Tying up some bass flies.

Tying up some bass flies for next spring.  I'm looking to make something that will go deep and entice a bass from his spot in the stream.  And, one that will pull a bass out from under some structure on a lake.  This fly should do the trick.  The body is of bunny strips.

Of course I'm gonna tie a Woolly Bugger - all parts chartreuse with a cone nose for deep drifting and jigging action - and a little flashabou!  I'm going out for larger smallmouth bass, spots and LMB next year.

I made a trip to Cabela's for tying material.  It's been quite some time since I made my way to that shop.  I try hard not to go.  Lots of Christmas goodies at Cabela's!!  And who can forget about some top water action??  Not me!  My favorite small lake is in terrible shape which means I've got to get out of my comfort zone and find some new places to put the kayak in.

I mean to catch more largemouth bass and panfish.  Impoundments are probably going to be more of a target this spring.  I have to find my oars!!!  I bought an anchor this year or last for my kayak. That does help out more than you would think.  So far this week, I've sold 5 sets of flies this week.  I'm hoping sales pick up in late winter and spring.  All I have to do now is figure out to tie articulated flies - possibly the Sex Dungeon??!?!?  I will also be purchasing flies from Cabela's, the local fly shop and wherever else I can find them.

Too much top-water action?

http://purposehere.blogspot.com/

I love topwater action.  When approaching a stream or certain location on a creek, I usually begin drifting a topwater pattern.  I then move to a streamer.  Sometime, I begin with a delicate approach and use a fly such as an Elk Hair Hopper or smaller foam pattern.  I really have to be mindful of my cast.  Due to some of the nasty and bushy areas I fish and on smaller streams, I am used to making abrupt forward casts with a push out on the end with my thumb and forearm as to throw out more line - since I couldn't let more line out on the backcast.  I also cast in sort of in a sidearm motion.  I have a lousy loop and my casts are usually not delicate.  Hope that makes sense.

Even when approaching deep holes and knowing that more then likely, I need a heavy fly, I stick with topwater flies.  To me, this is the most exhilarating way to catch fish.  I love the way a fish pops, sucks, slashes or pounces on a fly.  Especially, when it is the moment a fly lands on the water.

When possible, I slowly mend the line.  Tossing out streamers and stripping line in can honestly wear out an arm.  Drifting is more relaxing.  My breathing does tend to slow down and at times, I find myself holding my breath in anticipation of a strike.

I find myself trying to work a section of stream a lot longer than the average fisherman.  I see folks casting and walking or hanging out just a few moments in one spot.  Me, I tend to spend hours on a  small section of stream.  I'll start forwards and work the stream backwards as I head home.  When I see loads of fish, I usually try and find a strategy.

This next year, I have a plan (and hope to be dilligent) to fish longer stretches of a stream, and to fish deeper holes . . . and to cast larger streamers and flies in the hopes of landing larger smallmouth bass.  My fly boxes will always hold topwater fly patterns.

I had someone asked my why I had put feathers on a foam topwater fly when it wasn't necessary to do so.  I mentioned that it would sell more flies.  I thought the fly looked better.  It looked a bit more like a bass fly instead of a foam bluegill bug.  In essence, those feathers give my topwater flies life.

I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!

http://myworld.ebay.com/riverwalker74

I had to borrow something from Stuart Smalley for the title of this post.  Seems to fit my message.  I've been looking at a lot of trout blogs lately and seeing some pretty trout.  I've see some posts on Instagram and there are some fellas who know how to land them and take good photos too.  Shall I make a journey to the over-fished damn of ye' little ol' trout??

In seeing all those trout pics, it takes me back to those trips my father and I made to the local dam.  I've never really spend much quality time on a trout stream.  I dislike the local trout stream because folks like to fish there - lots of folks.  I prefer a relaxing outing on the local stream and that won't happen when the gal next to me keep drifting a Woolly Bugger in front of me and yanking out little Rainbows!!

Growing up in British Columbia, Canada, (I ain't no Canuck, lol.) - I was used to heading down to the nearest lake, turning over a log and grabbing some type of insect.  We would put them on a hook and pull out really big lake trout.  I was more into exploring the woods and being outdoors as someone watched my pole.  Large fish can be found on the local stream but not in the quantity I'm used to finding.

Maybe I'm just lousy and not man enough to bring forth the patience!  I sure don't have patience enough to go Carping.  I've also seen pics of local fly fisherman landing some nice smallmouth bass on a local stream that I also fish.  I don't see fish like those on the end of my line.

Am I self-depreciating??  Yup.  Do I always chase the same fish on the same stream even though I could probably find something better?  Probably.  Do I tie up pretty streamers and insects?  No.  But I can out-fish most folks and that thanks to my ability to find large panfish and small bass, lol!!!

When I look at social network photos, I see the fancy wick-away shirts and the stylish caps with names of local fly shops woven on the front.  Fancy arbor reels and pricey rods or vintage reels sitting on glass rods which are stylishly placed on the hood of a car . . . these things I wonder have become fly fishing??

Are the guys who attend the yearly fly fishing film fests becoming Hipsters?  Am I a hipster?  Did Gen-X become the new breed of fly fisherman - did we evolve into hipsters who flash some style on the local stream?  I guess it's OK if you are landing some fish.

I'm just a guy tying up silly little foam flies in the hopes of landing a smallmouth bass in the range of about a pound.  I'm the guy who will hit the small stream behind a local church and catch sunfish and creek chubs.  I'm the dirty fly fisherman who prefers the company of grittiness and lousy fishing locales.

I may not land the prettiest trout (or go out for them at all!) and I may not wear a fancy bandana upon my face as a friend snaps my picture but at least I'm not at the office!!  As the saying goes, "Any day on the water beats a day at the office."  'Tis true!  And while these guys are at the office or at work somewhere, I'm hitting their honey hole a day before they do it!

 I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!

New Warm water Fly Fishing Pattern for Smallmouth & Panfish

http://myworld.ebay.com/riverwalker74

Just found out Bret Bielema from Wisconsin is accepting the open coaching position at Arkansas . . . I guess that's cool.  Not impressed but not let down . . . too much. Anyways, just tied up this pattern for bass and panfish.  It's pretty similar to my Juicy Foam Flies.  I'm pretty sure it's gonna be productive.

Just listed this fly on ebay . . . will probably sell sometime soon.  I'm evaluating some fly fishing goals for next year.  One goal I've already set is to catch 100 panfish - good sized panfish - possibly just bluegills or warmouth.  Another is to hit more lakes and ponds for larger bass . . . and to do some more float trips for smallmouth.

It's always nice to sit down and throw some materials together.  Sure, I didn't go too far outside the box but I'm happy with this pattern.  I dug out some Elk hair or possibly a deer tail . . . will be incorporating it into more flies.  I think if I can use more hair, maybe I can move more flies on ebay.

If anyone is interested in any of my patterns, I am more than happy to send a few your way.

Josh

Still tying flies as I ponder what to chase.

http://myworld.ebay.com/riverwalker74 - I have about 40 listings of bass and panfish flies.

I haven't done much fishing since September.  I haven't sold many flies on ebay either.  This fall was a tough one for me.  Action slowed down quite a bit on the local smallmouth river . . . or maybe it was just me.  In all honesty, I got burned out on chasing smallies.

My favorite small lake for panfish has been dually affected by the drought which has brought on a pretty bad algae bloom.  Road work and inlaying of sewer pipes has caused runoff of mud into the lake.  I called the state office and let them know how the lake has been impacted by the road work.  Water has been backing up behind the road work into a field.  The creek isn't flowing properly under the highway and the pond is dwindling and muddy.  So, I haven't been able to hop down to my local hot-spot for my favorite little fighters - panfish!!

My truck has some issues and has been sitting since about mid-October.  The guys at the local shop had to use a compound and do some bevelling and what-not on the intake manifold -  due to pitting and some small cracks or crazing.  The heads also had pitting and had to be resurface.  I've only got about 150K on the truck!!

2 days after bringing it home, I find the radiator has now begun to spew coolant.  I'm doing research on a good aftermarket radiator.  I'm just going to put it in myself.  Just holding out because I can be lazy about it.

My father and I were supposed to go trout fishing which would be my first time out for that species in years.  Instead, I made a long road trip to visit some other family at Thanksgiving.  It's been good to get out and do different things other than fish.  I've been walking most days or riding a stationary bike.

In speaking with a buddy of mine who has been fishing the same stretch of river, we both found that fishing hasn't been as productive in our favorite holes.  And some local guys have been loading up stringers in a stream that has been afffected by the drought.  Smallmouth haven't been able to move within the same stretches of stream and folks are plucking them out of isolated pools.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to making a trip out with my father for trout, chasing creek chubs in January and opening day at Roaring River.  I'm still tying flies and listing them on ebay!!

Cheers.  Hope I haven't bored ya'll to death.