Help Keep Our Streams Clean

Easily coil and control waste leader and tipped materials, keeps mono from creeping out of your pocket and into the environment.

Photo is from Smith Creek site.

"I see way to much fishing line on the riverbank and I got so tired of re-stuffing spent leaders and tippets back into my vest pocket that I finally designed a tool to make them stay put. The Trash Fish is simple, slim and fits in my pocket. It's great having a eco and user friendly tool that people love."

Wayne Smith – Smith Creek

Check out their video on how to utilize this tool.  Spread the news.  I would say this tool is not just for fly fisherman.

http://www.smithcreek.co/trash-fish.php

Josh

My Top Smallmouth Bass Flies

Caught on Chartruese Woolly Bugger.

Pat's Rubber Legs - A must have because it mimics Hellgrammites and nymphs such as the March Brown that hatch here.  Maybe it's the rubber legs but Smallies love it.  Size 10 - 4.

Crazy Dad - Purple, orange, green, brown - WHICHEVER.  I mainly use purple and orange.  I've never done well with other crawdad patterns. 

Boogle Bug - Any of them.  If Smallies won't hit them the something else will hammer it.  I drift them or pop them - whatever, I never use the same presentation - although, drifting with small twiches does seem to do best for me.

Woolly Buggers - black or olive.  Everybody knows this pattern was created for Smallmouth Bass.

Clouser - A "no brainer".  I use white or chartreuse - mainly size 8.  Sometimes, I use  "store bought" but I also tie them with chartreuse Coon hair.

Panfish Charley -  Size 8 and only in Chartreuse.  I started catching Spotted Bass on this one at the local pond and next thing you know - a winter Smallie tagged it.

Foam Terrestrials - Good times.  I love tossing terrestrials - especially when Smallies are skittish. 

The Shucker/Sculpin - My "go-to" pattern.  A good streamer.  I've had folks mention that it does look like a Sculpin.  I have caught MANY Smallies on this streamer.

Everyone has their own methods or preferences of fishing.  I usually start out with the Shucker.  If they aren't hitting my streamer, I drift Pat's Rubber Legs.  If the Smallies won't take anything else, I drift terrestrials.  Then I move on and try the other patterns.  I mainly wade and fish water rarely over 4 - 5 feet deep and use floating line.  I sight fish A LOT which means that when it is really slow, I will toss the same fly at the same fish for an hour and play with it until I finally land it.  I'm not floating for 8 hours and covering a lot of water.  When it gets really hot and humid, I try not to cover too much distance.  I have even resorted to buying a Life Straw - went out too far on a day with almost 90% humidity.  It was only 83 but a storm front was moving in and it just drained me.  I ran out of water, baked my head and had to find shade and soaked in deep pools.

Always let people know where you are going to be fishing, hiking, biking, etc.  I'll get into gear later.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Josh

Fly Tying Instructions - Brown Evazote Hopper

So, here's another lovely hopper pattern.  This pattern is similar to my "Juicy Foam Fly" (yes, i know - not the best name but it catches fish) - so, I am certain this will be productive for you.  I have caught a few Bluegills and Pumpkin Seeds on this hopper.

Materials

• River Road Creations Chernobyl Cutter - OR - a pair of scissors.
• size 8 hook - I use the 2XL dry fly hooks from Cabela's
• EVAZOTE foam
• 2 mm foam
• Rubber legs
• Antron yarn
• Zap-a-Gap
• Marker or stick-on eyes

1. Cut out Evazote foam with cutter or scissors.

2. Cut a slit with razorblade or scissors.  Make sure not to cut up to far - you may need to stage your foam along the shank to gauge length of cut.  As you can see, you will need to put adhesive along the shank.

3. Lay down several layers of thread.  With 1mm or so of foam sticking out over the bend of the hook, secure body at the point of the hook.

4. Wind thread near front of hook.  Bend back the head and make a wrap to gauge head and to softly mark with thread the placement of the wing.

5. Let the head unravel and make several wraps at the point you gauged your head to be secured at a later time.

6. OPTIONAL - Tie in yarn.  Make sure you have enough to reach the butt of the fly when folded back.

7. DO THIS IF YOU ARE NOT USING A YARN WING.  From the 2mm foam, use the cutter to make a wing.

8. With 2 mm of foam pointing over the "tie-in" point for your body (step 3) secure wing with several wraps.  Trim wing.

9. Form head and secure with several wraps.

10.  Secure legs - top set of legs should be a little shorter then the bottom set.

11. Make several half-hitches around body and legs.  Or, wind thread back to shank and make several whip finishes.

12. Put adhesive along the slit and thread wraps.

13.  Put on the eyes.

14. FISH

Let me know if you have any questions.

Josh

Gotcha - Smallmouth Bass Fly - Tying Instructions

This fly came to attention from the Ozark Smallmouth Alliance.  I hope to break out of my comfort zone of casting the same 5 flies and tie this pattern.  It is the variation of a salt water pattern.  I'll let you know if I ever stop casting the same streamer all day and tie this one on.  This is not my video - just sharing.  Thanks.

Tight Lines - Josh

Video - creek fishing for Smallies.

Over the past week, I have viewed this video several times.  I enjoy this video because I can relate to it.  They are just creek fishing.  It's not like they are fishing a crowded trout fishery for pellet heads or "native browns".  These guys are just enjoying each other's company and have a good time on the creek - and they can appreciate they won't be catching trophies or native Brookies.  The waters I fish tend to hold some larger Smallies and panfish but I used to fish the heck out of creeks like this one.  This video makes me remember all the times I used to curse at the water and wish for better fishing - when in fact, I had some great times fishing on those criks - and still do.

These guys have a few other good videos to watch such as drifting for trout on a local stream for Brookies.

Tight Lines - Josh