It is winter, and with the snow blowing outside of my parents home in Abingdon (and covering most of the Commonwealth) I thought today would be a good day to start our first fishing thread of 2022.
I doubt I do much wetting of lines, between work and the demands associated with getting up to speed on new players and staff within the football program. Someday I will make the Feburary run down to try and get a bridge tarpon in the Keys. I am going to hit up the Richmond Fishing Expo in a couple of weeks to see if I can find a good deal on an HMG Eagle for my cousin's step son, who is interested in learning how to fish.
Post your reports and questions here for January and Feburary.
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My boat is on the hard as I try to fix the trim issue. I will be going to The Fly Fishing Show in Edison NJ in 3 weeks and the following week in Atlanta. I have no flies tied. I need several hundred, which seems extra daunting. All I do is tie earrings now.
I have a deer tail in the bed of my truck you can have. It probably isn't any good though it has been there a couple three weeks now.
Haha I appreciate it man. Unless you hit it with salt or borax off the bat, it is probably too ripe for me
If anyone sees a Virginia tackle shop with Penn Fathom II's, size 15 (not the casting special) please let me know.
Why don't you want the casting special?
I have one. While I like the extra line capacity, I don't like the knob. Also, it seems to have much looser breaks and tends to backlash much easier than the regular 15. I will still use the casting special for the soft casts when I target cobia at Buckroe but it is very temperamental.
can't you replace the knob; at least on the reel you already have?
I have been told that there are folks who can customize it with the knob from a Squall or Fathom. But I wouldn't trust myself to do it.
Hatteras Jacks had them at one point. I'm sure Ryan would easily do it.
I think he has the casting specials (that is where I got mine from.) Nobody seems to have the Fathoms. The guy from JandH told me he is hearing it could be summer before they get any in.
has to be in Virginia?
I was saying Hatteras Jack had the knobs to make it like the Squalls.
Also, for folks looking for winter big game fishing opportunities, two big hammerheads have been caught at Cape Point this week from the beach.
Is anyone else going to the Expo this year?
What day will you go French? Can you get up there Friday?
It is probably going to be Saturday. Taking my cousin's step son to get him his first rod, either at the expo or the Greentop bucket sale
Tough sledding yesterday; super high tides and too much breeze; but scratched out a couple undersized fish
My first trout of 2022
Quick question to pass the winter time...
We are renting a house this summer on Lake Anna. The warm side. Since they have a dock, and we'll be casting a line from there, do we need a license for each person? Or, as I interpret the code, since it's a private residence on the lake, and we'll be on that property, we don't need one...
Thank you in advance.
I thought for sure the answer would be that you need a license but the VA code seems to indicate that if you have written consent from the landlord and you are on the property or private permanent extension then you don't need a license
Here is the language I found (would love someone else to confirm as well i.e HokieFlyGuy):
C. No license shall be required of bona fide tenants, renters or lessees to hunt, trap or fish within the boundaries of the lands or waters on which they reside or while within such boundaries or upon any private permanent extension therefrom, to fish in any abutting public waters if such individuals have the written consent of the landlord upon their person. A guest of the owner of a private fish pond shall not be required to have a fishing license to fish in such pond.
That's how I was reading it. Guess we just need a letter from the owner, and that should cover it.
This is interesting. Frankly, I never really thought about fishing the public water from a private access spot. I just knew I didn't need one while fishing on private farm ponds growing up. Based on that, it does appear you can fish from that private dock on Lake Anna without the license. The good thing about VA is licenses are very inexpensive compared to some other states. I rarely fish private water these days so I get licenses for a variety of states, every year.
For those buying licenses, you can download an app and store it on there.
Always a good idea to buy the license and contribute to VAGIF or whatever their name is now.
VA DWR Dept of Wildlife Resources
Nevermind - was late to respond.
I was supposed to go to Blacksburg for the ND hoops game tomorrow night but canceled due to the impending snow. Instead I'll go wander around the VA Fly Fishing Festival for a few hours tomorrow. If anyone else is going, say what's up.
If anyone wants to make the trek to The Fly Fishing Show in Edison, NJ (1/28-1/30) or Hotlanta (2/4-2/5) I will have my tying booth set up. Come on by. Might be the last shows I ever tie at.
Details: https://flyfishingshow.com/
Edison NJ is an arduous 20 minutes from me. I'll check the calendar, maybe I'll swing by and say hi!
Please do. My table is on tiers row. I'll have my sign up at says Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing with a redfish tail on it.
My table will look like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8CGchRBs4Z/
Quick informal poll:
Daiwa Lexa, Penn Fathom baitcaster, or Shimano Tranx... which is the best heavy duty saltwater friendly baitcaster?
No idea on saltwater, but I use a Diawa Lexa to throw baits for musky and it is by far the best low profile reel that I've used for that purpose. I have the 300 and have no trouble throwing baits up to 4oz, which is about as heavy as I throw. It works very well for aggressively working jakes, glide baits, bulldogs, topwater, etc. Love the single "power" handle for what I do. My Calcutta's and Cardiff's are gathering dust in the bottom of the boat. My $.02.
Thanks. Looking for a bucktail/eel sightcasting reel, which means decent capacity, and a bridge reel, where the 25 pounds of drag is vital.
I think you can't go wrong with a Lexa or Tranx. Nick was looking to get a Lexa for striper/snook.
This is my input too they're both such good reels. I'm sure the Fathom isn't bad I just don't have any experience or know anyone that has any experience with them.
Richmond Fishing Expo has been cancelled due to the impending weather this weekend. The vendors and attendees are blistering them on social media. I don't know if it is warranted, but the weather reports are a mixed bag. Weather dot com saying there will be a dusting after rain. Accuweather saying several inches. I have seen reports of heavier accumulation east of Richmond. Who knows.
I'm pissed I needed some discount gear from the vendors and the forecast for doswell is about no snow now. East along the bay is set to get a bunch but central va is going to be mostly rain with a dusting or two between and nothing more. Greentop is probably irked they did the bucket sale counting on the expo to bring in people and now the expo is off.
Well the show was very quiet for the largest fly fishing show in the world. I made about $300 on flies, which was my worst amount ever. Still made a bunch of good connections and had a great time.
Onward to the Atlanta show this friday and saturday.
Any recommendations for an inflatable kayak that can hold up in flat water or mild (Class I and II) rapids?
I have a thrill seeker. It is overkill for fishing.
Hobie has a couple that apparently do pretty well (I remember watching a few on youtube a while back), but it's Hobie, so it's pricey.
Was trying to plan a trip to the New this weekend to go after musky if the forecast holds and the river is right. Anyone seen any reports from the past few weeks?
Drove over the river on I81 on Saturday. Dirty water on the north shore... very clear in the middle. Not sure how any of that impacts the muskey fishing.
Levels at Radford and Allisonia are nearly back to average.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?03171000
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=03168000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,...
You should be just fine.
Thanks for the info both of you. Looks like I'm hitting the water - forecast looks great. Hopefully I'll have some pics and something to report.
FYI, the only colors I throw on the New are Tan/Pink/White combo and Red/Orange/Yellow combo and if I really feel the need to switch it up, Black with Silver.
Of course, everyone is different. My buddy only fishes all brown. Brown and Yellow is a popular combo
Thanks for the tip. Somehow my tackle seems to be paired down a bit from my last trip, but I'll make do. This time of year it always seems to be a struggle to fish a bait that can get down to them, stay there and be fished slow enough to entice a bite, while being able to figure 8 at the boat when needed. Most baits seem to be either too heavy and fast or two light to get down in the water column. I seem to have the best luck with jakes and super ciscos. Hopefully the fish cooperate and I can post some pics Saturday.
You're welcome. Good luck and hope you get one. I know next to nothing about Musky lures but do know flies. The ones I tie and fish jackknife or dart side to side and hang there on the pause. We fish them on heavy sinking lines which pull the flies down but if you just tossed them on the water they would float being made of deer hair and chicken feathers. If I were to throw something similar on gear, it would be an 8-9" Sluggo. I've tossed a few big hard baits on spin gear but it just ends up getting snagged and I get pissed losing $20 lures. Flies don't snag as much and it doesn't hurt as bad to break them off when I can tie them.
Here's a pic of a recent 9" Buford I did: https://www.instagram.com/p/CY1nVDCLipq/
Here's something 04.
At least it's a February Report
I tuned a Super Shad Rap for neutral buoyancy (lots of lead) that might help in the cold.Get's down to 10-12 feet.
Hey, looking at getting a beach house between Wilmington and Myrtle to do some surf fishing President's Day weekend. Does anyone have a recommendation on a town/area? Should we scrap that plan and find a charter to go offshore?
I'd be surprised if you find fish in the surf this time of the year. Schools of trout and drum will cruise the beach occasionally, but from my experience you gotta do a lot of searching. Schools of drum will be on the inside on mud flats and you'd need a boat or kayak to get to them, if you can find them. A guide can obviously put you on them.
I know there are some people wreck fishing offshore this time of the year around Morehead City. Offshore may be your best bet.
Agree... offshore for amberjacks (for fun) and good eating wreck fish for dinner is the best bet. Wilmington area has a lot of good offshore wrecks and ARs (way more than the OBX.)
I pivoted my plans and found a cabin on the Toe River, right near the Pisgah National Forest, in Western NC. Anyone have any winter trout tips? I don't own a fly rod but I have some smaller spinning reels that should be able to handle lighter tackle for streamers and small spinners.
Are these stocked "put and take" trout, or wild /native/etc?
If the latter, I don't have much experience. The native brookies in Virginia eat just about anything but not sure if that applies down there. I'd try small spinners, or if you have a clear float, try tossing some small Caddisflies with your spinning rod. Not quite the same as fly fishing but I've had success doing that.
For put and take, depends on what you want to do. If you want to catch your limit and head back to the grill as fast as possible, my go to is a single kernel of sweet corn threaded past the knot onto the line, then a 1.5" piece of nightcrawler threaded onto a size 6 or 8 bait holder. The worm should be straight on the hook not doubled over and hooked several times. Cast it upstream and drift back down to you and down past you. Use as little split shot as possible to keep it where you want in the water column.
If "garden hackle" isn't your thing, just about any spinner or retrieved lure will work. I like an all black with black blade rooster tail or a Flat fish size F4 in frog color. Those are always my first to try. I also like fishing Trout Magnets under their foam floats, about 18-30" deep. Fish it similar to the worm noted above, cast up and drift down. Reel in slack as it moves. If you see the float twitch, set the hook.
Good luck!
HTH do you hook a caddis fly? Seems tough. The larva is a different story, but the adult?
Lol. I assume this was TIC or /s. But if not, I meant use a caddisfly fly, for fly fishing. You can't cast a fly by itself with a spinning rod, but I've caught many trout using fly fishing flies and a clear small float / bobber, either because I didn't have my fly rod, or before I owned one.
Looks like it is stocked at certain points. I'm thinking the spinner/rooster tail route is probably the way to go. I don't have any clear floats but I am planning a BPS run either later today or over the weekend so i'll check for that and some caddisfly flies as well. Most of my rods, reels and tackle box is bass or surf stuff.
Yeah I agree. If you don't do a lot of freshwater trout fishing, and want to minimize your investment, I'd get a rod, reel, line, a few spinners, and call it a day. You really can't go wrong with spinners and mini Rapalas, per fly guys advice. Like any hobby, you can spend as much or as little as you want. If it was me I'd grab a pack of size 6 bait holders and some small splitshot (next to nothing as far as cost). This way if you have no luck with the spinners you could try finding a worm or grub streamside and give that a whirl. Some people frown on bait fishing. But I love catching and eating fish, so I don't get too particular about what it takes to fill the creel.
For rods, it depends on the water for me. I have a 6'-6" medium light action for bigger trout water, and a short 4'-0" medium heavy action rod for very small, vegetation choked mountain streams. The reel doesn't matter much at all in my experience, and I have a variety. I usually use 4 lb line, but sometimes go up to 6 or even 8 lb depending on the size trout I expect and the water conditions.
The biggest mistake I see people make with spinner fishing for trout is the use of a snap swivel to connect the spinner to their line. I can't prove it but I think fish see that and don't strike as much. I've out fished buddies 10+:1 while they've used such a setup so there's some truth to it in my mind.
Sorry for the novel. Can you tell I'm excited for small game season to end and fishing season to start!
All good on the novel! I appreciate all the input.
I was actually wondering earlier if I should use a snap swivel to connect the spinner to the line. I generally just go straight to the lure for bass fishing, unless it needs a swivel to get the proper motion for the lure.
I have some panfishing tackle from taking my boys fishing, so I am good to go on small hooks and splitshot if needed.
Ditto with the put and take drift... but I always preferred red salmon eggs or millworms over the nightcrawler and/or corn.
Yeah I've had good luck with meal worms also. But for whatever reason never had good luck with salmon eggs. Definitely caught a lot on power bait. The corn + piece of nightcrawler is probably just nostalgia for me. My great grandfather taught my dad who taught me. But it does work.
The craziest thing I've ever seen done with success on trout was at Wilkins Lake in Winchester, VA. The trout were staying way out near the fountain in the middle of the lake, eating bugs at the surface. No one could figure out how to reach them. A buddy of mine, now deceased, was a creative fella, not afraid to think outside the box. He tied on a giant wooden bobber, about 4" long and 1-1.5" in diameter. With a 4'-0" leader and a size 8 bait holder, using meal worms, he flung that contraption out there where the fish were. And sure as shit started catching trout immediately.
I miss those days. Freezing my ass off over a limit of 12" rainbows caught from the town duck pond, and wishing for nothing more or better.
So I should raid my son's supply of pet lizard food. Noted! 😂
The stuck up fly fisherman in me can't believe I'm typing this.... Get spinners and mini Rapalas in a variety of colors. Remove the trebles and put single hooks on them. Cast and burn, you will catch those stocker fish.
Also, you will be near Linville Gorge. Must see. There are a variety of overlooks you can drive to.
Thanks man! The only time i've every actually fished for trout was on the Ocoee in TN with a spinning reel and little inline spinner minnow. Killed it on tiny (6-10") rainbows! Hah.
Offshore charter would definitely be better. Rick Croson, Living Water Guide Service, is the man. Highly recommend him. He's out of Wilmington. Hope the weather allows for you to get out.
Thanks! Me and a few buddies are working on a weekend trip to the coast for some fishing in the spring. I'll keep your suggestion in mind.
Spring is an even better to go with him. Good chance of throwing poppers for blackfins in March/April/early May. After May 1st you can target groupers since they are in season. Rick will work hard to put you on fish and have enjoyable trip.
Atlanta show was great. I sold a ton of flies, the folks are nicer and weather was a bit better. Show was half the size as usual from a vendor and tier standpoint but the turnout was very good.
I'm off to Colorado Friday to do some snowboarding. I'll probably fish one day on the Roaring Fork for old time's sake.
Check it out! I hope its a better hybrid than the Tiger Musky!
Tiger Trout
Pretty wild looking fish!
Yep, cross between a brookie and a brown. That's a stocker in that photo but they are still so cool. I have always wanted to catch one, preferably a wild one. One day, if I'm lucky.
always wondered this about trout...is there something physically about the fish that lets you know its a stocker vs wild?
Coloring and some fins missing sometimes.
#TeamNoCheese (for hatchery trout)
Well fishing Friday was a bust. Was a bit late leaving the house, which was not big deal, but when I stopped to check the boat and trailer (which belonged to my fishing partner) before getting on the interstate, the driver's side hub was smoking hot and busted all to pieces. Limped to an Advanced Auto just up the road and of course they didn't have any hub assemblies in stock. Borrowed a few tools and used what we had to get the old hub off, and found a NAPA that had some in stock. Was able to borrow a caliper from Advanced so we could get a measurement for the new hub, and forked over too much to NAPA to deliver it to us. After some arguing with my buddy about how hard it was to get the new one on, we determined that he had recently installed the wrong size hub. Wish we could've had that conversation before leaving the house. After two hours in the parking lot, we were back on the road.
Got to the river around 11:00(!) and put in at Bissett. One other trailer in the lot, we hit the far bank and threw everything we had. Water color and clarity looked good, but the flow was moving a bit and the wind started hammering down the river, which made drifting and presenting baits tough. After a few hours a jet boat came back upstream to the launch, and we thought he had the right idea and we packed it up. Moved upriver and put in below the dam and fished from Little River to the bridge on a few drifts and never moved a fish. Decided to pack it up about 3:30 as we were whipped. Talked to some walleye fisherman at the ramp that said they hadn't seen a fish all day. Water temp hovered in the low 40's, but the wind was kicking probably 15mph.
It was good to get back out, and I learned some valuable lessons that had nothing to do with fish or tackle. Would like to try for one more trip before the spawn with operable gear, but I'm not sure I've got the time for it. Hope you guys had more luck if you ventured out this weekend.
I've had more than 1 day like that! Keep throwin'!
Headed down after work for some freshly stocked trout at Shields Lake (Maymont.) I used my "Maryland rig", a size 8 hook on about two feet of 4lb fluoro, with a Carolina rig pegged at 13 inches. I got two bites, one hookup on Gulp eggs. I saw a nice school crusing around a flat with some fish in the 16-18 inch class in the school, but they were spooky in the shallow clear water. Comorants are a problem here. Those trout won't be here long.
Cormorants are a problem everywhere with fish. Theyre a royal pain in the ass at the few clubs I fish at they crap on everything and make a mess everywhere they go.
Apparently offshore is hot right now. One of my friends co-owns an offshore rig...4 wahoo to 70 pounds and 5 cobia to 40 pounds...and were home early.
I need a cure for motion sickness real bad.
Chilly morning with a decent wind on the South Toe River near the Pisgah Forest in Western NC. Had a good bite on a brown trout inline spinner on cast 3-4 but couldn't land it. Crickets after that.
Then I stepped in a hole and filled my hip waders with water. Toughed it out for another 45 mins to an hour but finally had to head back up to the cabin to thaw my toes out. I'll give it another go later if I can dry my wader boots out by the fire place.
Looking for advice/input on trolling motors. I traded in my kayak for a small skiff last august. Time will tell if that was a smart decision. It came with a transom mount trolling motor that sits on a bow mount (looks weird but very functional). Guy said it didn't work but it just needed a new battery. It runs rough and has a chunk missing but it works well enough most of the time. I've held off on buying a new motor a) because they're hard to find and b) I wanted to get comfortable with the boat and see how I liked the tiller styler motor before buying a new one. I've used it enough now to know it's too short to use all day but don't mind the tiller style. Trolling motors seem to be coming back in stock so I'd like to grab one.
Anyone use a hand controlled tiller style trolling motor? They're cheaper than the power drive but you obviously have to be next to it to control it.
The weird bow transom mount keeps the deck mostly free so fly line has less to get stuck on. They make a 55 transom mount but not sure the shaft is long enough. This is the cheapest option.
Power drive is nice since it can be controlled anywhere on the boat and I usually fish with someone else. I've used the wrist remote in the past on other boats but always found myself turning the motor by hand at some point since it's quicker. I prefer a foot pedal.
Is spot lock worth it?
The boat only weighs a few hundred pounds so definitely don't need anything more than a 12 volt and don't want the extra battery weight. I'm mostly going to use it inshore in the bay and down in the outer banks but I do also fish lake Anna a lot so the spot lock would be nice in deeper water. I have a kayak stake out pole like that works well as an anchor in shallow water.
I obviously haven't made a decision yet but I think I'm between getting the cheapest tiller motor I can or going with the I-pilot/spot lock. I'm sure the latter will go over really well at home considering the mrs. was so thrilled about the boat.
Thanks in advance.
I use the hell out of my Ipilot on my RF18. It is very useful in numerous situations, not just deep water. It's acts like a stakeout pole. Get the Terrova if you get one. The super high end one breaks more than the Terrova does. They come with a two year warranty but I'm sure you have seen me bitching about mine. At some point, something is going to break on it. MK customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Gotta call over and over to get the right old lady on the phone. I was recommended Rodan but heard they have issues too. Like vehicles, I think they all do.
What skiff do you have?
Appreciate the input. I remember reading your minn Kota rants. What's the difference between the riptide terrova and the regular riptide?
It's a 14.5' 2004 Palmer critchfield. Small center con. It's basically just boat and motor.
I honestly don't know. I just recommend it because it is what I have. And for all my ranting, that motor has worked well 95% of the time, which I figure is pretty good.
Agreed. Boat positioning is key. Having the spotlock is invaluable in my eyes.
Thanks I'm going to use this "invaluable" argument to justify the price tag.
This is really dependent on the fishing you're doing.
I went from a Motorguide xi5 80lb (remote) to a Minnkota Riptide 112lb (tiller) both probably much larger than you're looking for with a boat that's only hundreds of pounds. I will say that whenever trolling motors become more available I'm going back to the remote. The tiller is superior for control but its not so much better that it outweighs having spotlock. It's one extra thing for me to worry about when fishing alone and hooking up or being snagged where with my remote set up I can click a button and forget about the boat for a minute.
If its in the budget I'll always suggest a gps trolling motor. Traditional foot controls work great but they'll get eaten by saltwater quick and I've seen more than 1 MK freshwater foot control unit catch fire in salt. As far as I know there isn't a GPS (spotlock) tiller on the market. If you get GPS you're going to have to go with remote.
Thanks. Great points about fishing alone. Since you've had both brands, do you have a preference for MK vs. motorguide?
Cheap me just wants the tiller but I definitely see the advantages of the remote and GPS.
I actually prefer Motorguide but that's with the caveat that I have a friend that works for them so I get a little bit better service and prices. Functionally they both work great. Like flyguy said its just like car brands you'll have people that are diehard and point to failures of other motors but in reality they all have about the same number of issues. The more complex they are the more likely they are to break. So tillers will generally last longest, more to break on the gps ones, absolutely do not get the auto deploy one minn kota makes that thing is really cool until it breaks then its way less cool.
(this should be under Gigs)
I have a bow mount/tiller (55# on a 14.5 Scout) and I like it but it is work if you are fishing in moving water. Frankly, I could use a stronger motor (I'm in the creeks a lot) and will likely replace mine in a couple years.
My buddy has the same setup (bow mount/tiller) on a Pathfinder 1900...I think his is 70 or 80#. It works great.
A lot depends on how well your hull holds a line...my short, wide Scout walks the dog...the Pathfinder doesn't. If they ever put a spot lock on a bow mount tiller it will be the perfect motor, imo.
Finally, I've had your setup before as well (transom mount on the bow, both on a 16' jon and a gheenoe) and it works fine...same motor with a different mounting bracket. Just make sure the shaft is long enough. Tho one advantage of a bow mount is if you ground out in shallow water, you can easily unlock the arm from the down position and run it shallow without having to adjust the depth of the shaft. when you get back in deeper water just lock it back down
Also advantage/disadvantage that it generally hits anything first before you get stuck. This is nice because it stops you from getting stuck on things. Disadvantage: could leave your TM shaft looking like a bow and arrow like mine does after ramming my 22' bay boat into multiple sandbars
and really stress the mounting job you did on the "puck", lol.
Back from 9 days in Colorado. Six days of snowboarding. Five in Aspen, one at Copper. Most of the time spent in Aspen, two days in Fort Collins visiting my old Vail roommate. Two afternoons fly fishing. Really kicking myself I haven't played more out there the past decade of winters. Oh how I miss playing in the snow.
The Roaring Fork trout still eat the same flies.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaS1a5aJ4On/
Stuck a silver drum on a 1/2 ounce jig off the beach at Cape Lookout this past weekend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbXxfBWrZrl/
Daveinop, I saw a post on the interwebs about a spring worm hatch in St. Augustine that the redfish go nuts for and dock light fishing is apparently insane. Any intel on when that occurs?? Thx
never heard of it but I will investigate
edit: perhaps it is this?
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca-w8TMrv-F/
I don't know anyone who has tried this but I'll ask around
That's it! Thanks!
It's spring!
If anyone has the chance to get down to Hatteras, go. There are massive schools of bull reds being caught off of the beach using bucktails and spoons.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbbUCClLJvi/
Yeah apparently the sharks are so thick you can't use bait. A lot of chaos when the schools pop up for a short time is what I've heard from a buddy down there.
Are you going? If they are still around when I get back from Florida, I'll head down and look for them in the inlet with my boat
Maybe next weekend. Depends on if my offshore trips gets canceled. You should be able to find them with your boat. That cold water is stacked up on the point so they won't go farther north.
How long are you going to be in florida?
Headed out on Buggs Island for a guided crappie trip Saturday with some friends. Going to be chilly but hopefully they're biting. Fun getaway either way.
Had a decent day in spite of the weather. 45-50° and 18-20 mph sustained winds with this front blowing in. Good bite early and nothing after two hours. Put 20 keepers in the cooler and released 15-20 shorts. Had a pretty good time and would definitely like to go again with better weather.
I was there last Memorial Day and we filled up the live well pretty quickly targeting brush piles with curly tail grubs. We were probably reeling a fish in every 3rd cast and had three people on the boat.
Yeah that's the type of crappie fishing I want to do. Apparently right now they're spread out preparing to spawn, not keying in large groups on submerged structure. We did mostly trolling. With decent weather it's apparently a great way to fill a cooler with good sized slabs in early spring, but I think I'd enjoy the casting / jigging on brush piles more. We're looking at a September trip to do just that.
Heading to Florida in the next day or two for a bachelor party of VT Sigma Chis and then down to the Keys for 8 days with my old boss from Aspen. Was supposed to leave tomorrow but while visiting the gf in DC last night, a delightful individual smashed in my window and took a bunch of tools, 3 cigars, two hats and $2 from my truck. Glass everywhere and the drive back down 95 today sucked. If you've never seen me angry, well, let's just say the gf was nervous but took it in stride. I wish the absolute worse for that human being and all other thieves like them. Hopefully I can get it fixed tomorrow and get down there for some fishing.
Anyone heard if the Hybrids and white bass have made it to the dam in Rogersville? Got a trip planned for April 22nd and trying to gauge if I need to move it up a bit.
I took the plunge and bought a fly rod/reel. Nothing too fancy Orvis Clearwater 9' 5WT. I've been practicing casting in the yard the past two afternoons and I've gotten pretty good at landing the cheap wooly bug fly I sacrificed for practice near a 1 ft diameter target.
But to be perfectly honest I have no idea if I am doing this right. I have the gear ratio on the reel set to just about medium between full lock and line spilling off in the wind. I've been using my free hand to gently let line out of the reel while casting.
It's been working but I want to be sure I am not jacking up the reel with what I am doing. Especially since a not fancy fly set up is no ugly stick price wise.
Also, all other fly casting tips for a noob are welcome.
Thanks!
Well now I feel silly. I searched twice yesterday for fly casting videos an all I got was a guy trying to sell his practice stick and string. Sure enough, after I posted this I found a much more helpful video.
I'll stop using my free hand to pull line and just set the gear ratio to let line out on the back cast.
I'll let fly guy chime in, but I always pull the line off first then cast. I have however much line I need to cast the distance I need to cast, and the line just pools at my feet. Look up fly casting with Lefty Kreh on YouTube.
Welcome to the sport. It's a ton of fun.
Yep^^ line off first, let it pile up at the feet, then shoot it out.
FWIW, I have a couple of those yarn style practice rods that I use in the front yard and to teach my 9 year old son how to fly cast. Get the double haul kit, it's actually a pretty good tool, and a blast to use. Helped me add about 15 feet to my casts and developed better accuracy, which makes a hell of a difference for snook and reds up against the mangroves.
Thanks! There is about to be a lunch break double haul practice session in the backyard!
I'll stop using my free hand to pull line and just set the gear ratio to let line out on the back cast.
No, no, no. The "gear ratio" you are referring to is the drag. It has nothing to do with letting line out during the cast. Your line hand controls the amount of line you let out during the cast. You should be stripping off the amount of line you want to cast prior and letting it rest at your feet. There's no way for me to explain how to cast on here, though I could teach you in 30 minutes or less in person. A casting lesson with a legit instructor (not the bullshit Orvis 101 classes) will work wonders.
These videos are a good starting point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAyj9KF_MQE&t=15s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSUz8HdJSIM
Hand a sndbar day yesterday but used it as a test on a new route that I didn't think my bay boat could get through. Found some immaculate inshore habitat that I'll need my little boat to get back.
After almost 8 months of having that boat built its finally made it through all the red tape to be a legal vessel