Tuesday's Popper Action On Smith Lake

 

Tuesday was supposed to be a slow bite on Smith because two generators ran all morning, but the spotted bass and giant bluegill didn't get the report. The Mountain Laurels are in full bloom on the lake!

One of my former bloggers, Jay Eubanks, joined me for the early morning trip. It was good to fish with him again after a 6-year lapse. 

This spotted bass inhaled an olive boogle bug popper size 6 with little surface action. The bass had me thinking it was a bluegill that sucked the popper under. 

The big bluegill were hitting the olive popper as well. My only regret was not bringing my cooler to ice-down the six I could have dressed. Thanks to Jay for joining me on the trip. He and I will be making more Tuesday trips when his work schedule will allow him the time to go. 

I am down to one fly fishing buddy now, Jeff, who fishes with me on Thursday. My Tuesday guy quit fishing, can you believe that? Nobody quits fishing after fishing most of your life. As I said before I can count on one hand the indivduals who fly fish in Jasper.  

Back For More Bluegills+A Late Update

Early Thursday morning was cool, with winds gusting around 20 mph. However, that didn’t stop me from heading back to Walker County Lake to catch more bluegills before the influx of live bait fishermen took over during the upcoming spawn. The cool nights, with temperatures in the 30s and low 40s, had kept the fish from beginning their spawning activities.

I started fishing at 6:30 AM, dressed in a light jacket and armed with my 2 and 3-wt. fly rods. If you haven't tried landing bluegill using light fly rods, you are missing some fantastic action fly fishing. 

The water temperature was a cool 64 degrees, indicating that the fishing might be slow. In fact, I didn't land my first keeper until 8:30 AM—that's how slow it was! At this time of year, it's important not to assume what the fish will bite, and Thursday morning proved no exception.

This nice keeper was caught sub-surface, setting the tone for the trip. No fish were hitting surface poppers at all due to the windy conditions. Surface poppers work well on calm, cloudy days, but not when the wind is a factor.

The fish were hitting a tungsten crystal beadhead bugger weighing 1/16 of an ounce in water that was 5 to 6 feet deep. I had used this fly last year during the early spawn at Farmstead Lake, where my son Jason has a house. The strike is unmistakable, meaning the fish is trying to eat the fly for a meal.

The end result of the trip in the cooler was 10 nice bluegills for a nice meal. Ten bluegills will produce 20 fillets paired with hush puppies, cole slaw, and a touch of tarter sauce, oh, almost forgot a cold beverage such as tea or a cold Coors. 

Tip of the day: Consider switching to a heavier fly line if you anticipate encountering windy conditions on your fly fishing trip. I was using a 4 wt. line on my 3 wt. fly rod, and it really improved my casting for the morning.

Guys I had to share this 2 1/2 lb. plus largemouth that nailed my betts yellow bug this morning while fishing Walker Lake for the spawning bluegill. It was quite a fight landing this fish with my 2 wt. 7 1/2 ft. I wish I had video footage of the aerial jumps this bass made trying to dislogde the popper from its mouth. This fish made my morning along with the dozen big bull bluegill I kept.

Two Mornings of Bluegill Madness

I always look forward to the spring of the year because that's when I get to fish for one of my favorite species: the bluegill. This past week, I spent my time exploring Walker County Lake for early bluegills, searching for potential spawning areas. I usually start fishing the lake in the last week of March when the water temperatures begin to warm up, encouraging the fish to become active. 

Wednesday and Thursday were the best days to fish this week due to the warm temperatures in the high 70s. The water temperatures on both days were close to 78 degrees, with overcast skies, which is excellent for surface action. The only downside was the wind, which at times made it impossible to make a decent cast. Because of this, I left the lake both days as soon as it began white-capping, which was around 10 AM. I started each day at 6 AM, giving me roughly 3.5 hours to explore.

On Wednesday morning, both of my 7.5-foot fly rod combos were rigged with size 10 surface poppers. I prefer these very small poppers for early spring fishing because they spook the fish less in the clear water and make a lighter landing on the surface than larger poppers. 

I managed to land numbers of bluegill this size using a size 10 Boogle Bug and a Betts popper, which produced consistent action all morning. However,the bite was’t fast and furious; I had to work for every hit. Don’t expect the bluegill to be near the shore this early in the season; almost all the fish I landed were caught about 10 to 12 feet from the bank in deeper water. The key to getting a bite was to let the popper sit motionless for a few seconds and then barely move it to capture their attention. I also tried a tiny beadhead Wooly Bugger in the deep water, but it didn’t produce any interest.

On my way home Wednesday morning, I was really fired up for Thrusday's trip because I knew I would have the same poppers tied on my 2 and 3-weight fly rods. I arrived again at 6 AM, and by the time I got my Pelican boat in the water and trolled to my starting spot, it was 6:15 AM. I began with the same routine as the previous day, casting both the Boogle Bug and the Betts popper. 

After about 20 minutes, I noticed that the fish weren’t coming to the surface to hit either popper. It was time to experiment, so I tried the beadhead Wooly Bugger and the black gnat, but neither produced any results. As the morning went on and I fished different areas of the lake with no bluegill landed, I remembered a few years ago when I faced a similar situation. At that time, tying on a blue size 10 Boogle Bullet had saved my trip, so I decided to give it a shot. I had one left in my fly box, so I tied it on my 2-weight rod. 

It proved to be the winner of the morning showing a few of the two day catch. What amazed me was how the fish were hitting it. They would swirl at the popper and gently nudge it. The hits were so soft that I had to watch the popper closely to ensure I had a fish on. This popper is designed to go underwater when moved, which made it enticing to fish that weren’t interested in surface action, as they would perceive it as wounded and inhale it. 

The two morning trips brought my total to 32 that I dressed for future meals. I did notice during both trips that these bluegill are not the monsters I use to catch in this lake. I think fishing pressure is taking a toll on the lake. In other words, all the bluegill that spawn in this lake this year won’t be here next year. The live bait fishermen will likely catch all that are on the beds between now and the end of the spawning cycle. This is one reason I always fish the lake early; the other reason is that the fertilizing cycle will begin at the end of this month.

Looking back on these two days, I feel like I got my season off to a good start. In the coming weeks, I will be posting about my trips to Smith Lake, where I’ll be fishing for spotted bass and, yes, those huge bluegills there!

Another Year Another Season

 My fishing season this year started this past Wednesday. According to my official Accu weather amp, Tuesday and Wednesday would be the key days to toss some flies to see if I can could attract some bluegill and red-eyed bass to eat. I am a big believer in weather conditions that affect whether a fish will feed or get lockjaw on any given day. Some of the factors I note when planning a fishing trip are the barometer reading, wind direction, cloud cover, water temperature, and freshwater after heavy rain. I look for a dropping barometer reading, especially when rain or a storm is approaching. I've landed more fish on days when the wind was from the west or south, which can bring stable weather and warmer water, which will, in turn, cause the fish to be more active, especially in the daylight or late evening hours of the day. I like to fish on cloudy days because the fish will hoover around cover to feed without worrying about being attacked by birds of prey or animals. The water temperature is what I watch most when fishing in early spring and late fall. The magic spawning number for bass is 50 to 60 degrees. Bluegill and crappie typically begin spawning when water temperatures reach the mid-60s Fahrenheit, with the peak spawning occurring slightly warmer, around 68 to 70 degrees. 

My Tuesday trip was not that productive this past week because the water temperature was still below 56 degrees, which is too cold for any top-water action. 

I did land a few small bluegills and one quality gill, fishing with small poppers and letting the poppers sit motionless and wait for the ripples to disappear. In other words, patience was the key to getting a take. I spent most of the morning maneuvering around other boats, fishing in some areas where I usually land fish. I knew the morning would be slow, but I was on the water doing something I enjoyed. 

Small Arbor Fly Reeds Verses Large Arbor Fly Reels

 I have always been detail-oriented regarding the design of fishing reels and rods. Once I started fly fishing, attention to detail and design became even more critical than with baitcasting equipment. Fly fishing transformed into a finesse style for me, capturing my interest years ago. Now, I focus more on the fly rod and reel than any other component of fly fishing. 

I've discussed the characteristics I appreciate in a fly rod in a previous post, so in this post, I would like to explore the advantages of large arbor and small arbor fly reels. Many fly fishermen will say that the reel is secondary to the fly rod; however, others argue that the reel should be comparable in price to the rod being used. For instance, if you're using a fly rod priced at $500 or more, then the reel could be in that same price range. In reality, a $100 reel could perform just as well. Often, reel choices are made when you purchase your fly rod. The following text is my assessment of the small and large arbor fly reels.

A small arbor reel is lighter and more compact, which can better balance lighter fly rods, providing a more comfortable feel during casting and retrieving. There are no strict rules for pairing a small arbor reel with a light fly rod, or a large arbor reel with a 5/6 weight fly rod. Small reel combinations, such as with a 2/3 weight and 7 to 7.5-foot fly rod, are ideal for small streams and confined areas in small and larger lakes. You'll experience a slower line retrieval rate with a smaller reel, which can give you better control when playing a fish. Additionally, a small arbor reel doesn't require long casts. The most line I have on all my fly reels is 90 feet without any backing, as I'm targeting species that don't require long runs. 

I have five of these Glooomis Fly Reels that are small arbor with a 3 1/4 " diameter. They are light and balance well on all the fly rods I fish. I like the free-spool action on these reels, which enables me to take up a tremendous amount of line while fighting a fish. Notice the backing on this reel, which I have never used. I bought the reel on eBay.

In some situations, a larger arbor reel is necessary, especially when fishing larger rivers or for faster fish that require a more significant amount of line. A large arbor reel provides faster line retrieval and less line memory. While both reels have advantages, I prefer small arbor reels for the reasons I mentioned in this post. 

I suspect that most fly fishermen never utilize the backing or all the fly line on their large arbor reels when fishing for trout, bass, or even striped bass. This statement is likely true for those of us who also use small arbor reels. Ultimately, all that line is there just to fill the spool on the fly reels! So, which fly reel do you choose when fishing your favorite river, stream, or lake?

My 2008 Summer Fly Fishing Classes

 

I remember when I truly connected with fly fishing. It was the summer of 2008, right after I retired in August. Let me explain what I mean by "connected," which takes me back to my childhood when I learned to use the fly rod my dad used to catch bass and bluegill in the pond on our property. This is where I learned how to cast, fight, and land a fish; fast forward to 2008, when I found myself reconnecting with fly fishing, which became my favorite way to fish from that point on.

My first setup was a Walmart Eagle Claw large arbor reel and rod combo, a 5/6 weight 8 feet long. I was new to understanding factors like rod weight, fly line, leader, tippet, medium-action versus fast-action rods, different sizes of arbor reels, and a host of other factors. Honestly, I just wanted a fly rod to catch some bluegill.

It wasn't until I started fishing with a gentleman older than me that summer that I began to learn about the mechanics of fly fishing. I attended classes all summer on Smith Lake and into the fall with Ivan, soaking up everything I could learn about the sport. I had spent the last 20 years on Smith Lake catching spotted bass using baitcasting and spinning reels with a couple of bass fishing buddies I had connected with after moving to Jasper from Tupelo. Unfortunately, coaches tend to move around a lot, and one of my friends relocated during the summer, leaving me with only one buddy to fish with on weekends. Fortunately, Ivan, my retired fly fishing companion, fished with me for a couple of days during the week, which was much better fishing conditions than on a weekend.

It didn't take long for me to realize that Ivan had much better equipment than my Walmart combo. He used two setups: a Redington Trout Special 4 wt. medium action and an 8 1/2 ft. Temple Fork fast action 5/6 wt. His 4 wt. was for topwater action, while he used the Temple Fork for streamers and wooly buggers. Occasionally, he would fish with a 3 wt during the bluegill spawn, but most of our trips involved him using the 4 and 5 wt. fly rods.

I remember my first outing with him at dawn on Smith Lake, fishing in nooks that had a lot of overhanging foliage close to the water's surface. I was fishing from the front of the boat while he fished from the back. He landed twice as many fish as I did that morning by placing his popper just a foot away from the bank under the foliage. He was a master at low-side casting from both his left and right shoulder. The low left shoulder cast was the one he used all the time when we fished together. He was also skilled at the roll cast, which he employed when casting from his right shoulder. Meanwhile, I frequently got snagged in the foliage, trying to get my fly underneath the tree limbs with a right shoulder low cast. Thus, my initial learning sessions focused on placing flies under the overhanging branches, mastering the roll cast, and executing low-side shoulder casts. While I was proficient with the traditional overhead cast for distance, these other casting techniques helped me land more fish that first season with Ivan.

By the end of the season, I had sold my Walmart combo and purchased a Redington 4 wt. medium action rod, a 5 wt. Redington fast action 9 ft. rod, and as a bonus, I used my retirement savings to purchase a 3 wt. 9 ft. Greys Streamflex, fly rod. Of all the things I learned that summer, the casting tips are ones I still use to this day. During that time, I also spent many hours watching fly fishing videos to absorb as much knowledge as possible. I am still learning on every trip I make now, and I'm grateful for that summer of 2008 spent fishing with my best fly-fishing buddy ever, Ivan.