The Realistic Craw From Pat at SUPER FLY

I recently order some Crawfish flies from Pat at Super Fly. I got them in the other day and have not have a chance to use them as of yet, but I will be on the water with them next week. This week will be taken up with a crappie fishing trip to Mississippi. I have order these Craws from Pat before and was really impressed with the number of bass I landed with them. These Craws are especially good in the late fall and early spring on Smith when going after the bass and spots. These are some of the most realistic Craws I have fished and of course they are tied by the best fly tying Guy in the US. Pat’s work is phenomenal I have never seen flies tied with the precision and care he takes to turn out these masterpieces, and to me that is what his work is. I can’t wait to get out on the water next week and give the Craws a try. Thanks Pat for sharing your work with the entire fly fishing

community.

These really look like the real thing!!!

Super Realistic

Masterpiece

Another unbelievable tie

Another awesome color pattern

Awesome Streamer

Great Information Concerning Your Drag System on Your Fly Reels

A two fold post today, first dealing with a short trip to a 10 area pond that is fished very little. Usually when I make this trip I can expect to land numbers of gills and bass, but nothing was happening at all on top today with the bass. My buddy and I did manage to land some bluegills with the brown bugger and a small stonefly. Yes a stonefly size 8 was actually attracting bass 4 to 5 ft. deep. The trip ended with 20 or so between the both of us.
Now to the second part of today’s post which is something that I thought I would past along to you guys in case you didn’t realize it. It has to do with the drag system on your fly reels. Some fly reels have the feature to change from the click drag to simply using your palm as your drag or palming. Redington is one company that has this feature. I have used this feature on my 5/6 Drift Redington. To change the drag system on the Redington, simple remove the spool and turn the drag dials so they will not be in the click position. By during this you have change the drag system to the palming feature. In other words you have a fly reel with a free spool, which means you can spin the reel face and take up line a lot faster than one can by reeling in the fly line. I have used both methods and really like the free spool feature, because of the line pick up. I am just curious to know if any of you guys have tried this feature.



A real surprise here with the Stonefly, when you think Stonefly you think Trout

The Bunny Butt Slider A Winner For Top Water Action

I ordered a different pattern popper the other day. They are a variation of popper and streamer mixed. That is what attracted me to this style from the get go. I was looking for something that would move a little water and at the same time get the attention of the fish I was pursuing. I found that in the Bunny Butt Slider. The creator of this specialty fly is Steven Milburn who I think has come up with a winner here. I received my order on Friday and will be giving them a try next week off the wall on Smith Lake. I think this particular popper will be the ticket for some fall top water action and early spring fishing on the lake. I first saw this popper in action when Jay Eubanks made a trip with me on Smith back in the spring and used the white pattern to imitate the shad population on the Smith. On a day when nothing was happening on top he managed to land a nice spot with that particular pattern. I knew then that this fly had something special that would trigger takes and that is what inspired me to place my order. After seeing the quality and pattern combination available I am impressed. I can’t wait to get into some spot action with this pattern.

All these patterns have their place during the fishing season. I like the black/red early at daylight, the chartreuse is really good early spring especially on Smith where chartreuse is king during that time of the year, and the grey would be an all day bug more so for those cloudy days and shaded areas.

Searching For a Quick Release Fly Reel

I am in the process of replacing the equipment I lost on a recent canoe fishing trip I made to Bear Creek. To say the least the trip was a nightmare. I lost my Battenkill III reel and am in the process of trying to find a reel I can use with a 9 ft. rod.  I don’t want to get another Battenkill because this reel doesn’t have the quick release feature that I am looking for. When I say quick release I am talking about touch spending the rim of the reel to take up large amounts of line in seconds which is very useful when fighting a large fish.  I know Gloomis Venture has this reel but again I am looking for a different design other than what the Gloomis has. Have anyone out there use this type fly reel.

Painful Week For Me--No Not Fishing

I have got behind on my blogging this past week, because of this thing called “Shingles” no not the roof version, but the painful kind that will slow you down for sure. I don’t know which is worst the medication or the pain Shingles can give you. I hope to be back on the water by the end of next week.
My wife and I did make a trip to our son-in-law and daughter’s home in Tennessee this past weekend for a little Caney Fork trout fishing. I was feeling the effects of the Shingles at that time but I just couldn’t let the pain spoil my trip with B.T. my son-in-law. I have to say it was the toughest trip we both have had on the Caney ever. B.T. managed to land a nice Brook and that was the extent of trout for the day. We both agreed on way home that it is just nice to be on the water sometimes and enjoy the beauty of this place with all its wildlife. We hope to make another trip before the holidays.

This was the only thing catching fish

Bryson with Pops and Meme in Florida for our niece's wedding recently. Just thought I would throw this photo in here, so you guys could get a good look at the next fly fishermen in the family.

One Auburn die hard fan. Sorry to say his Pops and Meme will be rooting for those Miss. State Dogs today