Growing the sport of fly fishing.

 

It used to be that when someone had something to say about fly fishing it was because they were being helpful.  Nowadays with social media and various forms of media in fly fishing, folks have something to say just because they have something to say.

I got that first line off of a podcast.  One of the reasons I started a blog was to help people and to receive feedback that would aid my growth as a fly fisherman.  Community, if you will.  Before Facebook and the such, online forums and groups had many a folk helping aother anglers.  People were eager to share patterns and angling techniques.  I even learned about Bertram’s Bass way back in a forum.  The online fly fishing community was about helping other folks.  People such as myself wanted to learn about more bluegill and panfish patterns.  There were some books and patterns and the local shop but there were so many more flies “recipes” online.  And photos - lots of photos of flies and fish.  Pictures to prove the patterns worked.  Buy and Sell categories appeared.  Sites popped up such as for warmwater angling.  

There is still a sense of community online.  Even if it is mostly through social media.  I’ve made a few friends through social media.  Even had lunch and done some lawn casting.  Also, fishing and planning of future outings.  Some friendships stick and some don’t work out.  That’s just the way it is.  Not everyone clicks.

Here’s something I’ll share with you.  It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to start fly fishing.  It’s not a snooty, upper crust sport anymore.  There are so many folks j joining of fly fishing.  It’s more laid back and less traditional than ever.  I buy gear off of eBay.  I’m not saying go that route.  It doesn’t hurt to speak with someone at the Bass Pro, Cabela’s or the local fly shop about gear.  In the photo, you’ll see an old fly reel from the late 40’s or early 50’s.  It’s bullet proof.  I’ve got Ocean City reels and they didn’t cost much.  I purchased them both on eBay.  I’ve even bought 2 reels at a pawn shop and did a straight trade there for another one.  

Anyways, grow the sport in your own way.

Vintage Fly Rod - Berkley Spartan

 

Seven years ago, I bought this rod on eBay. I really like this model and even rebuilt one. I also have the Talisman which is the same thing. I did strip the Talisman down and probably need to do a second coat of Citristrip. I haven’t fished a Spartan in a few years. The green rod is the Talisman that I stripped down to the tobacco blanks. I was thinking of using my rebuilt Cortland 502 a lot more . It was the first rod I ever built (rebuilt). It’s been about 4 years since it’s seen action. But I also love the action of these Spartans of which I have a few. The older Spartan models. Not the stiff Taiwan models.   Conflicted. May use both but I do know that the Rio Bass line is perfect for loading on the Spartan. Planning out my year. Almost time to hit the creeks for wet wading. I have retuned to work in January. Had my knee replacement late September. I was semi-retired but things have changed. As they have for a lot of folks these days. I no longer hop in the truck and rush off to fish whenever I get the urge. It’s nice to make these plans. Makes one appreciate it more. I’ll have the summer off.   Anyways, thinking of taking out the Spartan and not only targeting warm water species but specifically chasing Chubs. Lots of fun when you hook the fat ones. I’ve done some bank fishing but am looking forward to seeing how well I can wade and balance myself when wade fishing on this knee replacement. The tuna can will be replaced with either and Ocean City or another Martin. Just depends on the needs of the day. More Spartan reports to come. Thanks for reading.

Fly fishing for Longear Sunfish.

 

I like fishing with fiberglass spinning and fly rods.  Like this old Fenwick.

I also like to catch those pretty sunfish.  Especially, those Longears.  I did target them. Few times this year.  I was able to land a few.  My step-mother filled a stringer with a black wooly bugger.  Me on the creeks and her on a lake in her canoe.  

Over twenty years ago and after moving to the states, I encountered my first Longears on headwaters of the Ozark mountains.  On lakes and ponds, I’d caught panfish and not paid too much attention to the species.  However, I did notice these Longears.  I’ve seen hybrids and all sorts of neat panfish and I surely enjoy catching them but it’s maybe the tropical colors that get me.  Not to mention these Buggers (and other panfish) can be so darn challenging to catch.  

For some reason, I immediately fell in love with fishing for panfish on creeks.  A number of panfish and warmwater books help fill the outdoor selections on my shelf. I try add and subtract a fish flies all the time.  Some hang out in the fly boxes for a while longer than others but I’m always changing the patterns.  It’s fun that way.  Just like rods.  I like to try different rods too.

Targeting:

I do fish Longears when on their beds.  That is so hard but so fun.  Also, I drift flies where fish will take cover.  Aquatic grasses, rocks, builders, fallen trees and brambles.  Even ledges.  One year, I found a bunch that would come out and pop my fly when I would drift it or strip it.  I caught so many fat ones from under the limestone ledge on the headwaters of a tributary stream of a much larger watershed.  I guess it’s just been luck.  I do find them in the usual spots.  Recon will give them up and they tend to hang out in the same places year after year.  A good spot for me is an area not within the current and where there is shade . Mostly shallow.  I’ll see them creep out and look at my flies.  Or, pounce.  I don’t catch many in lakes but I don’t fish them much.  My step-mother caught quite a few from a canoe.  She casted her black wooly bugger along the bank and filled some stringers.  I do think they were rocky bank ledges and sandy shallows with pebbles.  I do think a weighted fly helps.  Something that will sink and can be twitched.  Sometimes, you have to catch a few of the other species which are intermingled with Longears.  Such as warmouth.  Patience is needed.  Sometimes, not.  

PATTERNS:

As my fly boxes change, so do my blog posts.  Here is what I’ve most recently been using to target those Longears.

Rio Getter

Brasshawk

Bugger

Panfish Charlie 

Carp-it Bomb

MY RETIRED PATTERNS:

Jeremiah Nymph Two

California Coachman

Cajun Coachman

Black and Yellow

Custom yellow nymph/streamer 

Scuds

Midges 

RODS:

Light action rods are good.  Anything 1-3 weight but 4 is good too.  Even a 5 is okay but you don’t want fast action or you won’t enjoy the fight.

Hope you enjoy the post.  I’m gonna make an entry sometime about an Ozarks Fly Box.  

Pistol Petes for trout and more.

I went fishing about a month ago. Worden’s Rooster Tails, Wooly Buggers and Pistol Petes.  2 were caught on a black Bugger and the other was a yellow polka dot Rooster Tail.  Generally, I use a fly rod for my Pistol Petes.  My “go-to” is a black Wooly Bugger on the fly rod.  Pistol Petes are my #2 fly pattern for trout.  Generally for my spinning rod.

Spinning Rod

I use a split shot. about 4 inches from the Pistol Pete or Bugger.  Sometimes, I use a swivel.  I just started using them last year.  Don’t know why it took so long.  You could substitute the swivel for the split shot.  I also do this with my Rooster Tails.  I like them to stay down and depending on your retrieve, it can bring up the Pistol Pete in the water column.  I do use a peg cork to indicate nibbles and bites.  Sometimes, I use a start and stop retrieval.  At times, I also wait to reel in the fly just to give fish a chance to check things out. Since I use a lead weight and peg cork, I rarely use casting bubbles.  It wouldn’t hurt to use one.

When tying Pistol Petes, some use lead wire for more weight.  I do too.  

Lakes - I just cast out where they may be.  Sometimes, walking the bank, I cover as much water as possible.  Never hanging out too king in one spot.  My retrieval rates vary.  Slower on warmer days.

Tailwaters - It won’t hurt to drift the Pistol Pete.  Trout tend to use as little as energy as possible when feeding.  Cast and reel how you feel.  Get that fly down when you can.

Warmwater species - On lakes, ponds and creek: cast however you want and vary retrievals and utilize water column as you see fit.  

Fly rod

For trout, I mainly use a 5 wgt with WF floating line.  I use size 6, 8 and 10 Pistol Petes.  When fishing for Smallies and warmwater species, I mostly use a 6 wgt rod.

Lakes - I strip slowly.  I take my time and feel for the nibbles.

Tailwaters - I don’t use this on tailwaters but it won’t hurt to try it.  I would drift it and then strip it in.  Wait until you’ve drifted before stripping.

Warmwater species - On lakes, ponds and creek: cast however you want and vary retrievals and utilize water column as you see fit.

Notes:

Use different colors.  Utilize the water column.  Use casting bubbles, peg corks, weights OR don’t.  Try different retrievals and don’t stick with unproductive water.  Save money and tie your own Pistol Petes.  They sure aren’t cheap.  In the 2nd photo, you may notice a jig or “jig Bugger”.  I tied that one and have caught trout on it.  I not only cast jigs with a spinning rod but also a fly rod.  The Pistol Petes were also tied by me.  You can find lots of tying videos on YouTube.

I’ve got a warmwater Pistol Pete post here.  https://purposehere.blogspot.com/2012/08/pistol-pete-thanks-for-reassurance.html?m=1

My Fly Tying Books: Flies for Bass & Panfish - Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen

I am going to share some of the books that have helps me to develop a fly tire and as a fly fisher.  Some can be found at new or use bookstores or somewhere online.  You might have to do some digging around.  I find my books anywhere from Digital downloads to Flea markets.

This was given to me by my father and my first fly tying/reference book.  This was before fly tying had tell off on social media.  It was when you either had to find a blog or message boards.  Maybe even find some like minded folks in groups such as on Geocities.  

Warmwater fly fishing groups could be found but were rare.  You could find a few generic fly groups out there too but what I specifically wanted was definitely niche at the time.

To find warmwater fly fishing and fly tying books, you had to find them at a fly shops, outdoor stores, magazine advertisements, or publisher adverts in the back of books.

There were even a few VHS tapes and DVD’s but they were specially for bass bugs or largemouth bass.  Which is good but folks were catching all sorts of warmwater variety of spices.  Myself included.

These photos are from Flies for Bass & Panfish.  Out of respect of the authors,  I’m not sharing too much else other than photos or maybe a “mention”.

I do prefer warmwater species.  They are not numerous where I live them coo poop of water fish.  And what cold water species you can find here, the more crowded the location.  The patterns I’m sharing from this book are those which I’ve used in the past with success.

This is the Cajun Coachman.  It’s a good pattern for panfish.  I didn’t use this pattern until a few years after I was given the book.  It wasn’t until I learned more about its creator Tom Nixon and bought his book (Fly Fishing and Fly Tying fort Bass and Panfish) and participated in a few memorial fly swaps named after him.  

You can drift or strip this pattern.  It’s a nymph or attractor pattern.  I utilized this pattern mostly on creeks specifically targeting bluegills but catching all sorts of species of fish.  I mostly wade fish but also use a kayak on lakes and ponds.  It won’t hurt to have this pattern in your fly box.

This is the Holschlag Hackle Fly.  Sadly its creator passed a year or two ago.  Tim wrote a good book or two about fly fishing for Smallmouth bass.  It’s tied on a jig head or even weighted eyes.  I used it on a 1/16 oz jig.  I even use 1/8 but only when using at least a 6 wgt rod.  I mainly drift this pattern in deep or swift riffles.  I haven’t used it in a lake or pii I no but think it will produce for multiple species of fish.  It’s this color.  Brown with red or orange jig or eyes.  I’ve made this a mainstay in my fly box for Smallies.

This is the Calcasieu Pigboat which was created by Tom Nixon.  Calcasieu is the parish where he lived and fished. Pigboat is slang for U-boats or German submarines.  It was made to imitate the Hawaiian Wiggler which is the predecessor to spinner baits or even jig baits.  I’ve caught largemouth bass with this pattern.  My father too.  You can even attach a spinner blade.  I’ve done it.  You can tie these in many different colors.

This is the White Serpent.  I guess this could imitate a pig-and-jig?  There are some imitations or evolutions of these 2 Tom Nixon patterns.  Some utilize microsuede or action tails.  I’ve tied my PigBoats with  rubber legs for tails or rabbit strip.  Many variations can be made of these two patterns.

These patterns I’ve shared with you are just a few of the many flies which I’ve utilized from this book - Flies for Bass & Panfish by Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen.  Hope this title may one day help you catch fish or fulfill your fly tying hobby.

Feel free to ask any question in the Comments.