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

Spending Time With my Little Buddy

I can’t think of a better way to spend most of this week. I am talking about spending time with my Grandson” Bryson”. I am on another one of these trips where I stay with my daughter and Bryson, while B.T. is away on a Midas business trip in Texas. I’m not getting to go to the gym this week, but keeping up with Bryson is gym enough.
I am looking forward to next week that is when the fishing starts in earnest for me. The temps will be hitting the 62-degree mark and I should be on fish by Tuesday.

Got to be fun adding gravel to the top of tables

Waiting for Pops at the bottom

Got to love it!!!

Just a Tad Irate at Those Pesky Links, Ads, and Cheap Products

Got another one of those pesky emails today from another one of those I call them freeloaders wanting me to let them post something on my blog. These individuals usually disguise their intentions by writing this long drawn out email about how this link, product, or connection will enhance my blog traffic. I find it amazing that the majority of these people do not even have a blog or a website, but merely trying to use your blog and who knows how many more blogs to sell these ridiculous products. You can tell by viewing and reading the descriptions of the products they are cheap China made. Some are cheap toys, hand tools, and countless little trinkets. Luckily my spam control on my Google account will catch the majority of this junk but every once in while some of this nonsense gets through and I get somewhat irritated and have to let off a little stream.

Unique Way to Get Your Flies Deep in Your Favorite Stream

Sometimes things just don’t work out like you planned. Yesterday and today were both good examples. I had planned on fishing below the dam yesterday for the newly stock rainbow but low and behold the Alabama Power decided to run both generators so needless to say the water was up and moving dangerous fast. Well today was the same procedure only faster moving water. It is amazing how the trout can even stay in the area when the water is moving that fast. So I spent the better part of the afternoon shooting the breeze with fellow fisherman at the fly shop. You can hear some amazing fish stories there and often you get to add your two cents. One topic really got my attention when one of the guys was talking about using slip beads as a weight to get his flies deeper in a stream, as opposed to the crimp on lead weight. He was referring to a Tungsten bead in a 3/32 size. The bead simply slides down to the head of the fly and acts as a weight just like the crimp lead weight. I checked out the link on the Orvis website and found out the beads come in an assortment of colors. He said he like the red better than the other colors. I did notice reading the description of the beads that there was no mention of this bead being used as a slide weight. They were being sold for the purpose of fly tying. You never know what one will pick up hanging out at your local fishing establishment. I do know I am going to order some and give them a try. I will get back to you guys with a report.

Relocating Fish for the Purpose of Landing Bigger & Better

I made a trip today to the area where the new lake has been built. My buddy and I meet one of the guys from the fish hatchery out of Birmingham. He brought the last of the Coppernose Bluegill to stock in the lake. For a more in depth explanation of this fish check one of my previous post. Both of us had a little time after the hatchery people left to fish the pond on the property. We landed around 20 small bass which really needed to be removed from the pond. The reason I say this is because most of these fish had a huge head with a slim body. The Game and Fish told us that this pond is overstocked with small bass and it is best to remove them when you land one. This will increase the chances of landing larger bass in the future. We relocated the 20 in a small creek below the dam. We did discover that this place has crappie in it. Neither of use had ever caught crappie here, and in fact no one has ever caught crappie here. So this was a surprise. I do know this where there is one crappie there are more. I am hoping to make a trip below Smith Dam tomorrow to try out my new fly rod. I hope to get a bend with some of the rainbow that was stocked a couple of days ago. I’ll keep you guys posted.  

Probably 100 more in there just like this one

Tanks with the prize???

Fishing Accessories That Helps Make a Fishing Trip

A recent post by Jay over at “The Naturalist's Angler” prompted me to take a look at the latest clothing gear and footwear out there now for the angler. He was displaying a shirt Kelly had given him for Valentines. This shirt is similar to the ones I wear on the water in the hot summer and even into the fall months. I use to fish with just your ordinary shirt and pants, but after viewing some of the latest clothes lines in our local Bass Pro and Academy Sports I took notice a few years ago. The outdoors shirts and pants that are available now are exceptional when it comes to keeping you cool and absorbing the sun rays. I am referring to the Magellan Sportswear Men’s Lake Fork Fishing Shirt at Academy Sports.  The shirt comes in a ton of colors for short and long sleeve, and has the large pockets in the front with the wind flap in the back to let wind circulate. When I am on the water this is the shirt I am wearing summer and fall. It comes with a great price at 20.00. Academy has the pants to complement the shirt in their Magellan Sportswear Men’s Backcountry Zip-Off Belted Pants. Two things I like about these pants; the zip off leg to convert to shorts and the elastic waist band for added comfort around the waist. The pants are priced at 25.00. Both the shirt and pants dry extremely fast if you are in rain. The third article is the shoe at Dick’s Sporting Goods; the Teva Men’s Dozer III Sandal-----This sandal will not only keep your feet cool, but keep your feet from getting sunburn. It is extremely lightweight and comes with a fair price at 50.00. The last item is probably the most important when it comes to protecting you from the rays of the sun and that is a good quality hat. Notice I said hat and not cap. I use to wear caps all the time on the water until I realized I could keep more sun off of my ears and face with a hat. So with that said the hat I wear and recommend is by Bass Pro; the Redhead Mesh Outback Hat. I really like this type hat especially in the summer months because it has mesh all around about the headband. The top is solid to keep you from getting sunburn on those bald spots on your head that we all develop with age.  I use to think it really didn’t matter what you wore when you was on the water fishing, but I guess you could say with age comes wisdom. I not only want to enjoy being on the water now days but I want to be comfortable while I am there. With these items it helps me enjoy the trip much more.