The Contour Roam2 Camera Added to my Fly Fishing

As stated in my last post I like to find and watch good fly fishing videos on the net. I recently found some great fresh water videos dealing with warm water and cold water fly fishing filmed by Carter Nelson who lives in South Carolina. He has mastered the art of filming his fishing trips using a headmount camera. After getting some filming pointers from Carter last week, I decided I would do some research on video cameras and found one I was really impressed with on Amazon.

 The Contour Roam2 on Amazon was reduced half price at 98.90 with free shipping. The main thing that impressed me about this camera was the compact size and lightness. It attaches to your cap or hat and wherever you point your head it films. Carter said the only draw back to using a headmount camera is remembering to move your head slow as you work an area.

I have thought about filming some of my trips for years, but assumed it was just too much trouble. Using this camera is a breeze, meaning some of my first trips this season will probably have some video to share with you guys.  
  
 

Scouting the Scenic Small Streams along the Natchez Trace Parkway

My brother and I recently spent a rewarding Saturday scouting some of the scenic small streams that are found along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi. We decided to zero in on a few streams that flow along the Choctaw County stretch of the Trace. These streams years ago were a source of food for all those who lived near them. Today those who drive over the many bridges that cross all these streams seldom pay any attention to their beauty and what species of fish they whole. My brothers and I use to fish all these streams as boys when we lived in the area; now the streams are void of any fishing; how times have changed.
We wanted to spend the day to see which streams would be fishable in the summer when all the streams are flowing at their normal level. As you view the images below you will notice that the streams were somewhat stained and showed signs of some high water. Even with an elevation in water level, we could see some excellent pocket water and drop-offs that will be perfect to fish with the fly rod come summer.

Big Sand the name of this stream was one we selected to fish come summer because of its easy access from its banks. We found some nice pocket holes along its banks.

Little Bywy creek is one of our favorites and one we fished as boys; notice the inside cut bank, which is where Redeye Bass hang out in the summer months. A dry fly floated along the edge of the bank would get a reaction.

Jenkins Creek pictured here is probably the easier stream to access. There were some fast runs as well as drop-offs into deep pools in this creek, which would whole redeye bass, as well as Sun Perch. Casting upstream and letting a dry or nymph float through the deep runs would be deadly.

Little Bywy just on the Trace Parkway looks so good I just had to give it a cast or two. I know the bass and sun perch were there, but on this day blue skies and cold temps kept them at bay. 

Middle Bywy could be a bit more difficult to fish compared to the other streams because of its high banks. One would need to wade this stream in places to have success. The ideal tackle here would be the Little Jewel 10 ft. rod rigged with a nymph or dry. Catfish are abundant in all these streams and a red worm tipped on a size six hook will yield some nice channel catfish using the Little Jewel. As boys, we always used a cane pole and red worms. Our cane pole will be replaced come summer with the Little Jewel and our 7 ½ ft. fly rods. I guess you could say we have moved up in the world of fishing.

Fluctuating Water Levels Produce Tough Fishing Conditions

My son Jason and I left at daylight this morning to fish Ryan Creek on beautiful Smith Lake. This is the first time I have been back on the lake since the last of June when I developed a leak in my boat. The leak isn’t repaired but the boat is fishable. We were battling fluctuating water levels on the lake due to the annual draw down this time of the year. When the generators are running the fish go super deep and develop lock jaw. That was the case today, but I really didn’t mind, because it gave me and Jason a chance to spend some fishing time together.

A really outstanding point in the spring, but really tough this time of year when the water is falling---we worked it with the Boogle Bugs with no takes

11” Spot after the sun came up on the black Boogle, Jason did get the bend in the 5 wt. even with this small spot, I really admire these fish

Numerous lots are being cleared to make way for more floating docks. This area where this dock will be placed will cover one of my honey holes.

Jason landed this bluegill right before we left the lake for home; yes I did dress this fish, because I expect another trip in a few days that will add to this meal. Dad came up short today!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing With Jason Near the Dam on Smith Lake

I seldom get to fish with my son and today was one of those special days we got to hang out together on Smith, which is his favorite lake to fish when he is home. We were hoping to get in some trout fishing as well while he was here but the recent rains have caused the lake to fill above full pool which means non-stop generation below the dam. We were 30 minutes late today, but manage to have a great trip for the 2 ½ hours we were on the water. The wind ended the trip around 9 AM.

First fish of the morning on the Super Nymph which David at Trout Zone tied up for me the other day; this pattern has been good for me over the past couple of years, landing spots and bluegill on Smith. It is also a productive fly for the trout on the tailrace.

Jason with his first spot of the morning using the Damsel Blue Boogle Bug; no-fly movement at all produced this spot over a submerged tree.  This morning all the hits came with the popper setting still with no movement at all.

Another quality spot using the Damsel Blue Boogle; all the spots today were in the slot, and all were released to fight another day. We never got out of sight of the launch during the 2 ½ hours we fished.  Landing these fish with the fly rod is one awesome experience, especially when you are fishing with your son. We hope to make one more trip before he returns to Sacramento on Saturday. 

Thought I would share a post by Rick at White Tail Woods about President Jimmy Carter.

Surface Action in 57 Degree Water With What Else "BOOGLE BUGS POPPERS"

My first trip to Smith Lake today to fish for the spots proved to be surprising for top action using the Boggle Bugs Popper. My buddy Charles and I were a little late getting on the water and missed most of the surface action, but we did manage to find out that the spots will take a popper in 57 degree water. The lake was 3 ½ ft. above full pool and super clear.

 

Fat 13” spot and one that really put up a fight on the 6 wt. That is what I love about this fish, it will give you all it’s got on any weight fly rod you may be using.

The first spot of the morning, which gave Charles a fight on his 5 weight; both fish were released because they fell into the slot limited the lake enforces.

Even the bull bluegills couldn’t resist the Boogle Bugs on top in this cold water this morning. This guys is worthy of the quest, because he gave my 6 weight a respectable bend. I am now 49 away from the quest. The full moon will be on the 27^th. this month and that is when the bluegill action will really heat up on this lake, I am counting the days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update on Tiger Bass/Coppernose Bluegill Stocking 14 Months Ago

I did a post back in February 2012 concerning the Tiger Bass. I was reporting on the stocking of a 30 acre lake near our home. I had the opportunity to see the stocking of the bluegill and the red fin shad which was around 2” in length at that time and in late August of that same year I was present when the Game and Fish Department out of Montgomery stock the 3” Tiger Bass. I was invited to fish the lake back in October of this year just to check the grow rate of the copper nose and regular bluegill that were stocked back in February of 2012. When we arrived that day we notice all the automatic feeders were on and spraying tiny pellets of feed across the water surface. The Coppernose and regular bluegill were in a feeding frenzy going after the pellets. All the feeders on the lake are timed to engage at the same time so we witnessed quite a spectacle. The feeding program and of course the removing of certain pounds of bluegill and bass after the first three years is the key to having a fantastic fishery here. I landed numerous bluegills that day in the 6 to 7 oz size using a small brown colored nymph resembling the pellet. I am sorry I didn’t have images for that trip because I forgot the camera. The Coppernose was a little larger than the regular bluegill. Both species should be quite the fighter on the fly come summer. I am very fortunate to be able to fish this place in the coming years. The fly rod will be my main weapon here when spring rolls around.

 

I landed this healthy 14” Tiger Bass in November this past year. I couldn’t believe the size of this fish considering its only 14 months old. It was released as a small 3” fingering; the shad in the lake is what increases the growth rate along with the genetics that the Tiger Bass possesses. I wasn’t using the fly rod that day because of depth, all the fish were concentrated in the deepest part of the lake feeding on the shad. This bass was taken on a white shad grub fishing about 20 ft. deep. I stayed for about an hour and landed fish consistently throughout the hour. I didn’t fish at all for bluegill on this trip because I wanted to see how fast the bass had grown since stocking. You can bet I will be back in the spring to tap into the bluegill population.



 

Using the Boggle Bug Popper for Some Fall Fly Fishing

My fishing buddy Charles and I made a fall fishing trip Tuesday to Smith Lake for some Boggle Bug top water action. The weather was excellent with no humidity at all and the water temperature was a cool 78. Both of us love fly fishing and it made for a great morning outing. We pretty much had the lake to ourselves and the smooth water surface was excellent to work the Boggle popper.

I scored early with the yellow popper fishing it with a slight jerk motion. I missed two fish before this spot finally inhaled the popper in water 30 ft. deep. The water this time of the year on Smith is crystal clear so the bass had no trouble seeing the yellow color. This bass put forth a solid test for the 5 wt. 9 ft. Redington. After numerous runs in depths of 50 ft. or more I finally got to touch this beauty.

After a lengthy fight, I finally landed this 2 lb. spot in what was an awesome start for the morning. For sheer power and fight the Spotted Bass has to be considered in the league with the smallmouth and a large brown trout.

I could have landed this bass in a matter of seconds using a 7 ft. fast action rod and baitcasting reel; but I would have missed the challenge of landing a superior fish verses a 5 wt. fly rod. I feel it takes a great amount of skill and finance to land any fish 2 lbs. and over using a 5 wt. fly rod and below. It seems in the fishing environment of today individuals are obsessed with landing a big fish and getting it to hand in a matter of seconds. I have to admit when I was younger and doing the bass fishing tournaments I was that guy. One doesn’t have to land a huge fish to experience the thrill of fishing, especially if you are using the fly rod. I can get just as excited landing an 8 inch rainbow with my 3 wt. as I can landing this spot today with my 5 wt. I realize now years later what I have been missing back in the day, when I gave up the fly rod at an early age. I hope to spend the rest of my fishing days enjoying landing many more fish using my fly rods.                                   

                                                                     

After the top action slowed I changed fly rods and starting casting my trusted Black Gant using my 4 wt. There was a slight breeze which hampered the top action so the Gnat proved effective just under the surface connecting with this nice bull bluegill. I would have counted this beauty but my quest is over for this year.

As the sun got higher overhead the fish move deeper, so I tie on an olive beadhead nymph which produced this nice gill.

Charles and I landed numerous bluegills using this pattern. I am no fly tier, but it looks fairly simply to tie. It proved to be a winner when all else failed. Working it slowly and letting it drop with a slow retrieve made for some savage hits. I haven’t tried this fly for trout but you can bet they will see it on my next trip to the tailrace.

One can really see lots of drift wood and structure this time of year on the lake. I have carried numerous drift wood pieces and stumps home this time of year along with a few bluegills for some great table fare. I am so lucky to have this body of water to fish, as all of would say about your home waters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Spotted Bass a Worthy Opponent on Any Tackle

I thought I would use today’s post to give you guys some information about the hard fighting Spotted Bass. To me, this fish is on the same level as the smallmouth when it comes to an aggressive fighter. Probably the major difference in the two is the aerobic action the smallmouth has over the spot. I seldom land a spot that goes airborne. This is not to say they want to go airborne, but most of the time they go deep with some awesome strong runs.

I thought I knew this fish fairly well until I read the following article.

 

The Spotted Bass

The Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus) is also called Alabama Spotted Bass, Black Bass, Kentucky Bass, Kentucky Spotted Bass, Linside, Northern Spotted Bass and Redeye. It has been known as the Kentucky bass for many years, which was further reinforced in 1956 when Kentucky's General Assembly as they passed a senate resolution establishing the spotted bass as Kentucky's official game fish.

The Spotted Bass is often mistaken for the largemouth bass, though it does not grow nearly as big. It is a lesser known member of the black bass group, but this is a spunky and distinguished looking species that most anglers enjoy catching. While they jump less often as the smallmouth bass, they fight just as well.

Maturity

The Spotted Bass reaches maturity by the end of year one, but will not spawn until year four. The spotted bass can be caught with all traditional baits and lures that work with largemouth bass, though the size of the lures and hooks should be smaller as the record Kentucky bass is no more than about seven pounds. Also smaller hooks will cause less damage, which is key for catch and release in reducing the mortality rate. However, if the fish is going to be lunch, this is likely not a big concern.

The spotted bass is broken down into three subspecies and named the northern spotted bass, the Alabama spotted bass and the Wichita spotted bass. For more details on the differences between these sub species, see our description section above on the right.

Feeding Habits

Juvenile Spotted Bass adults prefer crayfish, midgee larvae while the fry feed on insects and insect larvae The adult spotted bass feed on the same food that other bass eat including worms, leeches, crayfish, fathead minnows, gizzard shad and golden shiners.

As mentioned above, use the same tackle used for catching largemouth bass, just be sure to right-size your lures for the smaller size. We recommend using smaller lures and stepping them up if required.

Spawning

Like all freshwater fish, the Spotted Bass spawn in spring when the water temperature reaches 63°F/19°C. This can happen as early as February in the southern United States. The male clears a gravel bed where the female spotted bass comes to lay its eggs. Once she lays her eggs, she is chased off by the male who looks after the nest and then looks after the fry for a few weeks after they hatch.

Fishing Methods

The spotted bass can be caught with casting, trolling and fly fishing methods. Fly fishing is recommended for more experienced anger and requires a different set of tackle. For beginners, keep in mind that even a basic set of tackle including wadding gear will cost at the minimum $300.

I landed these four keepers today to add to my quest, I am now 65 away

 Betts Popper

 Olive Boogle Bug

The Seal Leech

Another fell prey to the Leech--all four taken on Smith Lake

My Favorite House on Smith Lake--- and Fishing With Jason

I made an outing today with my son Jason. He had a day off so we decided to fish the lower end of Ryan Creek on Smith Lake. We were at the lake at daylight which is the best time to land quality fish using the poppers. The morning started off with a bang when Jason landed a nice 18” spot using an olive Wooly Bugger. The fish gave the 9 ft. 4wt. all it could handle by stripping drag numbers of times before he finally landed the fish. Jason is really into landing nice quality Spotted Bass. Nothing was happening on top, and the morning was slow especially after the sun came up. I will be making another trip tomorrow in hopes of adding to my bluegill goal---stay tuned.

Not big but quite a fight on the 4 wt he hit the size 6 crawfish

Jason with his 18" spot--they never quite fighting

This was a male spot caught in one of the many treetops on Ryan Creek

The Rhododendron is in full bloom all over the lake

One of three Bull Bluegills I landed using the size 6 crawfish--really surprised the bluegill's hit this pattern--but these big boys must have been hungry---I am now 53 away from my goal!!

There are a lot of big homes on Smith Lake, if I was offered any home on Smith this would have to be my favorite. The lumber in this house was transported by train from the countryside in New York. All the rafters, floor joists, exposed beams inside the house, and parts of the interior walls were removed from a barn in the countryside area. The sunroom in this house is setting out over the water; steel beams that are anchored in the rock wall support the sunroom itself. The garage is off to the right. The house is actually called the barn. I saw the owner one day on his pier and told me the story behind the house. 

Another view of this outstanding home on Smith Lake

Fishing Ryan Creek With B.T.

I have found that fishing after a cold front is not the most productive time to fish. That was the case yesterday when my son-in-law B.T. and I ventured out on the waters of Ryan Creek. The temperature was close to 38 on Wednesday night and cool all day Thursday and into Friday. I was hoping for topwater action so B.T. could land a nice size Spotted Bass. All that hit the Rapala were 12 to 13-inch size. The Rapala is an excellent topwater lure to entice some big fish hits but not on Saturday. I was using my 5 wt. with a size 6 Boogle Bug but no hits came. I did manage 6 bluegills 4 of which I will count on my goal of 100 during the spawning period. Those fish all hit after the water reached 68. There was very limited activity on Ryan Creek, so I guess everyone else knew the results before they launched. It was a good outing anytime I can get to fish with B.T. even if it was a slow day.

B. T with one of the 7 or 8 Spotted Bass he landed --we called it quits around noon --slow bite most of the morning--I am still hoping for a super day soon with B.T. so he can finally land his big spot.

One of the four I counted towards my goal--I am now 42 away from my goal. Sorry for the blur this image was taken with iPhone 

Little Fatty size 8 makes another hit

Back on Smith Lake for Some Boogle Bug Action

Guys sorry I am a little behind on posting, but I have been on the water for the past couple of days. Thursday was a wash out for my son and me at Walker County Lake. I forgot when I scheduled our trip for Monday that it is Spring Holidays here in the state and the lake was covered up. When you have 20 plus boats on a 160 acre lake and all the bank fishermen to boot, then you have too many fishermen per area. My son manage to land four small bluegills and a small bass and that was the extent of the trip. Dad didn’t even score. We left after a couple of hours.

Now for today’s trip on Smith; the Boogle Bugs as usual were the choice for the 9 ft. 5 wt Redington. One of my fishing buddies went with me today and we landed some nice Spots and one nice largemouth. The bass were hitting light in water temps around 68. The number 6 Boogle Bugs are the best weapon right now to get the attention of the slow hitters. It was a great morning for both of using the fly rods.

Nice Spot on the Olive Boogle Bug--these fish are awesome on the fly rod--they just don't know when to quite fighting. We ended the morning with 10 Spots and 1 Largemouth.

Charles with the best Spot he ever landed with the fly rod. It is really enjoyable to fish with someone who loves to fish with the same equipment as you---meanng the fly rod.

I am back on the lake again Thursday with more top water action coming your way

The Tiger Bass a Beast on Steroids

I am kind of behind on my blogging lately. This past week I have been helping one my fishing buddies stock a new lake that has been built about 15 miles from my home. When I say new lake this is probably more of a large pond. It is about 30 areas with depths of 30 to 40 feet in the deepest area. There is plenty of cover throughout the lake and the Alabama Game and Fish has been extremely helpful in letting the owner know the correct number of species of fish to get the lake fish friendly. I thought 50,000 bluegill was a bit much when it came to perch in the lake but the Game and Fish said that one can never have enough feed fish in a lake when you are dealing with predator fish such as the largemouth bass. The particular bass I am referring to here is the Tiger Bass which grows at a tremendous rate and has a very aggressive attitude. This fish can gain as much as 2 lbs per year in a well managed lake. I have talked to individuals who have fished for and landed the Tiger Bass and they compare it to a smallmouth on steroids. Think about the fight on a 6 or 7 wt. fly rod. I am glad that I will have access to this hot lake in about two years. Who knows guys I may do a post in future years that could have a trophy Tiger Bass image attached.