Out of practice

Ok, so it's been a while since i've picked up a fly rod.

Way too long of a while.

I realized today that I hadn't fly fished in over a month and a half, too long when you live in a place that the water's not frozen over and fishing's possible year round. I decided that I needed to get out, and headed to the Library ponds today after school. What I didn't remember for some reason that it had rained a few days before. Once I got there, I found that the familiar flat close to the culverts that I fish so much had leaves blanketing the surface and the water was pretty cold.

I walked the entire length of the pond, then walked down to the next section and continued, flicking a clouser or a bugger into the muddy cold water. I really didn't see ANYTHING the whole time I was there. I just kept walking until I got to Andy brown then just left. Oh well, still felt good to get out and fly fish again. Sooner or later it'll be spring and i'll be chasing the sandbass run and the bass spawn. Can't wait till then but in the mean time I guess I can tie some flies in anticipation.

Pond trip

Hit the library ponds today, caught a few too. Nice mix of bass, bluegill, and greenies before the storm hit. Caught all of them on a blue north fork nymph or a gray/olive clouser.

 Bigmouth

Stopped by the drain

It'd been a while since i'd fly fished at the drain so I headed over there yesterday. I knew i'd catch something, it was about to rain and it was cooling off. I still had a clouser on from Fork, so I flung that in and made a cast. First cast...fish

Not bad, it's a fish

Caught a few more...these are this year's brood of LMB's! They've definitely put on some weight, all of mine were fat and chunky.

 I think I caught 4 this size. They wouldn't leave that clouser alone, even if it was half the size they were!

And a Gill to finish it off. Not bad!

Pond action

Made my way out to the Library Canal last night and caught a few nice ones.

This is the absolute smallest bass i've ever caught. Keep in mind that's a size 12 Theo's bomber. That bass was maybe an inch and a half long. Smolt of the month contest bound!

This is a true 10 inch bluegill. Put a really nice bend in the Loomis 4wt. Caught a few of these but this was by far the biggest. The Theo's bomber works great! 

Water was a little murky after last week's storms but a bright colored fly really pulled the big bluegill out of their hiding. I was actually searching for a warmouth but all I caught were bluegill and greenies.

It's official

Yes, it's official. Got the forms in a few days ago

If you haven't seen the post yet, I stuck the Andy Brown Water Body record Largemouth Bass and Carp back in mid April.

http://pondbass.blogspot.com/2011/04/carping-around.html

They haven't updated the TP&W website yet but I'll post when it's on there.

A little bluegill action

I can successfully say that the bluegill bite is ON and the big gills are starting to come shallow. I have been out a few times this week and haven't really taken many pics but you can see i've been seeing some nice ones mixed in! Today the Upside down breamkiller was, well, killing them today. Aptly named fly in my opinion. Thanks to Jonathan for turning me on to these.

http://www.breambugs.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=227

Few flies

Haven't done much fly tying in a while so I decided to whip a few random things up during the rain

Really fun to tie craft fur shad. Looks really cool in the water. This is a number 2 SC-15 and it looks the perfect size for a bass or striper snack!

Little size 16 nymph

Squirmy carp fly, I really want to try this thing!

Marabou Marauder, this thing catches fish! One of my patterns, really good bulky bass fly. Size 6 hook and it's about 3 inches long. I also tie them bigger but this is the perfect size for a 6wt fly stick.

Oh, wondering what happened this weekend? I had a really epic carp session. It's maybe going in Uscarppro. I may give a teaser this week to give you something to look forward to, so stay tuned!

Surface action!

Surface bass action is heating up! Fished the Creek and the Library today. It was really windy but I ended up finding some fish inside open pockets in thick hydrilla mats.
I found some little greenies and longears in the creek. Water was clearer but a lot cooler.

When I headed over to the Library the wind had picked up a lot. I was throwing a white Booglebug popper on my 4wt and the wind was hard to handle with a light rod like this. I needed a 5wt, it's been too long without the clouser in action! I need that new line soon!

I jaw jacked a few bass with the Booglebug. They like this thing!

Might have a chance on getting in on some sandbass and striper action tomorrow. Also might go back and finish what I started on Ray Roberts last weekend.