The New Proposals For The Tailrace Below Smith Dam

I was at the Riverside Fly Shop the other day below Smith Lake dam. I was talking to Brandon who is the owner of the Riverside Fly shop about the restoration of the tailrace, and what all is involved in the upcoming project. I really feel good about the changes that will take place with the tailrace especially the numerous access points along the 4-mile stretch from the waterworks building to the fly shop. Another great feature will be the wing dams along the 4-mile stretch. They will help create low current and breaks when a generator is running. These are just a few of the proposals that Brandon told me about the other day. The work is proposed to start the first of this year and will continue throughout the year. Brandon and the local Sipsey Trout Unlimited Club has put a lot of time and effort to get this project going and when it is finished it should be a great trout habitat for Alabama and the surrounding states. If you happen to be in the tailrace area, go by and visit the fly shop, Brandon has all the latest fly fishing gear, not to mention the top of the line Temple Fork Rods. He also does guide fishing trips as well as fly tying classes and rod building.

Tinkering With The Furled Leader

I have starting tinkering with the idea of making my own leaders. I have scan the net and found that the Furled Leader is one that I might try to make myself. There can be a lot of work in creating a nice leader that should last all season, so I am following the instructions in this video, I found on the net. Take a look and see what your opinion is.

Considering Fly LInes, Tippets and Leaders

Fly fishing can be just as technical as bass fishing with one exception the computerized equipment. To be successful at fly fishing you need to know something about the equipment and all the accessories that is a part of fly fishing. I still get confused sometimes trying to match the tippet size, with the leader, the fly size, and the hook size verses the leader or the tippet size, not to mention the rod type to compliment the fly reel. So with that said I thought I would share with everyone a link I found on the Orvis website. There is some really good information on line, leaders, and tippets on the site. One can never learn enough about fly fishing. I find I learn something every time I get out on the water.

Float Trip on The Caney Fork With Steve Gardner

Tuesday I was able to go on a float trip with one of the guides from the Cumberland River. We started our trip at the Happy Hollow launch and ended the day at Betty's Island. The only negative aspect of the trip was the heat; at times the temps were reaching 98. We had only one way of combating the heat and that was to get in the cool waters of the Caney, which was reading in the mid 50's. Steve Gardner our guide was using his drift boat, which made for a relaxing float down the scenic Caney. We were using the trout magnet with spinning gear to start the float when Steve landed a nice 18" brown using the 1/64 oz. jig early on. With the Caney fishing quite well at times we manage to land around 15 browns and rainbows. We ended the trip using zebra midges under an indicator and picked up some of the better stockers, which was running between 10" to 12”. This was my first float trip in a drift boat and proved to be a relaxing and memorable trip. The dry fly action was non existence, no rises to speak of and the nymph action at times was good but you had to be at the right seam or pocket at the right time to have any action. Steve is a very capable guide and is guiding now on the Caney as well as the Cumberland. If you are interested in booking a trip with Steve you can contact him at his Email. I hope to be back on the Caney in a couple of weeks wading in some of my favorite spots. 

Steve Garnder sent me some images of some of his recent trips on the Caney Fork. I made a trip with him last week on the Caney and had a great time floating in areas of the river I had never seen. One thing about fishing the Caney you should know is there are areas of the river that just don't hold as many fish as some of the bends and cut banks do. Steve's Dad is shown below with a nice brown he caught with Steve in his drift boat. Steve took his Granddaughter out on a trip and she landed a nice brown. Nothing like grand kids!!

Steve's Dad with a nice brown

Steve with his Granddaughter--getting her started at trout fishing

Steve with a nice brown using the trout magnet

Rainbow on the midge

The comfort of the drift boat--notice the crystal clear waters of the Caney

Another Great Day on The Caney Fork

I fished the Caney Fork yesterday and had a decent day. I started out at the dam where the water was a cool 50 degree with the morning mist coming off the surface. It was a relief to get in the water after suiting up on the hot pavement near the ramp. The humidity in Tennessee this time of the year is high and going to get worst as the summer progresses. I was using my 3 wt Temple Fork which made for a great fight with the rainbow I landed. I managed to land 5 before lunch. They were not the trophy size I was hoping to connect with but they were a lot of fun on the 3 wt. The Zebra Midge was the fly of the day dropped off of a size 14 Adams. Only one hit came on the Adams. I have found over the span of fishing the Caney you meet some of the nicest fly fishermen and ladies. I met a guy yesterday who was leaving just as I was walking back to my truck. He had caught some of his trout using a 1/64 oz. trout magnet jig, white of all colors with a tiny gold head. He told me he was using a 7 ½ ft. microlight rod with a 4 lb. test line. I told him I have used the micro rods for years and knew all about fishing the microlights. He said the microlight was like using the fly rod with just a slight variation in technique. We parted with me getting a sample of the trout magnet and lots of information I would have never got if I had not come in contact with another friendly individual on the beautiful Caney Fork. 

 A 3 Wt. Special

One with the 5Wt.

Discovering Fellow Bloggers

Last week I discover a new blooger, a very unique lady "Marian" Marian's Hunting Stories, who deer hunts and lives in one of the nations leading wilderness areas for deer turkey, and wild bore hunting. Vicksburg Mississippi is a hunter's paradise for trophy deer. Marian is the mother of four daughters, Theresa, Kathleen, Debra and Marian Suzanne, Suzy. A step-son Greg and a step-daughter Karen. She has 8 grandchildren and 6 step-grandchildren and blessed with two great grandsons and one step great granddaughter. She has been deer hunting for 24 years with her husband Bob. I discovered she is the one of the founding members of the Outdoor Bloggers Summit. The summit is a great place to find useful information from blogging tips to social media to networking. I really found the 10 tips for becoming a great blogger helpful. This blogging can become addictive.

Hanging Out With My Boating Buddy

For the next four days, my wife and I get to keep our new grandson Bryson who just turned 8 months this past week. This babysitting expedition will bring back some fond memories for his grandparents. His dad and mom are taking some days off with some of their friends at Gulf Shores. We never knew the number of ways you can spoil a grandchild until we starting keeping Bryson this past Friday. I for one just can't seem to let him sit on the floor and cry when he is bored with some of his toys. When he puts that please Pops pick me up and show me some attention face on I always pick him up. I am a big pushover and he knows just how to get his way with me. Cathey and I have been told there is nothing like grandchildren and now we have come to realize it with Bryson.

Tailrace Trout Below Smith Lake Dam

Today I made the trip to the tailrace below the Smith Lake Dam. I encountered numbers of fly fishermen around most every bend. Some were landing trout and some was not having much luck. I managed to land one rainbow, which was a stocker in the range of 9 to 10” length. I was there about 30 minutes, and was not surprised the generator horn sounded, which means you need to make your way to the bank. You have 10 minutes to get out of the river and back to the bank, before the water level raises 6 to 7 ft. and this can happen in a matters of minutes. I was assuming I would have most of the morning to fish but it didn’t work out for me. Sorry to say I forgot my camera and didn’t have a chance to take a photo of the trout I landed.
  I discovered today that I need another fly rod to fish not only the tailrace but the lake above the dam. I am looking for something in a 3 or 4 wt, with the length being 8 ½ ft. I have a 5 wt. 8 ½ ft. Redington rod, but I feel I need something with a little less power for the size fish I catch below the dam and above the dam. I was using a 3 wt. 7 ½ ft. Temple Fork today and found at times I could have used a little more distance. I know I could get the distance I am looking for in a longer rod. There is a big difference in my 3 wt and my 5 wt, but I really don’t know how much difference there is in a 4 wt as opposed to a 3 wt. With all this said, I would like anyone out there to give me there opinion as to what rod I should purchase next. I don’t want to pay over 150.00. So if you have a suggestion just give me a comment.

Far From Fishing

I just wanted to let everyone out there know that I haven’t loss my will to post. My wife and I have been in the process of moving things out of my father-in-laws house out of state to Alabama. This has been an on going process, and has taken some time. Personally I would much rather be fishing, but this was a good time to start moving things before the heat and humidity gets to the point where you feel like you are taking a sauna bath. If you have lived in the Deep South you know what I am talking about as far as humidity is concerned. I have often told my friends that if I had the money I would leave the south in the summer months and live out west and come back in the fall and winter months. That would be the perfect situation. I hope hit the tailrace next week with a report on the rainbows below the dam. Riverside Fly Shop is right on the banks of the tailrace and Brandon the owner gives a report on the activity each week.

Fishing The Hopper for Bluegill

 I just can’t stay away from those gills. I spent the better part of the afternoon, on Walker Lake today landing bluegills and spots. I was fishing right before a front, and with the lake stable, it made for a great day. The hopper was the fly of the day for me helping me land 9 nice gills in depths of 10 to 12 ft. I fished most all afternoon with my 3 Wt. rod and had some awesome hits. The only time you can catch the big bluegills on this lake with the fly is on cloudy days or when you can find them in the shade. Today was one of those days.

A lot of fun with a 3 Wt. rod

Patience is the name of the game on this lake. I would leave the hopper motionless for 15 to 20 seconds at times before I would get a hit. When I did get the hit it was worth the way.

Why Do I Fish?

 Saturday was a day just to take stock of the beauty around me on the water. With the wind blowing from the Southeast and both generators on at the dam full blast, not to mention a bluebird day, it was a slow fishing day. My son-in-law B.T. and I managed to land 5 bluegills to take home and he landed a 2 lb largemouth using a Rapala. As I wrestled with the wind and the water levels, I was wondering why I'm on the water 2 or 3 times a week. Is it because I just love this sport or is it because I have nothing else to do? As I pondered those thoughts I come to the conclusion that I had rather be on the water than doing one of those yard jobs and yes it is because I truly love the sport.
 To me, there is nothing like being on the water early in the morning with the mist just escaping from the surface and hearing the birds in the distance. A fisherman just can’t get any closer to nature than that. I am so thankful that my Dad got me into fishing years ago. It has helped me get through some tough times in my life by being the therapy I needed. I have found that when I am on the water I forget about the everyday grinds of life in general. It becomes one of the most relaxing times of the day or week for me. It is something that I look forward to every week. I don’t have to be with a fishing partner to get this solitude. It can be just a quiet day on the stream or the lake by myself. It is my time and I truly treasure it.

Practice Safety When Wading

Today I read a post from Tar Hill Fly Fishing about a 65 year old man who drowns while wading. This really got me thinking about what many of us take for granted, when it comes to fishing moving waters. I for one thought I knew everything you need to know as far as safety is concerned when fishing your favorite stream. As it turned out I learn some things after reading the following suggestions I found on the net.

Practicing water safety requires that we acknowledge that accidents in water are usually life threatening. If a mishap occurs, it will usually happen so quickly one will barely have time to think. Nevertheless, knowing that water can kill you is only half the battle. Keeping it from doing so requires care, mental and physical preparedness, and practiced skill. One must have the knowledge of what to do to prevent dangerous situations and be completely aware of what actions to take should an upset transpire.

Wading safety starts with quality equipment. Waders of neoprene, rubber, or the breathable materials that fit properly are a given. Neoprene provides better insulation and an added degree of buoyancy absent in other materials. Boot-foot models and boots for stocking foot models should fit comfortably. Choice of boot sole material is critical. Felt is the best choice, providing the angler with sure footing. Plain rubber is not a recommended for freestone streams. The new stealth sticky rubber provides a degree of traction, but is probably not the best choice in fast water. In some situations, carbide studs on the boot bottoms are a good addition to navigate slippery cannonball sized rocks.

A flexible wader belt cinched tightly at waist level will slow the water from pouring into your boots should you fall. They simply slow things down giving the angler a chance to become acclimated to the situation. There has been much questionable information around about water filling ones boots acting like an anchor. Physics tells us that water in the boots weighs no more than water outside the boots so the anchor effect is unlikely. However, freedom of movement is restricted thus increasing ones expenditure of energy in maintaining stability. This can lead to fatigue, thus increasing the risk of drowning. Do not be deceived; wader belts will not keep the water out completely.

A stout wading staff such as a ski pole with the snow basket removed or a wooden hiking staff with a securely wrapped handle and a breakaway cord should be basic equipment. The collapsible models are fair in moderate water and convenient to carry but beware of getting the end jammed between rocks so that pulling on them can cause it to come apart. A staff gives the angler at least two strong points of contact with the river bed and in time of difficulty it provides three points in the manner of a tripod increasing the anglers upright stability. Carry a staff! It could save your life.

Personal Floatation Devices, or PFDs, are now more affordable and effective. The passive vests are uncomfortable and many anglers tend to discard them in warmer weather. Several smaller inflatable devices are now available. They mimic the “Mae West” of World War II fame, but are less bulky and restrictive. Many have Coast Guard Type 5 approval. If you do not swim well or will be wading treacherous water, consider using a PFD.

Polarized sunglasses and a small hands-free flashlight are a basic along with a loud whistle that can summon help at a distance. If you are with a group, someone carrying throw bag with 50 feet of rope is not a bad idea. Keep a towel, a dry change of cloths, and a fleece jacket or sweatshirt and fire starting gear handy even in the warmest weather. In the wilderness, hypothermia can kill you just as effectively as drowning.

The first rule of safe wading is never wade unless you must. Unlike trout, humans are not made to move through water efficiently. When we wade, we send sound and pressure waves in all directions, which will spook fish. You will increase your chances of catching fish, have less of an impact on the rivers ecosystem, and you will greatly reduce the chance of an unfortunate accident keep your wading to a minimum.

If you must wade, evaluate the situation by some rules of thumb. Try not to wade alone. If you are alone, always let someone know where you are going to be and when you expect to return home. What time of the day is it? If it is late and you have been wading all day, you are not at the peak of your physical strength. It probably would be best to leave the tough water for another day.

Wading can be strenuous, particularly in fast water. Are you in good physical condition? Are your knees in good shape? Can you swim well? Can you see the bottom of the stream clearly? If you answered no to any of these questions, do not wade the fast water! However, if you have tested your physical condition and you are confident in your abilities you may begin to chart your course.

Look upstream and down and catalog any hazards that may be present. Always cross well away from any hazardous areas. The head waters of a deep pool are usually unpredictable, containing eddies and drop offs. The tail out of the pool will be shallower with a flat gravel or sediment bottom. Try to cross downstream of where you intend to fish. Failing that, move upstream of the pool far enough to give you shallower water, less current, and enough room to recover.

While you are wading, always keep your front at a right angle to the current. This way you present the least amount of resistance to the oncoming water. Keep your staff to the upstream side so that you may lean into the current. Should you lose your footing the current should push you upright. Keep your feet in a wide stance. Probe the bottom in front of you with your staff. Try not to lift your feet completely off the bottom but move with a shuffling gait keeping two of your three points of contact down. Do not move one foot unless the other foot is planted firmly and your staff is securely down. Take your time! In fast water wading, patience is indeed the virtue that may save your life.

Large boulders can sometimes offer refuge from fast water, but be wary of the unsure footing on the soft sand adjacent to such rocks. Be cautious of getting boots trapped between or under boulders. Your wading staff can prove invaluable as a pry bar to extricate your foot, but try not to place your feet in crevasses and cracks near large rocks as they may become inextricably lodged.

Take care not to wade too deeply. The human body sans floatation device has a slightly lesser specific gravity than an equal volume of water. Buoyancy can be increased by the type of gear you are wearing and how full your lungs are of air. Air trapped in your waders also adds to your buoyancy. You may weigh 200 pounds, but ultimately, the water’s volume will displace your weight and you may find yourself floating above the bottom and out of control.

If you are wary of your stability in the current, retreat the way you came. Tuck your rod into the top of your waders and free both hands. Plant your staff upstream of your position. Grasp the handle of the staff with both hands and leaning forward facing into the current shuffle your feet, around the staff keeping the staff upstream of your position and taking care not to cross your legs at any time. The more surface area you present to the oncoming current, the greater the downstream force you must resist by leaning forward into the current. Continue shuffling until you are facing the opposite direction and your body is once again at a right angle to the oncoming water.

Despite precautions, everyone who wades eventually looses their footing and takes “Toad’s Wild Ride” downriver. Should this happen, here is what to do. If you find yourself in real trouble and unable to get back to shore drop your equipment. Do not lose your life clinging to gear that can be replaced or recovered later in safer conditions. No piece of paraphernalia is worth the price of your life; drop it!

Above all, do not panic! Not keeping your cool spells almost certain disaster. Lie flat on you back, spread your arms out to your sides raise your feet towards the surface bending your knees slightly to trap air in your boots and float with the current. Inflate your PFD if you have one. In this position, you will not drown. If you are with someone or if there are other anglers present, call for help to alert them to your predicament. Here is where a throw bag would be invaluable. Failing that, your companions should not consider diving in and swimming to get you. Better not to have two anglers in the same dilemma.

Go with the flow. Try to expend only the energy necessary. Point your feet downstream and turn yourself at an approximately 45 degree angle with the top of your head inclined towards the direction of the closest bank and your feet pointed downstream. This will allow you to see obstacles downstream and avoid them by using your arms as oars by pulling away from the object and towards the nearest shore. If you see a log or other obstruction in front of you, do not attempt to go under it. Roll over on your stomach face downstream and use your arms to push yourself over the object. Then return to the “back float” position. Gradually the current will move you towards the shore until you find yourself in quieter water. When you are close enough in to make for shore, your downstream progress will have slowed substantially and the water will be calm and warmer. Your waders are now full of water and if you stand, the excess weight will throw off your balance and perhaps pitch you back into the faster water. Make sure you crawl well onto the land before you carefully stand.

Empty what water you can from your waders, but do not remove them, as they will provide you with insulation until you reach your dry cloths. The human body loses heat twenty to thirty times faster in cold water, which can result in hypothermia induced unconsciousness. Get into a warm dry place and change cloths. Once in the confines of your shelter, you can take a sip from your supply of anti- snakebite tonic and reflect on how you will someday tell your grandchildren about the time you were the one that got away.

Handy Little Item For Fly Fishing

  I am sitting here today watching for tornados and straight-line winds headed this way. We are under a tornado watch until midnight. This really makes for a nervous situation so I thought I might com my nerves by sharing a post with all of you. How many of us have problems threading the tippet through the eye of those tiny size 28-30 files? I came across this neat little item the other day at one of the local fly shops in Birmingham. It’s the 20/20/ Magnetic Tippet Threader which makes threading those little flies a breeze. Here is how it works. You simply place the fly in the depression with the eye of the fly perpendicular to the groove. Once you have positioned the fly slide the tippet down the groove towards and through the eye about an inch or two. Grab the excess tippet on either side of the fly and lift from the threader and tie your knot. It is as simple as that. There is also a D-Ring that comes with the threader so one can attach it to your vest. The threader is priced at 8.00 which in the fly fishing industry is a bargain. I have found it works great on flies with or without beadheads. The little magnet positioned at its base is strong enough to hold the fly even in the strongest winds. I am really sold on this product because of the simplicity and cost. Everyone say a prayer for us here in Alabama today, because we are in for some horrible weather this afternoon and tonight.

Discovering The Muddler Minnow

On Thursday of last week, I discovered a new dry fly. In fact, I discovered this fly around dusty dark on one of our local lakes. This thing really lit up my spirits on two different takes right before I left the lake when I was able to land the two largest bream I have ever caught on the fly rod. This 'thing" I am referring to is the Muddler Minnow. I know many of you have heard of this fly number of times, but with me, this is my first experience fishing with it. You know in fly fishing there are flies that really have a great looking appearance to the individual who is fishing it. Then, there are also files in my opinion that are just plain ugly and their appearance looks grungy; well this is the Muddler. But regardless of appearance, this thing will catch fish. I did a little research on the Muddler and found out it has been around since 1937. Don Gapen from Minnesota first tied the fly to imitate the slimy sculpin. To me, it looks more like a moth. I like the fact that I can fish it as a dry or as a nymph. I landed both big gills with the dry presentation, but I will be trying it as a nymph on my next trip. The Muddler could be the fly to help me land some of those elusive 14" to 16" bows on our tailrace below Smith Lake.  I would need to add weight to get the fly down where the big trout hang out. I found the version I was using last week in a fly shop in Birmingham Alabama which is about 30 minutes south of Jasper. I only bought just the one thinking negatives thoughts about the two bucks I paid for it, but now after it proved its worth here I am keyboarding its praises. In fact, I was so impressed that I paid that fly shop another visit this past weekend and bought two other colors. I will post a report on their progress on the water in the coming weeks. 

A Big Dose of Gill Mania

Tuesday’s fishing trip was one of those days when you say to yourself could it get any better. After arriving at the lake around 1:30 I proceeded to get all my gear and little Raider boat out of the truck and head to some of those out of way fishing holes on Walker County Lake. As usual, I was joined by a slue of other boats. Then there were the endless groups of bank fishermen with their reels all positioned on various places on the banks. So I was fortunate to be in good company all afternoon. There were a number of obstacles I had to conquer before I ever got started the main one being the wind. I try to always use the wind to my advantage when fishing from a boat and today it seemed everywhere I trolled on the lake the wind followed and switched directions opposite to my cast. Does that wind statement sound familiar guys? Some days on the lake it just seems like the wind has you pinpointed and it is determined to disrupt any casting you have in mind for that particular spot. So much for the wind factor, on with the trip I started on the east of side of the lake around 2 p.m., fishing the 10 to 12 ft. deep clear water around weed beds. My 3 Wt. was the rod choice with a number 12 popping bug black and dark green. I immediately landed 3 large bulls practically in a successive cast down the bank. This was the same bug my son-in-law B.T. caught most of his big gills on last weekend. This bank was in the shade most of the afternoon which made for some excellent takes on top. I continued looking for shady banks with this same bug pattern until one take was so violent the fish run deep and broke off in a brush pile. At that point, I had 8 in the cooler. I immediately switch to a similar pattern which slowed the hits. I was getting movement under the popper but no takes. This proved to me color and pattern is a factor when it comes to poppers. I decided to switch to the black nymph gnat, which I used earlier this year. That day I had a lot of success with it even in the sunlight. After fishing with it until sundown it proved it's worth helping me land an additional 10 more bulls. I was fishing it like a streamer slowly moving it back to me. The takes were so awesome that I lost 3 gnats in the brush and another fish just broke off. With the sun nearly out of sight for the day, I decided to try something one of my bloggers suggested last week. He told me I could really land some nice bream using the Muddler Minnow size number 8. It just so happened that I had one tie on my 5 Wt. 8 ½ ft. So on my way out, I decided to fish one of the many treetops in the lake. With a few false casts, I made a good 50 ft. Muddler presentation. I twitched it slightly and bam the fish was on and carried me in a semicircle on the other side of the boat. I managed to finally land him after stripping line at my feet, and gently reaching down and lifting him in the boat. I had my digital scales with me and he weighed in at 13.8 oz. my largest ever on the fly. As I made my way to the landing I wanted to make one more cast to the other treetop adjacent to the dock. With one cast left, I did a shoot cast in front of the treetop and within a few seconds a large bull inhaled the Muddler and took off for deep water. I landed him and he weighed in at 12.14 oz. my second-largest bull ever. At that point, I would have gone to the depths of the lake after my Muddler Minnow if it had been hung. You know in fishing there are always those trips you never forget; this was one of those trips. I look back on the many, many fishing trips I’ve been on and this was the best warm water fly fishing trip ever for me. By the way, I WILL BE BACK!!!!          

To be filleted and put in the freezer. This lake is loaded with this size bluegills because it is stocked each year with 100,000 bream 4" long. None of these bream were on beds. The water temp. was around 72. I knew blogging would help me improve fly fishing!

What Fly Rod & Reel do You Use in Relationship to Fish Size?

You hear the words “matching the hatch” in the fly world all the time. Anyone into trout fishing knows how important that slogan is. When one hits their favorite stream that is the first thing you are going to do, match the hatch. Usually, you never know what the fish are going to be taking at a particular time of day. So this is the reason we have so many flies in our fly boxes. Still, with all the flies in your box, it may not be the one that the fish are hitting that day. So I guess that is why a lot of us hit zero on some trips. The hatch factor holds true for warm water fishing as well. So this is the scenario an individual may encounter with just the fly/lure aspect of fishing.
  What about the equipment aspect such as the rod and reel? This is another decision you make before or after you get out on the water. I personally feel that a good quality fly rod and matching reel is essential for the angler to get the ultimate experience of landing a fish. I use a Temple Fork 3 Wt. with a G-Loomis free spool fast retrieve reel for the Elk and Sipsey tailraces. Both streams are stocked with rainbow, brookies, and browns. The 3 Wt is perfect for catching the 9” to 11” stockers. Occasionally you will land a trout in the 12” to 14” range, which is a plus with this combo. For me, the 3 Wt is the perfect “match the rod” with the size fish. If I am going to the Caney Fork in Tennessee I would differently opt to my 5 Wt. 8 ½ ft. Redington 4 pc. 5 Wt with the Battenkill Orvis reel. With this setup, I have the power to land a fish in the 16” and up range. This combo was actually given to me for my retirement a couple of years ago. It will always be a special rod and reel to me. Do any of you out there have a special rod and reel? For me, the most important aspect of fishing is matching the rod, reel, flies, nymphs, and line to whatever species of fish you are pursuing. I really enjoy rigging my equipment and getting my flies or lures ready for the next days' fishing trips. This is just another fun thing about this great sport we as fishermen love.

Tinkering With the Popper to Catch Bluegill

Last week I spent the better part of my time fishing for bluegills. I fished a couple of days by myself and on the weekend I fished with my son-in-law. The fish was hitting better on a couple of days but the latter part of the week was tricky to say the least. Poppers and nymphs were the flies of the day. They were working well at times, but at times there was a lapse in the action. During those slow times one has to be a little innovative to entice the fish to hit. I notice especially with the popper that if the presentation wasn't landing natural on the water you would not get the hit. Of course this is not the case when the fish are on the beds, because at that time they are very aggressive and will attack anything that comes near the bed. I think one could let the popper splash on the water and the fish would attack it. To improve the hit catch ratio I starting experimenting with the poppers and notice the fish would take the popper much better if the rubber legs were trim which would give it a smaller profile. Switching to a smaller popper really enhanced the hits too. The poppers with the long legs was creating too much motion on the water, therefore spooking the fish on the slow days. I am glad I did a little experimenting to make a slow day a more productive day. This is what makes fishing so fascinating to me.

Fishing Smith with B.T. After Big Bull Bluegills

It is getting close to that time of the year to find those big gills around the water's edge protecting their beds. In this part of the south, it will be happening in about two weeks. This has been a busy week for me as far as fishing is concerned. I started out the week fishing on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. My wife told me that I should have my fill of fishing for a while. Is there shut a thing as getting your fill of fishing especially someone who eats, breaths, and sleeps fishing---I think not!!
  I did a post on Tuesday’s trip, concerning the black gnat nymph. Well after that trip I decided I would go back to the same area I fished on Tuesday and use a popper. I was surprised I got fish to come up and hit a popper in 63-degree water, especially in depths of 10 to 12 ft. I manage to land 10 on Thursday afternoon. I was still using my little 3 Wt. 7 ½ ft Temple Fork rod. One can get a rush when he sees that smack on that little popper knowing that all you got to land that bull bluegill is that little light 3 Wt. rod.
  My son-in-law B.T.  made the trips with me on Friday and Saturday afternoon. He had never fished for bluegill with the fly rod and wanted to go out and try to land some quality fish. I had told him about my previous trips so he knew in advance what to expect. He was not accustomed to fishing still water as opposed to running water; with the fly rod so it took a little adjustment of fighting the wind and learning a new pattern. He landed between 20 and 25 bass and bluegills both afternoons. We could have fished the tailrace below the Smith Lake Dam for rainbow, but with bluegill, season near we just couldn’t pass up the chance to throw some poppers. Both trips were superb and it was a blast to fish with a B.T. who my wife and I consider our second son.

I just wonder if those Alabama fans know how to catch bream like this????

Another nice bass

You got to love landing these brutes with the fly rod and that tiny little bug. The one on the lower left pushed 13 oz.

The story behind this little bug----one of the bream my B.T. landed, inhaled this little fly into his stomach with only the tip end of the fly showing in his throat. Even the forceps wouldn’t retrieve it. I had to perform surgery on the fish that night when I clean it to retrieve the little bugger; so switching to another popper kind of slowed things down -----this is like when your buddy is catching fish left and right with this little fly and you ask him; hey do you have another one of those flies? He says this is the only one I have, well the bream had the only fly we needed that evening and it was deep in his stomach.

Bluegill on my Local Lake

 I finally made it out to our local lake today. The lake is only 165 areas, and for the most part it was busy all day. At one time I counted 33 boats at various places on the lake. This was not counting the people sitting on the banks and pier. So either someone was skipping work or there was a lot of retires----either way it was good to be on the water with all the home folks. I finally started fishing around 1:00 under bright clear blue skies. I spent 2 hours trying to catch some of the nice crappie the lake possesses. Needless to say I struck out in that area. I decided to switch to my trusted fly rod around 3. With the water temps in the middle 60’s I thought I would try the nymph in deep water off the edge of dead weed beds, which proved successful. I was using the black gnat size 12. Everyone has their favorite go to fly; well this is my go to fly in early spring for bluegill in deep water. The hits were slow and not aggressive. I had to move it ever so slow to get the hit. I ended the day with a good meal of fillet bluegills.   

   Find the dead weed beds in water 7 to 8 ft deep and you would find a number of bream on the front side close to deep water.

Compact, lightweight, and durable, my little Raider pontoon boat.

A great catch with my Temple Fork 3 Wt. 7 ½ ft. rod and G-Loomis Reel
Caught 12 and kept this group for a meal

The Knotless Leader by Scientific Angler

Well I am still on fly fishing knots. I don’t know if any of you know much about this leader without the knot tie, but I have found out that this knotless leader has merit. It is the L2 Re-Connect Leader by Scientific Angler. Brandon at the local fly shop got these in on Monday. I have just got back from the lake yesterday trying them out and the first thing I notice was greater casting distance. The reason is because of the lock indicator, which by the way serves as an indicator and floats high in the water. Another thing I like is the extremely large butt taper down to an extreme 4X, 5X, and 6 X tippets choices. I like the fact that I can tie on 3 or 4 of my standard flies at home instead of at the lake, which gives me more time for fishing. All the leader snap ends are color coded so you know exactly what weight leader you are using all the time. The leaders are 9 ft. long with a breaking point at 10 lbs. plus. The following illustration shows exactly how the system works.  

With L2L Reconnect, you can adapt to changing conditions quickly and easily which means less time fussing and more time fishing.
You can connect line to leader in seconds. And unlike knots, L2L Reconnect offers great fly fishing advantages:
Quickly change leaders, line tips, and flies
Keeps line floating higher
Casts easily and slides smoothly through guides
Pickups with less friction – doesn't grab surface
Doubles as a high-vis strike indicator
L2L Reconnect Leader ends are color coded so you always know what size leader you're using.

There are two organizers which holds 4 leaders with the flies you have already tied before you hit the water. The organizers are stored in one side of the fly box, which is by Scientific Angler -----while the other side holds a selection of your files.
So there you have it-----------what is your opinion---I have tried them and they do everything the ads say they do. It was good being out on the water, and catching a few small bream and spots using the keystone minnow with this leader. I will be using it again this week on our local lake to see how it works with some dries and nympns. Check back for a report on that outting.

Strike Indicators What is Your Favorite and Why???

Well I am sitting inside today watching it rain in 40 degree weather. I have my fly fishing vest near and working on rearranging my flies in one of my fly boxes. I was looking at some of my strike indicators I have been using and was wondering which is actually the most effective? I know there are different types of indicators on the market but which one do you think is the most effective and why. I personally use the stick on foam, but lately I have become dissatisfied with its use, because it tends to slips when casting. I know you are not going to be doing a lot of false casting when fishing with an indicator but you at least want one that will stay in place on the line. Of course my very favorite is the dry fly as the indicator, but there are times when the dry is not the choice. It would be a lot of help to me and hopefully to others reading this post if I could get some  of your opinions on strike indicator, just as your opinions was a great help on my last post concerning fly fishing knots.

What is Your Favorite Fly Knot?

I never knew how important tying the correct knot was when it comes to fly fishing until I had some break offs. The knot is the key between you and the trout. Ninety percent of the time you are fishing with tippets and leaders so light that the slightest surge will either break the line or break off at the eye of the fly. Probably the most common knot is the clinch knot. I know that every fisherman or fisherwoman has their favorite. I prefer the loop to loop and the clinch knots. These were some of the first knots I learned how to tie and I have never swayed away from either. Killroys has some excellent illustrations on the following fly fishing knots,

Clinch Knot Duncan Loop / uni-Knot
Surgeon's Knot Barrel Knot / Blood Knot
Surgeon's Loop Perfection Loop
Albright Knot Nail Knot
Backing to Fly Reel Loop-to-Loop Connection
I am curious to know what fly knots some of you are using and why. Give me a comment.
P. S. You can watch the knot illustrations through video if you perfer. All the knots listed above are covered in the video. You will need to wait a few seconds between each knot presentations to see the next knot tie.

How Can We Get Our Kids Into Fishing????

I recently wrote a post on kids and fishing on February 18th. To be more specific I was wondering why there are not more kids out on the water fishing these days. This really concerns me because we are losing a whole generation of children to the wilds of present-day technology. I thought it would be interesting to have my wife do a fishing survey at her school. She conducted the survey in two of her classes’ simply asking one question. How many of you go fishing? What she and I found out were not surprising to either of us. She had 26 students in each of the two surveyed classes and found out that only 5 students really went fishing. That is 5 students out of 52 students. The five students who fished told her that their dad took them fishing when they were able to go. The parent is the first link to getting the child out of the house and interested in this great sport. I would have never got into fishing if it had not been for my dad. He fished and therefore he taught my brothers and me the sport. I still have fun memories of taking my son and daughter out on their first fishing trip. They both still fish with me today when they find the time. Take a look at my slide show and you will see both of them along with my son-in-law who loves the sport as much as I do. The following links Teach Your Kids to Fish and Reasons to Take a Kid Fishing give great examples of how one can get a child interested in going fishing and what to do to make it an unforgettable trip as opposed to a boring trip. Please take a moment and complete the survey question. I will run the survey until the fall. The data that is collected will be sent to Bass Pro, Cabelas, and Grander Mountain.

Fly Roding Deep Clear Waters

This is the second post dealing with light tackle fishing the deep clear waters. One of the best clear deep lakes in the South is Smith Lake in Jasper Alabama. We are talking about depths of 300 ft. plus at full pool. This lake is about 20 minutes from my house and is a perfect example of how to fish these types of waters with light tackle. Today I will be discussing the techniques I use fishing the fly rod with different flies. The first fly is the popper in a variety of colors and patterns work well early in the morning and late in the afternoon. I seldom use a dropper on the popper. I found I can maneuver the popper much better without the dropper. I have landed some of my best bream and bass just letting the popper set still for at least 15 to 20 seconds. Usually the strike will occur right before you move it. It takes a while for the fish to see the fly in these depths so patience is a plus in your favor. The majority of my casting is off the high rock walls where a lot of the quality fish hang out in the holes and ledges. If the bite is a little slow at times I will usually twitch it a little and bam it’s a hit. The fish’s first reaction is to go deep and keep going, and at this point it’s good to get the fish on the reel as soon as possible. I have found the best all around rig these waters is a 4X leader with a 5 weight forward line, 8 1/2ft. 5 weight rod. I have had some awesome play with this setup. True you are going to lose some fish especially if you hang into a spot in the 3 to 5 lb. class, but sometimes the challenge out weights the loss. As the day progresses I switch to a black gnat with a tiny red head. I fish this fly using the tight line technique with a small shot about 16” up from the size 12 gnat. I also used different weighted nymphs at times as a dropper to get the fly down. The dropper helps me increases my fish catch ratio. I have used both yellow and black gnat but the black has proven the most productive. I usually split the hits between the gnat and the different nymph droppers. I use a nine foot leader and at times I will increase it to 10 feet. Most of the time the hit comes before the leader has had a chance to sink to its given lenght. The tiny shad with the buck tail and the tiny bream with the buck tail are excellent sub surface lures. I like to fish both without a weight using a slight jerk and pause method. These little lures will produce anytime of the year, but has been at its best in the early spring just after the spawn. This is the time of the year when the bass fry is evident. These lures will duplicate some of the small bream and bass fry. The leaders used here are 9 feet. The last lure I like to fish with the fly rod is the keystone minnow. A lot of people like to fish this lure with a ultra light rig using a cork for crappie and bream, but I have found that this is one of the best lures I have ever tied on a leader to fish still waters with the fly rod. I only started fishing this lure this past fall on Smith and was amazed at the fish it will catch usually on the fall. I have caught bass, bream and crappie with this little lure. I use a 9 foot leader with these little lures. NOTE: You will need to use a tiny drop of super glue at the head of the jig to attach the body of the minnow to the head. I tried it without the glue and found that the body slides down on the jig head when you are casting or false casting. The glue works great. I haven’t tried it on moving waters such as the Caney but you can bet it will be in my fly box when I hit the Caney Fork in the spring. I fish it using the tight line method slowly working the lure back to me. The best minnow in this series is the one with the white eye pictured below. It is only an inch long weighing in at 1/64 oz. Really a deadly lure with one draw back---be prepared to have your leader broken a number of times because the hit is fast and hard and a lot of times you don’t have the luxury of getting the fish on the reel, but it surely is fun trying. I have had numbers of break offs fishing this little jewel. As you can see I am really into the light tackle, mainly because I love the challenge of landing fish that is sometimes superior to the tackle and line I am using. Nothing like it!!!!