Been a while.

Been a while since I fished the local Tailwaters.  I’ve been fishing other Tailwaters within the White River watershed - not much but they’ve been very productive over the years.

When we moved to the States, my father started fishing the local tailwater in the early 90’s.  He eventually began driving past to the other Tailwaters.  His theory is that quality fishing began to decline once they began opening the dam gates for extended periods of time.  For such reasons as flooding within the watershed, extended rainfalls, etc.  The stream bed began to be scoured and the aquatic environment changed for the worse.  Some folks opinions tend to differ.  I began fishing it in the early 00’s and it was never as productive for me as other Tailwaters.

Over the past few years, fishing has improved. Stream bank restoration and habitat improvements are planned and have begun below the dam.  

I caught a few.  It’s been 15 years since I’ve fished this tailwater.  And in one hour, it was decided that I would return.  One hour and several fished played and a few fish landed.  In speaking with my father that evening, he muttered about having good days and bad days.  I know he still doesn’t think much of that location but maybe I can get him to return.  I have several friends that have been doing very well at several other points along the tailwater.  This may give me something else to do this winter.

I usually wait for warmwater fishing but this will do nicely.  Might even take the kids out to drift some flies.  Y2K and a copper and black midge were effective.

Berkley Rods

If you are looking for an entry level glass rod with a godd reputation, then look no further than Berkley.  It's a "blue collar" fly rod and some of them are coveted.  Such as the Parametric rods, Curt Gowdy line or the older Berkleys - the Stream Specialist being one of the rarest.  I'm not a pro or veteran of fiberglass rods but I love to take them on the stream.

Just as most fly rods of the day, Berkley rods were made in the US.   "In the 1960's Berkley entered into the rod business, which lead to international expansion in the 1970's".

 I enjoy casting Berkley rods for different reasons.  They are straight up fun - if you've even casted an Eagle Claw Featherlight, this rod isn't as slow but it will BEND - and will especially based on the model - even a nice 7' 5 piece travel rod will land a nice 14" smallmouth bass.  And that 5 piece Buccaneer feels amazing.  It's like sitting in a recliner - no doubt that Smallie will tug for his life but you know there is some flex and dare I say "feels like butter" - smooth.  I've heard guys say a rod casts like "butter" but when I've got my rod raised up and that bass is tugging, I'm not holding on for dear life.  Everybody's experience is going to be different.

Look for the spigotted ferrules and not the tip over butt rods from later years of Berkley production.  Depending on the model or the year, the rods were produced in Taiwan or possibly even Korea.  There are other "entry level" or "blue collar" fiberglass rods out there like True Temper and even Garcia Conolon.  If you are looking for more information on fiberglass fly rods then visit the Fiberglass Flyrodders.  http://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/index.php

I even have a Berkley spinning rod.  If you haven’t noticed, I broke off the butt.  It’s been repaired and reinforced with a fiberglass stent.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Size doesn’t matter - to me . . . kinda.

Pictured above, you will find a small bass.  A Spotted Bass - I think, from a small creek.  And it took a lot of work to catch this fella.  

This little one took some effort too.  These fish live in the headwaters off a good warm water fishery.  A number of fish caught have scratched and claw or even bite marks.  I know where to look for the big ones and that’s pushing 12”.  They are so skittish that you got to do your best wading and presentation.  It’s been good practice on this small headwater.

I think that folks forget to be at your best when wading warm water creeks - Fly fisherman, bait angler or lure plopping’ fella.  Walking the bank above those fish and setting up for the afternoon let’s fish know you’ve arrived.  Heck, even me wading or waking soaks the best I can will do that too.  I like to let things settle down a bit before casting.  Or, just be as calm as I can be when fishing as not to set them off with something unnatural.  

My son asked for a scale to weigh his fish.  I token him  that I don’t use one and size doesn’t matter.  Well, I guess it kind of does because it’s the larger fish I like to play too.  It’s those battles with a 16” Smallmouth that takes my breath away.  It’s almost as if I’ve stopped breathing - it’s become shallow even with a rush of adrenaline.  I try to shift into a mode that puts me at my best as I figure out how to best land it without losing the fish.  

But it’s also the little guys that give me a lot of satisfaction too.  It just depends on the situation.  Sometimes, you earth the little fellas and other times, you earth the big fellas.  Or, you’ve just gotten lucky.  Either way, you grow as an angler.  That’s what I want my son to learn.  Size doesn’t always matter.

Hawk’s Bill Crag - Public Lands

Until this weekend, I’d never been to Whittaker’s Point (Hawk’s Bill Crag).  I just don’t like hiking busy trails.  It’s the lonely trails that I like most.  It’s the isolation and quiet that I really enjoy.  It’s the trails and areas that seem to be impacted the least by people.  

The kids wanted to hit a few trails this weekend.  One of them was one of the most hiked in Arkansas.  I’m not a fan of being bunched up between people on a trail or watching someone teeter on the rock stairs in front of me.  Or, watching folks knowingly access a closed trail or cave.  Ya know, it’s just not an enjoyable start to the outdoors jockeying for position to park along a narrow dirt road, only to find you’ve been boxed in by vehicles owned by folks you’ll probably never see for hours.

But being able to access these areas is better than NOT being able to enjoy these places.

Quite a few memorable moments in my life have taken place on public lands.  Hunting, fishing, hiking and camping.  All those things and more.  It would be a shame to lose those lands or have them forever changed.

I live in an area being impacted by massive population growth.  Losing watershed protection is  impacting access to public water and water quality.  It’s also impacting riparian buffers and aquatic habitat and eco-zones.  

And that stinks for folks who enjoy related outdoor activities.

Why do I post about these things?  A love of outdoors.  And a grieving of those losses.

I really would like folks to watch Patagonia’s “Public Trust”.  Not only is Robert Redford’s name on it but it’s FREE on YouTube.  It’s a documentary about fighting to KEEP those lands public.

https://youtu.be/jsKMTAaj_wQ

It covers not only those things in the past that have had a negative impact on Public Lands but also present-day issues from current bureaucracy.  I’ve being seeing a lot of negative impacts to our Public Lands:  I’ve been numb to it.  I’ve read and watched bureaucrats and administrations tearing away at Public Land protections and been frustrated but numb because it hurts and I don’t know how to be very pro-active against those actions.  

A few years ago, a bureaucratic failure caused a large scale hog farm to be approved to be built within the sensitive watershed of the Buffalo River - America’s first National River.  From the point I heard of the approval, I wrote legislators and signed petitions.  Valid petitions through the Ozark Society which have been penned by my own hand.  Not those silly things from social media.  I even attended meetings in which I got to speak with passionate people such as myself.  

That hog farm is now being permanently dismantled because of the voices of the public.  Protections are being put in place to prevent another issue such as that hog farm from entering the Buffalo River Watershed.

I also have been a part of the possible removal of a local dam on a Smallmouth stream and am currently trying to request peramaters to be placed to protect species from over-harvest and to somehow protect the spawn.  I have actually spoken with members of city council, city consultants and city planning about watershed education for that stream.  It’s a long story but once this dam is removed (Chance it may be replaced) that it will turn into nothing but a giant flotilla of canoes, kayaks and tubers like the rest of the watershed.  Folks are chomping at the bit for legal access and even pushing for a “blueway” stream (like a greenway for cyclists.  

Crossing my fingers.  Will be attending public hearings as things move forward.  

If you enjoy the outdoors, please be proactive.  Even if it’s just picking up litter.

Please watch the film.

Small creek and panfish

With the population here blowing up, I’ve lost access to certain very local streams.  That’s also due in part to out-of-date stream laws here in Arkansas.  I’ve had to locate some newer and even smaller waters close to home.  It’s nice to duck out for a quick session and where you won’t run into many folks.

In the background, there are roots and root balls placed along the stream bank as part of a restoration on this creek.  Due to a burgeoning population and accompanying malls, businesses and such, the creek becomes blown out.  What was an area that was only pasture land is now a concrete jungle.  But those roots provided great habitat and made for great fishing.

Luckily, it’s partially spring fed.  It’s a micro-creek at about the last 1/3 of the headwaters and doesn’t really become much at all into it his another small creek way on down in what is now private property - a place that used to be special to me.  

For the first time, I took out a rod I built this Winter.  A 6’ Proof #2/3 fiberglass rod.  And that Martin 63 SS clicker reel - awesome.  Oh what fun those fish were on that little rod.  I did catch a lot of Suckers but was waiting for a nice fat one for a photo op.  Didn’t appear but they were fun too.

Sometimes, you’ve have to get out of your comfort zone.  I made a new friend on this creek last year.  I only started fishing this creek about 10 years ago but it wasn’t until last year, I started wading further on downstream away from those familiar spots.

Tightlines and catch some panfish.

Larger panfish flies.

On social media, I do see a lot of folks posting images of small flies such as nymphs, dries and even custom patterns. I used to utilize a lot of smaller patterns such as trout and Tom Nixon flies.  I mostly fish streams but when I am on stillwater, smaller flies will be used as droppers. Or, even just for specifically targeting them.  

I do see a need for folks to improve upon their fly boxes – the kind of think outside the fly box. When I share my larger patterns for panfish, a lot of folks are surprised. Now I know that there are anglers that understand different panfish species in their capabilities but I do also notice that folks are limiting their fly boxes mainly based upon the availability of certain species or that perhaps they are in a comfort zone.

The fly pictured above is a Smallmouth Gotcha. It’s obviously for Smallies but panfish will take that pattern.  I’ve caught Longears on Tiemco 8089 size 10 which is essentially a bass or larger streamer hook. Crappie, green sunfish, rock bass have large mouths and will surprisingly take some pretty big patterns. That’s so will the small fish. 

One day, I was specifically targeting Longears with a Rio Getter.  Smallmouth Bass and longears were taking the pattern but when things slowed down, I switched to a larger pattern. It’s called a roadkill – now I know there are several patterns out there with that name and I very well may post a picture sometime. Once I tied on that pattern, I started catching a lot of rock bass. Probably 20 in a short amount of time and some Smallies too.

Some of this information will be obvious to certain folks and I know there are anglers out there that could possibly be surprised that someone targeting panfish is not utilizing a box full of nymphs or foam flies.

Here are a few large flies I use for panfish.

Smallmouth Gotcha 

Shucker (a few posts on this pattern exist).

Kraft’s Hellgrammite 

Hada’s Creek Crawler

Stalcups Crazydad

Mohawk Sculpin

A lot of the panfish I catch are Rock Bass and have large mouths.  But I also have caught a number of panfish species with smaller mouths on bass hooks such as Kraft’s Hellgrammite which I mainly use an Allen Bass Hook #10 or even a larger Gamakatsu.  Even with foam flies, I’ll use a bass hook and those panfish will become hooked.

Some of my largest Smallmouth have been caught on small flies.  Some of my biggest panfish have been caught on large flies.  Panfish can be aggressive and hit almost anything but sometimes, you’ve got to tune in on them.  When folks think crappie, most of the times they will go to a streamer.  Well, if you’ve got a crappie selection, maybe switch those over to another species.  Who knows, you could load up a stringer full of Green Sunfish.  I mean anything is possible right?  One day on a dingy pond, I caught a bunch of crappie on a Boogle Bug one day.  Hasn’t happened since.  
Hopefully, this post will help you land a few more panfish or maybe get you to think about changing up your fly box.

Simms Ripraps Review

After wearing my Simms Ripraps for several years, they’ve begun to show wear.  I absolutely love them.  Light and flexible (after breaking then in), the Ripraps were a huge change of pace from Korkers and other wading boots.  I would’ve worn tennis shoes but I encounter slick stuff like limestone.  The Ripraps enabled me to cover ground a lot quicker than heavy boots and neoprene socks.  I tried my Keens but pebbles are painful.  

I made sure the Ripraps fit well but not too snug at the fly shop.  Honestly, my legs didn’t tire out near as much with those on such as with whatever wading  boots I’ve owned.  

Felt soles are incorporated into the bottoms and places for studs.  After several years of 2-4 wade fishing outings and up to 4 times a week for a month or so, the outer layer on the material is flaking off.  But they did spend some time drying in the sun and sometimes, I couldn’t get them dried out for several days.  Probably coulda done a little better taking care of them.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for the Simms Flyweights, I would buy another pair.  They can still be found online.  I’m gonna break in my Simms Flyweights as I use the last life left in my Ripraps this fall.  I’ll also do a review on the Flyweights but break-in time is going to take a while.

Whether it be shoe or boot or portage shoes, the Ripraps have been my favorite stream footwear.  They have a removable foam insert that provides comfort all day.

Since the Ripraps are being phased out, you can probably find them at an affordable price.

Blue Halo Fly Rod Review 8’ #6

I built an 8’ 6 weight Blue Halo fly rod with components from Proof Fly Fishing.  While I always purchase components from Proof,  I’ve never had a Blue Halo rod much less BH blanks.

I already built an Epic 686 which to me is a moderate to fast rod.  The Berkley Buccaneer and Berkley Talisman are older rods with a good ol’ sweet feel to them.  Slower glass with a deep bend.  I rebuilt the Talisman and it is such a joy when playing big Smallies.  I like building rods and wanted to know about Blue Halo quality and performance.  And since they have Fast and Slow blanks, I went with something more relaxed or slow - and I built that Epic just last year.  

The quality is pretty good.  Lots of clarity in the rod.  Ferrules seem to be reinforced and have plugs.  A nice and smooth and glossy finish.  Worth the money.
  
The performance is great.  It’s a slow rod for sure but not a buggy whip and definitely not as slow as an Eagle Claw Featherlight.  It almost feels a mix between my Fenwick 805 and Berkley Talisman.  The rod loads well with SA Panfish which is a 5/6 line.  It also loads Rio Bass #6 exceptionally well but I may purchase a regular 6 or Rio Smallmouth line.  That Rio Bass seems a bit zingy for me even on the EC Featherlight.


Along with some rebuilds, I’ve built on Epic, Proof, Lamiglas and Haldin.  I’ve got McFarland and North Fork Composites (GLoomis) blanks waiting to be built.  And I definitely recommend Blue Halo.
Email me at rzrbk804@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

Luxurious Bastard - beard balms & stuff.

Think I have 14 tins of product from Luxurious Bastard.  Great stuff.  I’ve had product from a number of suppliers and this in my opinion, is the best beard basin and oil you can buy.  Everyone has their preference but you guys just gotta get out there and try stuff to figure out what is good for your beard.  

The biggest reasons I love - yes love - his product is the hold and scent.  Think his name is Shawn.  Forgot.  But he is a small operation and therefore doesn’t have to charge what he honestly could set the price point.  His stuff goes quick.  He puts out a product alert before Sunday which is when his items drop.  He will do specialized runs or custom blends based on your specific request.  Thing is, you gotta be quick because he doesn’t make the same stuff every week.  He has regular items that do pop up again and again.  

I would say his most popular and what probably put him on the map is the 1912 Bastard.  And yes,  Bastard is incorporated in every labeled scent.  There are product reviews on YouTube.  I suggest looking them up.

I’ve noticed some of my friends have grown a goat or beard since the quarantine began.  When I began Substitute Teaching, I didn’t want to seem so “rough around the edges” around kids, parents and teachers.  So, I decided to actually shave regularly and tame my beard.  Which is a goat but blows up into a beard.

I began using beard oils and then moved into balms to tame the goat as it grew into something I had to cut length off.  It made me feel better about myself to groom the beard everyday and utilize something with a proper manly scent.

I use this unscented balm on days that I fish so that scent won’t transfer from my hands to flies.  I like products from the Luxurious Bastard, Lone Bear, Burt’s Bees, Grave Before Shave, Bearded Fox and more.  

If you don’t already know, balms and oils are pretty easy to use.  Just look at some videos and reviews.  Won’t hurt to groom that thing.

New Panfish Flies

I’d really like to thank my readers and followers.  Especially, Bill Trussell who owns the Fishing Through Life Blog.  

Above, you’ll see my first attempt at a Rio Getter.  It’s a pattern developed by Matt Bennett of FlyGeek Custom Flies for Rio Cichlids.  He’s got a video out on the pattern.  I purchased some from him last year and did well catching Smallmouth and Panfish.  

Above, is my attempt the Carp-It Bomb which is another pattern developed by Matt Bennett.  I also did well with this pattern last year.  It did hook a large Sucker last week but the fish jumped off.  

For about the past 7 years, I’ve mostly kept a 3 pattern fly box.  It’s good to try new patterns and add to the box.  I mean, how many times can you hit the same streams with the same fly boxes and not get bored?  

Matt does also have a Carp-It Bomb video.  I do use both patterns to target panfish but know Smallies and other fish will take them too.  The Carp-It Bomb was developed for Carp but I rarely chase them.

Hoping for more rain.  One of my favorite creeks needs it.  And maybe one of these days, I’ll remember my stringer and cook up a Rock Bass or two.  It’s been ages since I’ve kept any fish but I now have a Firebox Stove I’d like to utilize and I really am craving some creek fish.

Epic Fly Rod Review - 686

I saved up some money and sold some fishing tackle to purchase Epic Fly Rod blanks.  The 476, 580 and 686.  All are top notch fiberglass fly rods.  I’ve had a number of fly rods and 6 weights.  This rod is exceptional.  Sensitive but not overly fast.  With the right line, loads quickly.  I’ve been using SA Panfish 5/6.  I built my 686 with parts from Proof Fly Fishing.  The rod is balanced almost perfectly with an Orvis Hydros.  It’s a strong rod and even those fat panfish will make it bend.  I will describe it as a moderate/fat rod.  It is one of my favorite 6 weights.  As a as matter of fact, I am re-doing the wraps.  I used a thread described as making translucent thread wraps crystal coat but that wasn’t the case on these blanks.  I used that thread when I build two rods on Haldin blanks and it was a pleasant look but not as good as Fish Hawk brand thread.  

In the meantime, I’m using an 8’ 6 wgt Blue Halo that I built.  Blue Halo offers a fast and slow 6 wgt of which I choose the latter blanks.  I’m not a master rod builder but I’m improving.  I’ll also give a review of the BH #6. 

The Epic rods used to be made in NZ by CTS but from my understanding, manufacturing moved to South Korea.  Lots of good and proper fishing tackle comes out of South Korea and these blacks are quality.  The only issue I have with the Epic blanks or any of the new baked on finish types is there is a great chance of it chipping which happened twice on my Epic 580.  I’ve had flies hit my TFO Clouser and GLoomis rods and even other glass rods without any issues.  After many years, I’ve only received chips on the 580 (other than a complete breakage on a TFO Signature Series) and I mainly used weighted or heavy flies.  

Is the rod or blanks or building kit worth all the hype and $$$?  YES.

Long time since Tom Nixon

Pictured above is a pattern similar to a Tom Nixon fly I used to tie.  The Calcasieu Pigboat which is similar to a jig and pig or Hawaii Wiggler lure.  I learned of Tom Nixon and his flies from a book I found at the library.  I do believe that was about 20 years ago.

I found out about Ehler’s Grim Reaper - which is similar to a Pigboat - in a magazine.  It is a new addition to my fly box.  Right now, I’m only tying them in chartreuse or brown.  

When I tie this pattern, it reminds my of Tom Nixon and his Pigboat.  The Reaper is different but fundamentally the same.  There are some Reaper tying videos out there.  Sharing this pattern with the chance someone else gets to try something new and interesting.  Initially, I tied these up for largemouth bass.  And I’ve only caught a few bucketmouths with this fly but I figured that it would be something neat to try out for Smallmouth Bass.  It’s nice not having to cast these with an 8 weight from a kayak but instead with a 6 weight and wading on a creek.

I remember loading my box up with patterns from Tom Nixon’s book and hitting a local creek.  It was about the same time I also moved an online warmwater group.  Several years later, I participated in a few Tom Nixon Fly swaps.  Man, warmwater flies have come long way such as all the new articulated flies.   And, especially with the influence of social media and the advancement of some tying materials.

Try adding this pattern to your fly box.  

Panfish on the Fly - longears

So this week, I made two trips to the creek.  The first time, I targeted panfish and cache out with a few nice Smallmouth.  The second time, I targeted Smallmouth and caught a couple of beautiful panfish.  

 Even though I had some panfish specific flies and lost a box full of them on the creeks last visit, both were caught on Pat’s Rubber Legs.  It’s a productive pattern but I’m looking to expand my fly selection.  I did add a few RIo Getters and Carp-It Bombs last year but only had a few in my lost Fly box that somehow slipped out of my sling pack.

Yesterday, I began tying up those Rio Getters and Carp-It Bombs.  The first fish I caught on the Rio Getters was a Smallmouth. The Rio Getter is designed for Rio Cichlids.  And obviously, the other pattern is specifically for Carp but other species chase them too.  Initially, when I first targeted panfish, I was using trout flies and patterns found in Tom Nixon’s Fly Fishing and Fly Tying for Bass and Panfish which I had found in my local library.

I prefer to catch panfish on 2, 3, and 4 weight rods.  I specifically built a 3 and 2/3 weight rods.  As a matter of fact, I purchased some of the finest US made 3 weight blanks to build on.  That rod might see some trout action but it will be rare.  I do have an Epic 476 that is great for smallmouth and panfish.  And with a click and pawl reel.

More to come from my Ozark streams.  Whether it’s fishing, hiking, floating or whatever, I hope you enjoy your time outdoors.

Camouflaged Smallmouth Bass

I had hoped to post something about panfish but the outing I had last week brought none to have.  While I did see just a few and felt a few fish tag my fly, those Smallies called my name.  After a few hours, I decided to head downstream away from the swimmers and anglers to an area that most fisherman won’t go because of the lack of cover and increase in snagging their lures and baits.

It’s an area in which lies a very long run of limestone.  Maybe 200 meters or less.  Mainly a good current through the year and averaging a foot or two if it rains every now and again.  You’ll find grass or green stuff along the far bank - width of the stream is probably about 25 yards.  You find pools and rubs and riffles and eddies.  All sorts of places for you to find fish but you’ll have to contend with the limestone.

Further upstream, you’ll find a limestone area where it seems a landslide happened.  The fish will hang out under those ledges and holes.  In this area, it looks flat but that’s why it is deceiving.  A while there are some rough and coarse spots, a good portion is slick and wading has to be done very carefully.  There are places that are shallow and then drop off several more feet.  As you drift,  fish can be found in those deeper pools.  It’s almost as if they are camouflaged because of the gravel and darker areas on the limestone.  Fish will also come out from under ledge and eat a fly.  It’s nice to see them chase a fly down.  Occasionally, a fish will be under a ledge that provides perfect cover to watch for food to drift downstream.  And as a trout, those Smallies will come out and hone in on that fly almost on a beeline and inhale it.  Those fish will be right in front of you and you won’t even know it.

Pictured above, that Smallmouth was somewhere within a pool in which I had my fly drifting into.  The pool was about 30 feet away and I couldn’t see the fish at all.  There were some rocks and a small outcropping off limestone jutting just underneath the top of the stream.  Don’t know if she came from somewhere or was sitting in the pool or what but the Fly was struck pretty good.  It seems maybe she came from the back of the pool, took the fly and headed back or looked for cover because she immediately headed downstream before I lightly applied pressure to the line to show her down.  

This fish (above) chased the fly down.  Just a few days ago, the water was dingy but I was able to make out the fish.  I couldn’t even see my fly but I saw that fish take off and I knew what he wanted.  Again, I was drifting into a pool.  Upstream about 20 feet, I had cast out straight across and into the current which passed through the pool.  The fish was hiding somewhere at the head of the pool or a small ledge along the left side of it.  I saw that fish just about the time a hard slam was felt.  

I think a lot of folks avoid fishing these limestone rifles because from what I can see, a lot of terminal tackle anglers and bait fisherman target cover.  And, you’ve got to have felt soles to get through some of the limestone stream bed.  Where cover is found here, it’s very shallow.  And with the nooks and crannies, I’m even loosing flies.  With a quick tug and release, my fires will let loose and thank goodness for tying flies with the hook riding up.  

It’s been a tough year but I’m finding them.  Looks like I may have to move to smaller and slower water for panfish though.  Hoping to build out a 3 wgt McFarland rod sometime before winter or late Fall.

Panfish pariah?

Those lowly panfish.  Well, that’s how I feel when taking to certain folks or strangers on the stream.  Yesterday, I bumped into a fella on the stream targeting rock bass.  Good to see him releasing those Smallmouth Bass.  Most folks I run into in this watershed are targeting Smallies.  Seemingly, most that I can see are releasing - I’ve got no issues with legal harvest.

A number of fly fisherman I speak to seem to wanna chase trout and smallmouth but don’t really care about specifically targeting panfish.  I think part of it is they haven’t had the right rod for it.  Just the other day, I posted a lovely longear on FB and someone commented “Bait”.  I’ve got thick skin and have seen worse comments but his was typical.  Even on the water, I do see folks calling Panfish, bait fish.  Over a decade ago and the last time I ever fished with my neighbor was when he would throw panfish as far as he could throw them.  He wanted bass and had been skunked all day.  I had caught Crappie and was fine with it.  That guy was a flake.

Growing up where I did, you got trout.  And that was it.  There were a few other lakes further out in the province with Kokanee but nobody wanted those fish.  I was happy to catch them - and throw them back.  But we didn’t get much of a choice to what was going to end up on the line.

For panfish,  I used to use Flies that were found in Fly Fishing and Fly Tying for Bass and Panfish by Tom Nixon.  Over the past few years, I’ve changed things up a bit.  Now, I’ve got some Predators tied by a buddy.  They are a top water pattern.  Also, he ties up a pattern he calls the Road Runner which I might share in about we post.  It has rubber legs and a rabbit strip tail.  I also use Pat’s Rubber Legs and Bitch Creek Nymphs a lot.

I’ve also had success with the Carp-it Bomb and Rio Gitter flies which has me tying up a few patterns similar to carp patterns influenced by those 2 patterns mentioned above.  Last week, I targeted Longears.  Very frustrating.  They seem to be exhibiting late post spawn activity.  

What patterns do you use for longears?

Hello again, it’s me.

Don’t know where to begin.  I had a great year fly fishing in 2019 for Bass and panfish.  I built several rods too.  Also, I’m trying very hard to transition to trout.  Everything is ready and all I have to do is hop in the truck.

I really wish that posting was current with outings and such but social media is easier to manage.  Plus, folks stay more informed an in touch with me.  However, there are still people scrolling through web pages and searching for something.  Many thanks to those who still follow my blog.

I’ve got a post or two from 2018 and that was a great Fall just as 2019.  This year has had a few bumps.  From a bad knee to an injured foot and lots and lots of rain.  But, I’m catching fish - just not a good start like the past few years.

How about a few photos?

I’ll add more details and photos as they are recalled.  Thanks to those folks who still follow and the people who stumble my not so happening blog.  

 not only do I haves couple of new fly patterns,  I also built and bought a few rods to review.  I guess a few great reviews will be posted - like the first gen Orvis Hydros which is a good tell but glad they updated it.  Just wish it was still available in Cilantro/Lime.

One thing for sure is I hope to help a few folks when it comes to warm water fly fishing because I need to become a little more technical and pick up on some old good habits.