Finally on The Water With The Hardy Grey Streamflex Fly Rod

I finally got out on the water today, and for an added bonus my Son decided to go with me. We only had a few hours after lunch today on Walker County Lake today so we made the best of it with the fly rods. Two rods were rigged with nymphs and I had my new Hardy Grey Streamflex rigged with a tiny popper. Little did we know that the water was in the low 60s in fact 62 degrees? No one was catching any fish other than a small bass or bluegill. The magic number for results on this lake is 65 and above. I couldn’t believe the ease at which the Streamflex would deliver a fly. The effortlessness of the cast and the distance one can achieve with this fly rod is fantastic. Simply put it is by far the best fly rod I have ever owned. If the generation schedule will work with me a little, I should have a report on its performance for trout Friday.

Not the big bull, I am after but still a gill on the fly rod is always fun. This one fell for the famous Black Gnat

Sorry, I don't have more images, but my son accidentally erased the rest of the images. We ended the trip with 4 bluegills, 3 nice females, and the one bull in the image. I couldn't find my own camera, for this trip, I know none of you guys ever lose something and can't locate it when you really need that particular item.

Will This Thing Catch Fish?? Upside Down Bug!!!

Since I can’t get out on the water I thought I would bring the reality of fly fishing a little closer to me. I get lots of email alerts from different Outdoor Outlets and one of my favorite is BreamBugs. One of my fly fishing buddies put me on this company last year. I was really impressed with the quality of their poppers and nymphs. These flies seemed to take more punishment and will hold up longer especially the Boogle Bugs brands after the wear of teeth marks. They just recently started handling a few trout flies; check out some of the patterns below. A really unique bug that they sell is The Upside Down Bream Bug. What makes this fly special is the structured areas one can actually fish without getting tangled up and hung on branches. In fact I ordered some of these bugs last night and will be giving a report soon on their production. Take a look at the Upside Down Bugs and Trout patterns below and give me your opinion.

I would like to thing this could be a good trout pattern

This is one awesome bug, anytime chartruse is used it is a winner

Not as fancy but deadly

A lot of pattern for this dry, which means more float time and less floatant

Unique color combo for this PAdams---like the green

Hares Ear, always effective

Check out this LINK to see the fish that this companies flies have produced.

Factors That Can Keep You From Fishing

Well I wonder if I will ever get out on the water. I am dealing with yet another sinus infection that started last week and has only got worse. After a couple of shots and three different medications, I am somewhat better. Once you get this all you want to do is be left alone and blow snot out of your nose countless times during the day and night. Even if I was fit to fish I would still be looking at constant rain with one cold front after another. So the lake is out until the water levels stabilize. As for the trout fishing, I am faced with the constant possibility of generation. All that water in the lake has to go somewhere and out the tailrace is the only alternative. I am going to mimic Howard at Windknots sure-fire cold remedies the rest of the week and watch some of my favorite Western movies. This year is the latest I have ever started fishing, and it is beginning to wear on me. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

The Rio Nymphing Line for Numbers of Flies

I was watching a Kelly Galloup video the other night and he really got my attention when he mentioned the nymphing line he was using. In fact I didn’t know that there was fly line specifically design to fish one, two or even three nymphs. Along with the nymphs of course you have the weight to get the flies down. The nymphing line would enable you to cast with much more ease as opposed to your standard weight forward line. The following line by Rio is a good example of a nymphing line.

Rio's Nymph line is ideal for nymph fishing under all conditions; whether indicator, Czech, high stick or dead drift nymphing. The profile has a very long back taper and body for easy roll casting and mending and the short front taper ensures that casting weighted nymphs, indicators and big air-resistant flies is no problem. RIO’s Super Floatation Technology creates an ultra high floating tip that stays up under normal conditions and the high visibility tip is a built-in strike indicator. The Nymph line has a welded loop on the front tip for easy rigging and fast leader changes The line features RIO's amazing AgentX coating that ensures the line remains buoyant and super smooth, while the new Extreme Slickness Technology featured in this line creates a super slick coating that repels water and dirt and adds distance to each cast.

Foam Body Poppers and Foam Body Hoppers Winners!!

I can’t wait to get out this week and try out my new poppers I just received from ---- Warm Water for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying for Bluegill, Smallmouth, and Bass and More  ---- I am really impressed with these poppers because of the foam bodies. The number 8 size pattern will land lightly on the clear water at Smith Lake. The lighter presentation in clear water the better chance one has to connect. The different colors used on all 5 popper bodies will get the attention of any hungry bluegill. I ask Josh to mail me one of his hopper patterns, which was tied in size 6. The foam pattern body is tied so one can drift it or chug it. The face is designed to create a lot of drag when pulled through the water. I know this fly will be a killer in the early spring for bass, bluegill and even trout. I like to support quality fly tiers and Josh at--- Warm Water for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying for Bluegill,Smallmouth and Bass and More ---- is one the best.

I really like the color combos

Really impressed with this pattern