Tight Lining Using Zebra Midge With Trout Food Low??

I must admit that I haven’t had much time to fish the last couple of months with other projects going on. Smith Lake is on its annual drawdown and it want be back to normal until Spring. When the drawdown occurs the fish become dormant and suspend and become less active. The last time I fish the lake was in August and had limited success. The tailrace has become my main target the last couple of months with some success. At the last Trout Unlimited Club meeting there was a discussion about the severe shortage of food in the tailrace. One can turn over rock after rock and see no evidence of the leeches, scuds, mayfly larvae, or even the tiny shrimps that was there a year ago. Our club is going to do some research with the game and fish to see what has happen in the way of the food chain. The last trip I made was a couple of weeks ago and I manage to land a couple of trout that was in good condition considering the limited of food they had to eat.

There was no action at all on top for this day and the only way I could get a take was to use the midge tight lining. I had read an article a while back on this method of fishing and decided to give it a try. This bow was taken using a size 20 Zebra Midge using a tiny weight above the midge. The current was  slow so I was simply high sticking through a small seam that was about 4 to 4 1/2 ft. deep using a 9 ft. 4 wt. The takes were extremely light, so I had to be on my game to get the hit. The only complaint I have with this style of nymphing is the hang ups at times. I found out that if you don't react even at the slightest tug, then you diminish your changes of landing the fish. I tried this same area with the indicator but couldn't get any takes, so that was really what brought on the tight lining method. I am always up for any new method in trout fishing and today I got to try one that proved to be successful.

Notice the midge right in the top of the mouth where it should be. With leaves all over the surface, it made for a mess trying to do anything with the dry. Either a leaf would hang the fly up or the leaves would interfere with the line. One theroy most of the club members agree on as for the lack of food is less generation which creates more moss on all the rocks. I could make this same trip last November and land at least a half dozen trout. Of course the food was there then as opposed to now. Considering the limited amount of time I had today and the shortage of food for the trout I think I did pretty well. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why the food supply has dropped off?

Fantastic Deal on Redington Fly Rods Check This One Out!!

Guys it is good to be back and once again talking fishing with all my buddies. I am finishing up on my Ancestry Book after two years of work, and decided to give each one of my children a copy for Christmas.

I am coming back with what I think is a fantastic deal on a Redington Fly Rod. As some of you know I am fan of the Redington Drift Reel and of course the Redington Fly Rod. I purchased the Redington Trout Classic 5wt. 9 ft. last year for the regular price of 150.00 which at the time was a great price for a fly rod of quality and with a priced far less than the other name brands on the market. I find out this morning while searching for fluorocarbon tippet on the web that this same fly rod is now on clearance for 75.00 with the traveling case included at Cabelas. I did a post a while back on the lightest fly rods on the market and this fly rod beat them all for lightness. Cabelas told me this morning Redington is coming out with a new version of the fly rod and the Trout Classic will be discontinued, with the new version being priced at 170.00. So if you want a quality fly rod at a super price this may be your ticket. I can’t let this one go by without getting the 3 wt. 7 ½ ft.  Since I haven't been posting lately this news may be old to some of you, but here it is for you first time readers.

Hope to be Back Soon on the Blog Circuit

Just letting you guys know I have been really busy trying to finish up on my Ancestry Tree book. I am trying to complete it by end of this year. After I finish, Ancestry will bind it for me into book cover form. I didn’t just do the family tree thing where you see your ancestries listed; I have written and researched articles dealing with the Civil War period and how it effected those who fought in the war; how the individuals lived, where they lived, what the towns look like back in the day and many other segments that were prevalent during the 1600’s, 1800’s and the early 1900’s. This is taking a lot more time than I anticipated, but for me it is one of the most interesting things I have ever attempted. No I am not neglecting my fishing duties; I still have a little time to trout fish the tailrace between the traveling research and typing. So just letting you all know that my blog activity will be very limited from now until the first of next year. I will be checking in from time to time to see what everyone is up to, so don’t forget me!!

Will This Fly Pattern Land Smallmouth & Spots in The Fall

While fishing at the tailrace the other day I meet a guy who told me about this unique Frog Pattern he uses with a 9 ft. 7 wt. We both were leaving the tailrace when he started talking to me about fishing Pickwick Lake in Tennessee in the fall for Samllmouth bass using this swimming frog. Being the always inquisitive fisherman I am I immediately started questioning him about the exact time of the year, water temp, presentation, leader/tippet size and length, depth, retrieve and was he fishing it over structure?  He gave me the name of the website which of all places is located in United Kingdom. I know I like to buy all my fishing tackle in the U. S. but I couldn’t resist seeing what this go getter of a fly look like up close and better yet to see if it would actually produce on Smith in October. Long story short I ordered half dozen last week. I don’t know about you guys but I am always willing to try any new fly pattern that may produce action for me. I will have to wait 16 days for the thing to get to me but I think it will be worth the wait.

This is the FROG I will wait 16 days for---I have a feeling it will produce

Since I am on the subject of FROG I thought I would share a few more with you guys. This frog cost twice as much as the frog from England--4.00

The Dry Ryn by Orvis is more a simplier pattern, I like my frogs jazzed up some

The Boobyfrog is from the Field & Stream blog. It is unique because it is tied with the hook upside down, I may have to try this one too.

The orange belly frog from Riverbum is yet a variation in colors and pattern

This frog is tied by Dusty Abney who tells quite a story involving this frog---great piece!!

 

Spending Time With my Little Fishing Buddy

My wife and I spent last week keeping the Grandchildren and really found out what it was like to have small kids again. Not that I am complaining, my wife and I love our Grandchildren, but numbers of years have passed since our own two children were little. My wife pretty much looked after the baby sister as Bryson calls her while I spend time with him outside. I am sure some of you remember and even experience on a daily basis what a 3-year-old little boy can do in just a day’s time. Since he and his sister were with us for four days I thought it would be a good time to work on Bryson’s casting skills using the spin-cast setup I bought him a few weeks back. This little guy really impressed me with his casting of the little 5 ft. ultralight rig. We would work on it every day for about 5 minutes and then go on and do something else. I didn’t want him getting tired or bored with the learning process so a few minutes worked well for him. He loves the outdoors so I had a few activities planned to start with helping me shampoo the carpet in my boat.

Got to get the nozzle set just right for a light spray on the carpet

Finally got it correct after getting wet himself

Getting all that dried blood, dirt, and grime out of that carpet is a chore, but we both finally managed to complete the job, I must say it looked as good as the day I bought it. This is the 2003 Anniversary Edition of the Bass Tracker, which was the year they started welding the body, no more rivets. I bought this boat used off Craigslist four years ago and have really enjoyed using it on Smith Lake. As most of you know I use my 8 ft. Raider boat on Walker Lake for the big bull bluegills.

I worked in a short half-hour trip to Walker Lake today before the Grandchildren came and landed a couple bass using poppers. I didn't have a lot of time so no boat just standing from the bank. I only fish this lake in the early spring, but today my excuse for revisiting the place was fly line. I was trying out a new line which is another story later on.

Reflecting Back on Some of my Previous Post The Last 3 Years

Writing a blog has afforded me so many opportunities. The first and foremost is conversing with some of the best fly fishermen throughout the United States. The second is the finding, researching, and using some great products on the market for fly fishing; and last being able to record and look back on some of the best fly fishing trips I have ever experienced for bluegills, bass and trout using the fly rod. I thought it would be neat to give my viewers an opportunity to view and read some of my past post from Fishing Through Life over the past 3 years. In fact I will be coming up on my 3 year anniversary next week as a Google Blogger, so what a better way to celebrate it than to reflect back on some my of previous post.

Post 1

I would have to say an April bluegill outing this year had to be one of the best I have ever experienced for super large bluegill.
Post 2
The month of June produced the best trout fishing trip ever for me on our local tailrace. On some outings everything seems to fall in place and this trip proved it.
Post 3
The month of October has to be some of the best times to land quality bass on Smith Lake using the big Poppers.
Post 4
Hot July 2011 with my brother in Mississippi had to be one of my best crappie fishing trips.
Post 5
Discovering some large poppers that will get you some explosive hits—and at the top of my list has to be the Boggle
Post 6
The Tippet Ring has saved me money on leaders and without the help from one of my blog buddies I would have never known about it
Post 7
One of my blogging buddies told me about this amazing fly reel that has proven its worth many times over
Post 8
Finding this fantastic fly rod while searching for the so-called High Sticking fly rod on the net was one of my best finds ever
Post 9
Discovering why it is so important to buy American
Post 10
Finding a fly line that will handle the many big poppers I cast 
Hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoyed writing them for you guys.
 

Fishing The Super Light Fly Rods For Trout & Bluegills

If you read my post much you will find that I am really into fishing light fly rods. I am talking fly rods you can use all day and your arm or shoulder doesn’t give out. I thought I would devote this post to some great deals on super lightweight fly rods. I have never fished anything longer than a nine foot, so I will keep it in the 7 to 9 ft. range. Keep in mind that most all the fly rods shown below are over 100.00 bucks. I found out some years ago when I started fly fishing for trout that the lighter the fly rod the more the cost. I never purchase a fly rod without knowing the weight.

The Temple Fork Signature Series is an excellent fly rod for the money and the 8 1/2 ft. weigths in at 3.1 oz. --my son has this fly rod and really likes the lightness. Price--110.00 to 120.00 depending on length---if this rod is purchased through Percy's Flies you get 2 doz. free flies with your purchase

The Pursuit by Redington is an excellent fly rod for the budget minded as is the Temple Fork fly rod above. The 8 1/2 ft Pursuit weights in at 3 oz. Price--119.00

Super nice and extremely light the Redington Trout Classic is one of the lightness fly rods in this price range of 150.00--this fly rod in the 8 1/2 ft is 2.6 oz and the 7 1/2 ft. is 2.3--I have the 9 ft. in the 5wt. which weights in at 2.9 oz.

A fast action fly rod by St. Croix the Imperial in the 8 1/2 ft. 4 wt. weights in at 2.5--the 9 ft. 5 wt. weights in at 2.8 oz. Price 200.00 for the 4wt. and 180.00 for the 2.8 oz---If you purchase this fly rod at Percy's Flies you get 10 dozen free flies with your purchase of this Imperial Fly rod.

This medium action Greys XF2 Streamflex in the 9' 2 3/4" length 3 wt ----weights in at 3.1 oz.--this rod actually feels lighter than the 3.1--it is quite possibility the lightness fly rod I have ever used in the 9 ft. + length---a dream to cast---worth every cent of the 289.00 price

This is the Orvis Superfine Touch fly rod which weights in at 2 3/8 oz. in the 9 ft 4wt series. This is an exceptional fly rod and the reason I know this is a friend of my has this series and it is unbelievable to cast--Feather Craft is selling this fly rod with any trade-in of any old fly rod you own for 380.00--It sells everywhere on the web for 475.00--



This is the Hardy Lightweight Classic which weights in at 1.35 oz for the 7 ft. 3 wt. --the 8 1/2 ft. weights in at 2.4 oz--Price 7 ft. --395.00---8 1/2 ft. --425.00 --the price gets higher as you get lighter





And Last, the "Orvis Helios Ion" -----this is a chunk of money to spend on a fly rod but if you are going super light then the 8.4 ft. 3 wt weights in at 2 oz. and if that isn't light enough for you try the 7 ft. 3wt which weights in at 1.2 oz. the price for either is 795.00---I didn't find anything fly rod lighter than this series anywhere on the net. I don't think I will purchasing this brand anytime soon but I just wanted to share with you guys the varied weights of some of these classics fly rods. Thanks for viewing!!