The Good Stuff with Bryson and his Mom

Today was another memorable fishing trip with Bryson and his Mom on Beautiful Smith Lake. We had a couple of hours of fishing before the humidity set in and we lost most of the shade.  Bryson is getting to be an accomplished bluegill fisher boy.  He still has some work to do in handling the bigger gills, but today he manages to lip and release the smaller fish he caught. The crickets and nibblets were the bait of choice for the morning using a popper and slip shot. All the bluegills were caught in water 8 to 10 feet deep. I don’t whether you guys have ever fish for bluegill or catfish with the hook tip with either a white or chartreuse nibblet, if not you should give it a try. The fish will go after the nibblet before they inhale the cricket. It is really an excellent attractor to get the fish interested especially on slow days. The slim that is emitted from the nibblett gives off a scent that the bluegill, catfish, and even bass go after.

Just one of the big bulls Bryson landed using the microlight combo, he is still working on the casting technique; the landing technique he has mastered.

This big bull is the largest Jenny has ever landed on Smith. I wish I had my scales with me today to weight it, I am sure it would have pushed a pound. She landed it using the 7 ½ ft. microlight with a light action Shimano spinning reel. All the microlights were spooled with 4 lb. test line.

The front side of this monster bluegill Jenny landed

Landing another nice bluegill

The best of the best for the morning!

Fly Fishing Bargains Can Still be Found

Mel’s post recently concerning the ever increasing prices of fly fishing equipment got me doing a little research. There are still bargains out there for the fly fisherman who isn’t concerned about using the top of the line fly fishing equipment. I found out a long time ago when I was doing the bass fishing tournaments, that I could catch just as many fish with casting combos that cost half the price of the top of the line combos. Same thing wholes true for my fly fishing equipment. It’s hard to believe that our local Wal-Mart carries fly fishing supplies and fly fishing combos. They are not the top of the line products but their equipment and supplies will get the beginner started in fly fishing.



This assortment pack at Wal-Mart will cost you 15.00 bucks, just the forceps at Orvis  will run you 15.00 to 20.00

Quite a bargain at 5.00

Most of these nets will run you 80.00 and above at different fly fishing outlets

Courtland 8 ft. and 9 ft. 5/6 fly rods

Bargain Combos

Great Price on Teton Float Tube---75.00

The cheapest Chest Pack at Orvis is 75.00—this White River Pack at Bass Pro will cost you 25.00--I'v been using this pack for the past 3 years

Telescopic Walking Sticks at Wal-Mart will serve as a great walking staff when you’re on your favorite stream or tailrace. This is the walking stick I have been using for the past 3 years and it works just as well as the folding or telescopic version at Orvis which sells for 100,00. The Wal-Mart Stick sells for 10.00

 

Hope I’ve helped some of you guys out with your bargain bin shopping!!

The Contour Video Camera Filming Landing Rainbow

Today I was determined to get film footage of some of the trout I’ve been landing on the Sipsey. The heat and humidity was on even at 8AM and wearing a camera helmet made it even hotter. I found myself splashing cold water on my face frequently most of the morning. I only got to fish a couple of hours because the generators came on at 10AM instead of the 2PM schedule time; so I was glad I made the most of the time I was given.

Sorry no trout images for today, but a brief description of how both videos played out: The first footage took place in shallow water 12 to16”, using the nymph with a stick on indicator. I knew the trout were holding in a narrow seam about 30ft. from me. I made numerous cast before I connected with a quality rainbow, which put up quite a fight for my 3 weight. I was using a 6X tippet, in the super clear water, which has worked much better lately for me as opposed to a heavier tippet. These trout are pressured on a daily basis so the less visible line worked better. As always on the Sipsey the drift is critical and today was no exception.

The next footage takes place on the opposite bank across the tailrace. I seldom wade out into the middle of the tailrace but I knew trout is always hanging out in this fast current seam next to the bank there. You will notice there is a large boulder I am standing by to film this segment. I was using a nymph swing casting up current and letting the nymph dead drift through the seam and at the very end of the drift I would swing the nymph across the seam; as I was working the nymph back across is when the attack would occur. There is no mistaking the hit when it happens. Again numerous cast were made before I got the hook up, and of course when I did the camera switch came on.