Battling Gusting Winds on the Sipsey

I have fished in windy conditions a number of times on the Sipsey but this past Wednesday had to be the worst. I met Jay at the Pump Station parking lot around 10:30. I have followed his blog “The Naturalist’s Angle” for a number of years. It was good to see him again and get to fish with someone who loves fly fishing as much as I do. The water level on the Sipsey has been up and down for the past months, and today we knew we would be fishing high water. In fact, we waited for a half-hour to get to fish at a suitable level.

The wind was blowing so strong out of the south that it was difficult to get a good drift at times. We did see some limited midge action after lunch in some calm water closer to the banks that proved productive using smaller dries.

Jay landed the first rainbow dead drifting a size 18 beadhead midge pattern in somewhat calm water. All the trout taken today were in the stocker size, which was a lot of fun on our 3 weights. One can really diminish the excitement of landing smaller fish on the Sipsey if they are using anything above a 3 weight. Most of the trout caught here are 12” and under; one very seldom lands trout in the 15” range and above. 13” to 15” are considered special here.

I started the topwater action midafternoon after seeing a small hatch in some calm water just off the opposite bank from me. This rainbow nailed the size 20 dry in fast action. We both lost numerous trout during the afternoon because of a slow hook set; these trout were fast!!! We continued to land trout on top right up to the horn sounding telling us it was time to leave. This was the first time Jay has had the opportunity to fish the Sipsey up close and have success. Do you think he might be coming back???

    

Using Your Chest Pack as a Rod Holder

Every time I’m on the tailrace I keep reminding myself I need to share my latest find with you guys. I know some of you may already know about using your chest pack as a rod holder; when you are standing in waist or knee-deep water trying to change flies or even changing out tippets. I have been fishing in knee-deep water many times wanting to change flies but didn’t want to move and disturb the water I was fishing. I discovered last year the chest pack I was using was much more than an accessory pack.

The fly rod will rest in a perfect horizontal position when it is positioned behind the neck strap connected to the pack and pushed down behind the pack touching your chest. 

I changed from the fly fishing vest to the chest pack a few years ago. I found that I really didn’t need to carry the store in the vest with me to fish for three or four hours. I wanted something lighter and compact so the chest pack became my go-to storage bag.

One can fork out quite a bit of money for chest packs and vests. The pack I am using is the White River brand on sale now for 18.00 bucks for the large size and 15.00 bucks for the small size.

Big rains here today will continue to keep me off the tailrace for weeks.  

Ledasink Leader Sinkant

Rain, rain and more rain for the past couple of days has pushed the water level on Smith Lake up 5 feet. Trout fishing will be put on whole and crappie fishing will have to take its place if the weather cooperators for next week. In the meantime I will continue to do a few yard chores, gym time, blogging with you guys and watching fly fishing videos.

Some time ago I did a post that featured one of Jonathan Barnes videos, at that time I told you guys that I had become a huge fan of his fly fishing videos. I don’ want you all to think I am getting free fly fishing merchandise from his website for plugging his video's I am not. I just want to share his expertise in fly fishing with you, mainly because he conveys a lot of information in each segment. If you are interested in hearing background music in his videos you will probably have to look elsewhere. Nature and water sounds along with him adding his take about the segment his wife is what you will get.

I’m going to give the Ledasink leader sinkant a try that Jonathan was using in this segment to sink his tippet tip while fishing the CDC pattern; anything to improve one’s catch ratio is worth trying. Hope you enjoy In The Ring of The Fire

This video below shows how to fish pocket water where fish whole behind small boulders. The Sipsey and the Canery have this same cover as many of the waters you guys fish.

For much stronger video sound use earplugs  



First Trout For 2016

Finally, I get to fish the Sipsey again; December the 15^th.  2015 was my last trip. We had 2” of rain in Jasper Monday and I figured that the generators would be running full blast all week. Wow, was I surprised when I checked the generating schedule Wednesday. Thursday and Friday would be free of generation. I picked Friday, 70 degrees a little overcast and a slight wind would hopefully trigger some activity for me.
Apparently everyone else thought Friday was the day too; didn’t make me no never mind, I was going to fish!!

I was anxious to try out my new Prestige Plus fly line from Cabelas. I also want to see how effective the furled leader works fishing it on a downstream retrieve. I’ve never fished this type of leader, and understand from information I’ve read it really enhances a dry flies drift. I was ready to accept the fact that I would be changing leaders to fish the nymph and dry throughout the afternoon. I won’t complain if it improves my catch ratio.

Nymphs are my go-to pattern on the Sip, so the nymph was tied on and I was off to access 5. All the heavy rains had changed the color of the water to aqua green.

Numerous stockers were brought to hand this afternoon using my 9 ft. 3 weight StreamFlex which made me think at times I was landing 12” trout. I talk to one guy who was landing the stockers using a 6 weight----way OVERKILL!!

A guide trip in progress right below me, four fly fishermen above me and more on up the gorge; plenty of company.

This fatty put up quite a fight before I finally netted it. I thought I was going to lose this fish, because I kept thinking my 6X was going to break with each hard run it would make. 

Unusual markings on this little guy---I am wondering if this is a rainbow, what do you guys think??

The only downer for this trip were the coils I kept experiencing all afternoon forming at my feet; I am going to assume I spooled the line on wrong. I kept hoping I would get a chance to try out my new furled leader but no surface activity was present the entire afternoon. I was told by one guy that the hatch occurred early morning, so guess when I will be back? --------as if I needed a reason to come back!!!

Revisiting my Big Bluegill Site

I know many of you save your favorite sites especially those that deal with fishing. I have numerous fishing sites that I have saved over the years. Every so often usually once a year I update the sites and discard the ones I don’t visit anymore and revisit a few that catches my attention. While organizing yesterday, I found my old bluegill site that I created back in 2010 on Big Bluegill Website. I noticed while visiting the site they had given it a new look but still keep the same format. The site now shows the number of individuals who are visiting while you are logged in which I like.

I decided I would reacquaint myself with the group so I did a short post on my Pelican Boat I purchased in 2014. I also updated all of my images. The website is similar to a fishing forum and the closest I will ever get to a Face book type page. One can just post an image with a comment similar to Face book and get a quick comment.

I hope to post a few of my bluegill outings there this season which begins in a few weeks.

Cabela's Prime Fiberglass Fly Rod

Cathey and I stopped by the new Cabela’s in Huntsville Friday on our way to see our daughter’s family in Tennessee. This store is larger than the one we visited back in the summer in Nebraska. I was really impressed with all the merchandise I saw in the store especially in the fly fishing department where I spent the majority of my time. The main reason for the stop was to purchase some new fly line and some waist waders. I haven’t replaced my 3 weight fly line in four years and wouldn’t replace it now but the loop broke and I didn’t want to use a knot to connect leader and fly line. I clean all my fly lines at least 4 or five times a year and I assume that is why it lasted as long as it has. The price of the fly line is ridiculously high so I was looking for a quality line, at a reasonable price

Cabela's Prestige fly line was exactly what I was looking for.  

I feel my chest waders with the seams wearing are nearing their last wade and will need to be replaced for this season. I’ve wanted to try some waist waders for some time not only for the comfort in the summer months but for the depth of water I wade in now. I never wade in water nowadays above my knees.

After suiting up in a couple of pair, I finally settled on Cabela's Breathable Premium waders.

As always when I visit the big box sporting goods stores, I find something that I think I just can’t do without. Well, today was no exception; after touching the surface and feeling the flex of Cabela’s Prime fly rod I was impressed big time!! The 7’ 1” ---4 weight was awesome, but a number of anglers looking at the fly rod in the store as well as me all agreed that Cabela needs to add a 3 weight in the 7 ft. series. I have fished with numerous fiberglass fly rods over the years, but the Prime is in another class, simply put; it is the best fiberglass fly rod I have ever touch!!! 

*********Check out the reviews on this fly rod*********