Wading with my Epic 476 fly rod.

Waded an urban creek Sunday before last.  

Nice to finally get out this year. It’s my first time on the water for any species this year. Fished a creek that’s had stream bank restoration. One of the photos shows root balls that are added for such purposes as a physical barrier and habitat. 

Due to those efforts, habitat and better stream bank environs has contributed to better fishing. However, due to more businesses and homes being built in the furthest reaches of this section of headwaters that I fish, litter has increased due to runoff issues and flooding - mainly due to loss of farmland and Ozark prairies and bad city drainage and planning of large parking lots.

But I try to enjoy it as it was about 17 years ago when I began fishing this creek. Before runoff issues didn’t require this stream to have riparian restoration.  

‘Twas a good day out. 77° and sunny. Lots of conversation and looky-loos from the bike path. Smells from restaurant lunches filled the air. I fished up about as far as one could for it to be productive. Several bass and panfish came to hand. I do enjoy my Epic 476. One that I built. I do miss my 4 wgt CGR though.
 

Simms Flyweight Shoes - review

 

I’m not seeing the felt sole Flyweights on the Simms site but I’ve seen them in stores and online.  The rubber soles are still available.  So, I’ll still have a review.  

Having purchased these shoes in August 2019, it wasn’t until the next summer that they began to really break in.  It may be the felt sole that makes these shoe so tough to bend and soften at the creases.  I started wearing them in the Fall of ‘19.  That’s when I typically do a lot of wet wading.  

Why did I buy the felt sole shoes and not the rubber?  Lots of limestone and slick areas - and a history of bad knees.  As a matter of fact, I had knee surgery last Spring.  I thought the shoes would become comfortable fairly quickly.  But no.  They are pretty rigid in construct and will occasionally run a raw spot at the very top and edge of the laces where the foot enters the shoe.  But they grip well and protect from stubbing my toes.  

I also owned the Simms Rip Raps and wore those h til they began to fall apart.  And I’m tired of wearing wading boots with socks or sandals that let stones under my feet or sand blister my feet.  Last year, the shoes really began to feel more like tennis shoes or kind of like the Rip Raps.

Are they worth all the money?  They are if you do a lot of wet wading.  The neoprene has faded but they shoes have held up and the felt looks as if it could handle a few more years.

When wet wading, I used to wear my Korkers boots with felt soles.  Not a fan.  A bit clunky and they slowed my down.  I don’t like having to wear neoprene socks and get that odd tan line on the leg, ha ha.  

I do think Simms had it down with the discontinued Rip Raps.  Rubber soles with integrated felt.  A lighter build and easier break-in.

The Flyweights seem to be built like a freight train and will last.  Not the most comfortable but beats wearing wading boots or sneakers that won’t grip.

Crittermite - Smallmouth fly variation

 

Having trouble posting the video I made for this pattern.  Here is a link though.  https://twitter.com/panfish74/status/1501262935061979141?s=21

You’ll need to purchase popper tails for the head and Hellgrammite tails from Eastern Trophies Fly Fishing.

I’ve had a lot of success this pattern.  I use different size eyes based on what I’m casting.  You can even cast this pattern with a spinning rod.  Materials are straight forward.  The wing is some craft hair material I bought ages ago.  I stopped tying it in last year.  Panfish will also pounce on it.  I use an Allen B10 hook which may not be available anymore but you find one that will work.  Make sure it has a decent gap.

Have fun tying.