I hope to use this blog as an avenue to express my thoughts and adventures of all of my fishing expeditions and any other journeys I may undertake.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Snow Down in The Deep South
When it snows in Alabama or any of the
adjoining states around us, it becomes a big deal. We are expected to receive
snow until midnight , which will gives us between 5 to 6 inches. In other words one of the
biggest snows we’ve had in years.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Eagle Parents Stay Busy Tending the Young
The Bald Eagles are really active on Guntersville Lake in the north Alabama now . There is a lot of
activity around this nest which houses two baby Eagles.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Perfection in the Picket Pin & Soft Hackle Flies
I decided late last fall towards the end of my fishing
season that I didn’t need any more flies or poppers. Well you guys know how long
that resolution lasted; right after I saw the Picket Pin and Soft Hackle flies
Alan had tied at Small Stream Reflections. Both these patterns impressed me not
only for their success rate but also for their fishy look. For those of you
who follow Alan’s blog know he is an accomplished fly tier and an excellent photographer.
I can’t wait to get out on
our local tailrace and introduce both these patterns to the rainbow there.
The Picket Pin is one of
Alan’s go-to flies and one that I feel will be productive for me as well.
The Soft Hackle Dry is
another stellar pattern from Alan’s collection; I haven’t fished this fly on
our tailrace and anxious to give it a try.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Another Fishing Accessory I Just Can’t Live Without!!
I read a post the other
day concerning fly fishing accessories. It got me to thinking about just how
much we as fishermen whether its cold water or warm water spend on all these
add-ons we place in our fishing arsenal.
If I read about or see a fishing item I think I just can’t live without
then most of the time I buy it; well here is another fishing accessory I
decided I just couldn't live without, the fly fishing license plate.
I know how all of us love this great sport of fishing, so I thought why not spread the word, especially to the young, as we drive to and from our favorite fishing destinations. The following plates were some of my favorites I found online and thought you guys might want to see:
I know how all of us love this great sport of fishing, so I thought why not spread the word, especially to the young, as we drive to and from our favorite fishing destinations. The following plates were some of my favorites I found online and thought you guys might want to see:
Really impressed with this
plate
Outstanding Brook Trout
Plate
For all of us who love the
Bluegill
Bass on the Boogle Bug
Poppers
My favorite---all these license plates and many more can be found at Café Express
Catchy fly license plate
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Beaver Dams the Hidden Fishing Jewel
Beaver Dams play an
important part in the environment we live in. They add to the fish habitat
weather it’s in a lake setting, river or small stream.
This particular beaver dam
is a prime obstacle across the spillway in the upper Legion Lake in Montgomery
County Mississippi . Any narrow stretch of fast water in a creek, river,
or in this case spillway will attract beavers to set up home.
This beaver dam serves
not only as a home for a beaver family, but acts as an aquatic food chain for
large and small fish. The smaller fish used the dam as a refuge from the larger
fish which are always on the prowl for an easy meal. This particular dam has
helped to keep the “Stumpy Side” water level, which is what the locals have named the lake, up during
the drier summer months. The stumpy side name is derived from the mass of trees
that was in the area when it was flooded years ago. All that is left of the
trees today on the lake is the actual stumps sticking above the water surface.
Thanks to the beavers for keeping this part of Legion a fishing bonanza for
lots of crappie, bluegill and monster largemouth?
These are huge nest, which
got me to wondering if the eagles use the same nest year after year. After
doing a little research I found they do use the same nest under certain circumstances.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Scouting the Scenic Small Streams along the Natchez Trace Parkway
My brother and I recently
spent a rewarding Saturday scouting some of the scenic small streams that are found
along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi . We decided to zero in on a few streams that flow
along the Choctaw County stretch of the Trace. These streams years ago were a
source of food for all those who lived near them. Today those who drive over
the many bridges that cross all these streams seldom pay any attention to their
beauty and what species of fish they whole. My brothers and I use to fish all
these streams as boys when we lived in the area; now the streams are void of
any fishing; how times have changed.
We wanted to spend the day
to see which streams would be fishable in the summer when all the streams are
flowing at their normal level. As you view the images below you will notice
that the streams were somewhat stained and showed signs of some high water.
Even with an elevation in water level, we could see some excellent pocket water
and drop-offs that will be perfect to fish with the fly rod come summer.
Big Sand the name of this
stream was one we selected to fish come summer because of its easy access from its
banks. We found some nice pocket holes along its banks.
Little Bywy creek is one
of our favorites and one we fished as boys; notice the inside cut bank, which is
where Redeye Bass hang out in the summer months. A dry fly floated along the
edge of the bank would get a reaction.
Jenkins Creek pictured
here is probably the easier stream to access. There were some fast runs as well
as drop-offs into deep pools in this creek, which would whole redeye bass, as
well as Sun Perch. Casting upstream and letting a dry or nymph float through
the deep runs would be deadly.
Little Bywy just on the
Trace Parkway looks so good I just had to give it a cast or two. I know the bass
and sun perch were there, but on this day blue skies and cold temps kept them at
bay.
Middle Bywy could be a bit
more difficult to fish compared to the other streams because of its high banks.
One would need to wade this stream in places to have success. The ideal tackle
here would be the Little Jewel 10 ft. rod rigged with a nymph or dry. Catfish
are abundant in all these streams and a red worm tipped on a size six hook will
yield some nice channel catfish using the Little Jewel. As boys, we always used
a cane pole and red worms. Our cane pole will be replaced come summer with
the Little Jewel and our 7 ½ ft. fly rods. I guess you could say we have moved
up in the world of fishing.
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