, especially if you are using a super sharp hook.

As I get older, I am always looking for simpler and easier ways to fish, and the Swivel and Durolock are my diamonds in the rough.

What's With The Backpacks?

 

I watch a lot of fly fishing videos on the net, and almost all the fly fishermen fish using backpack straps on their backs. I haven't asked any of the guys what's in the backpacks. I will ask that question next time I am finished watching one of their videos. They never show you what they're carrying in the packs, so I am going to speculate what is stashed in them. First off, I would assume a change of clothes for that unexpected slip, resulting in getting soaking wet. Everyone has to eat while fishing your favorite stream, so a snack, a large lunch, and an afternoon snack would be great. If they cook the lunch, then a small burner cooktop would be needed. An array of fly boxes, consisting of dries, nymphs, steamers, terrestrials, wet flies, and eggs, would be needed. If you are fliming the trip, your camera, batteries, chargers, tri-pods, and other accessories that you would need to film the entire trip. The net is strapped to the backpack from the top, with an arm strap and a holster for an extra fly rod in the tube. The reel is already in the pack. Now I may have gone to the extreme here, but I would guess all the items I have mentioned could be stored in one of these packs. Some are quite large, and I notice most of the fisherman never remove them from their back while fishing. A snack or lunch break would be a good time to remove the pack and use it as a pillow for a short nap after lunch. When I find out what all these guys are carrying in their packs, I will share. In the meantime, I will continue to fish the tailrace and even the lake with my lanyard chest pack and a few snacks. Now that is fishing light for an older fly fisherman!!

Family Time 2026

Cathey and I spent this past week in Greystone Farms, fishing, hiking, and enjoying time with our daughter Jenny and our son Jason at his house. We wish Jenny's husband, B.T. could have joined us but his work schedule wouldn't permit him to come. We had a three‑day get‑together and Jenny and the kids ended up landing more fish than they had ever caught on the lake, using fly rods and spinning gear. The lake was high and the water a little off‑color from all the rain, but it didn’t slow down the bass or bluegill bite. What made the trip even better was the time together — sharing meals, laughter on the back porch, and catching up on everything the grandkids have been doing since we were all together last year. Their lives are changing so fast. Even little Hallie, the youngest, will be four in August, and it seems like yesterday she was just a baby. Moments like these remind us how quickly time slips by, and how grateful we are to spend it with family who matters the most.

All the fish were landed using ultra light combos and micro lights combos, which matched the fish the kids were landing. At times they just knew they had a fish on bigger than what they actully caught, which added to the fun of fishing for this size bass and bluegill. It was a shame the spawn was over for this cycle but still the gills could be caught in deeper water using the crystal buggers. All the bass were landed using a 4" mister twister worm. 

When Does a Pond Become a Lake

 When does a pond become a small lake? If you had asked me that question when I was a young boy fishing with my younger brother on our two-acre pond, I would have told you it was a lake. According to Google, a typical body of water is considered a lake at 10 acres or more. So, the 15-acre lake in Greystone Farms, where my son’s house is located, is indeed a lake.

The lake sits in a deep ravine surrounded by a couple of subdivisions to the west and east. It is spring-fed, which helps the water level remain fairly consistent throughout the year. No boats or swimming are allowed on the lake, and the only individuals permitted to fish there are the residents who live in the neighborhood. It is an excellent bank-fishing lake for spinning gear, casting reels, live bait fishermen, and, of course, fly rods.

I can count on one hand the number of fly fishermen who fish there regularly. My son and I, a couple of other guys, and one lady who is probably better than all of us—and that is saying a lot. Of course, she has been fishing the lake for years.

Fishing this lake brings back many memories of when my younger brother and I would walk the banks of our little pond using cane poles rigged with long lines the same length as the pole, usually 8 or 9 feet long. We would cast a hook rigged with a grasshopper or redworm close to the edge, fishing for anything cruising the banks looking for an easy meal. Sometimes we would wade the shallow water just to make a longer cast. Bluegill and small bass were usually the catch of the day, with an occasional shellcracker mixed in. Those memories make me wish I could go back and relive those days again, when time seemed to pass more slowly.

There is something special about fishing a small lake like Greystone Frams with a light fly rod. You don’t need a boat, expensive electronics, or heavy tackle to enjoy this 15-acre lake. My son’s house is less than a minute from the shoreline, and there are no time restrictions. Whether it is a quick 20-minute trip or an hour-long outing, the lake provides a relaxing escape and a chance to relieve the stress of the day. In fact, some of the best bass and bluegill action happens right from the bank late or early using simple flies and lightweight rods.

Using 2-, 3-, or 4-weight fly rods turns even modest fish into memorable battles. A hand-sized bluegill feels like a trophy, and a one-pound bass on a light rod can test both your nerves and your drag system. Small lakes are ideal places to slow down and experiment with flies that may have sat in your fly box for years but, for some reason, were never used.

This lake is heavily fished with traditional tackle and, as mentioned earlier, by a few fly fishermen as well. Since no boats are allowed, all the pressure comes from the bank, making the fish extremely spooky. Late afternoons and early mornings are the times I prefer to fish. I still use many of the same techniques I learned while fishing our pond years ago. Casting parallel to the banks is often far more productive than making long casts into the deeper parts of the lake. Fish cruise the shoreline early and late in the day, feeding on anything close to the bank. I use only small flies and tiny buggers instead of large patterns.

I have found my third home waters fishing the lake at Greystone Farms. I am close to the water, close to the fish, and every strike feels personal like the species that I have landed there using my 2/3 fly rods.

A Mix!!

 Reporting in on Saturday's Walker Lake trip and Tuesday's Smith Lake trip, fishing with my son Jason, both days were filled with wind and more wind. I thought March was supposed to be our windy month, but somehow March and April got reversed when you factor in the wind fishing at Walker and Smith Lake. Water temperatures on both lakes are well below 70 degrees but rising, making it ideal to fish surface poppers at daylight, which is the best time to land numbers of quality fish. 5:30 to 9:00 AM is the prime time, giving Jason and me roughly 3 hours to hit the active sweet spots in that time slot. You can continue to fish after 9, but you really have work for the hits. So we packed it in around 9 oclock. When Jason is home, he always wants to work in as many trips as he can fishing Smith Lake. 

Guys, catfish on a 7 1/2 ft. 2 wt is a fight--fishing with a size 12 pheasant tail nymph--now I know the pheasant tail will catch anytbing!

Nice size bull taken on the Doozy, size 12 which I tied back in the winter. I landed two more this size using what was left of the fly, as it came apart, because of poor fly tying. I hope to improve with my fly tying in the winter months. Rest assure I will tie more of the Doozy!

My largest largemouth, to date taken on Walker this trip using a size eight betts popper. Wal Mart carries this brand popper. They are average poppers, which will last mid way through the bluegill spawn. They don't deserve a rating of a 10, but a 7 is more in their range, but they will get hits!!

Jason landed numerous spotted bass in the 12 to 15 inch mark Wedneday fishing the, Boogle Bug size 6 olive, which is his favorite color to fish at daylight. Unbelievable fight using his Hardy Streamflex 9ft. 5 wt. 

I'm not saying this becasue he is my son but I haven't seen anyone that can master his skill-set at false casting and delivering an oversize 6 Boogle Bug so light that it resembles a small bug touching the water. With him, the presentation is what get the takes. Two fun days on the water for sure!

Forgot to mention the Shellcracker was landed by me along with a few smaller bass using my 3 wt. I was testing nook areas for the bluegill, which was not active on this day.

Meal Time!!

 Spring is my favorite time of year to fly fish. The fish are far more active, the early spawn is getting closer, and they’re in a protective frenzy around their beds. During this time of year, they’ll strike almost anything that comes near their beds. You can expect a vigorous fight from both bluegill and bass. After feeding heavily through late fall and winter, these fish are in top shape and ready to put a serious bend in any fly rod.

Today my 2/3‑weight fly rods got quite a workout as I fished Walker County Lake. I landed numerous small bluegill along with some quality bull gills. None of these fish were spawning yet, but they were holding about ten feet off the banks. It was the same script as last year — steady action with hits spaced about ten to 15 minutes apart. In other words, patience was the key to putting together a good catch today.

Tiny poppers and small buggers were the bluegills’ choice of fake food this morning. My season always starts at Walker County Lake and finishes up on Smith Lake in the fall.  Today was the start of my twenty first season fishing this great lake. I never tire fishing its waters

Little Fish Keep You Focused

As stated in the title of this post, little fish can be a motivating factor to keep casting even on slow fishing days. That was the case yesterday, when I made my first trip of the year to Walker Lake. Water temp was a cool 60 degrees and no wind and overcast skies, which is near perfect conditions for fly fishing: but it was not to be. I am glad I was fishing with 7 1/2 ft. 2 wt. becasue even these little guys seem big on the 2wt. I landed bunches of these little gills during my 3 hour trip, which was fun and great practice to land the big bulls I will encourter in the next 3 weeks. 

The Caddis fly that I had tied a few weeks back was the main fly the little gills would inhaled, which please me becasue now I know some of the flies I have tied have value. The water was super clear and the least movemnet of the boat would spook the fish, so I changed my tippet size to an 6X --2lb test to get a lighter presentation of the caddis. This was my first time to use a tippet this light: I was impressed 

After tying the flies last week I decided to apply some Stay Dry floatant on the few I was going to fish with. I was amazed at thow well it worked. I was able to fish the last couple of hours without appling anymore. The has to be the best floatant I have ever used! 

It was Spring Break this week for our grandchildren and Cathey and I were glad we got to spend the weekend with our Daughter and her two girls. Our two grandsons were on deep sea fishing trip with their Dad and Grandpaw. Our youngest grandchild, Little Hallie got to land her first fish, using redworms, she was really excited!!