Bluegill and Catfish on Bread

Was hoping for more  Bruisers using a Bread Fly and Cheez-IT Tandem Rig.  Unfortunately, did not happen.  Switched to fishing a baited hook with Bread and caught Bluegill and Catfish.  Little ones but still a fun time.... sure beats working!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Bread Fly Gets a Bruiser....

Decided to try another variation of a Bread Fly we made several years ago.  Last time we used the inner core of polypropylene rope.  This time, we used a dubbing loop to wrap White Marabou and Mallard Cul De Canard feathers on to a Size 2 Baitholder Hook. 


 Went to Bethany Lakes and chummed with Saltine Crackers, then cast the Bread Fly to the area.  Had several takes but no hook ups, then finally got a solid hookup on a Bruiser Catfish that went 22" in size.  Not bad, seemed fatter than most, too!


Unfortunately, Turtles and Ducks made it tough to keep the are chummed.  Switched to fishing with Bread for bait because it would sink before they could get to it.  Caught Bluegill and little Catfish; no more Bruisers!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Float and Bread Caught a Few Catfish

Had fun catching little Catfish using a float and bread for bait.  No Bruisers this round; ducks and turtles were stealing the Cheez-ITs before the Catfish could bite.  Next round hope to go back to using them.  Did like the Float we used - plastic bubble that twists on the line to allow for quick adjustment of the length of line from the bubble and the hook.

Team Closes Out the 2011-2012 Trout Stocking Season!

The Team closes out the 2011-2012 Trout Stocking Season, posting the Final Summary of Lures and Baits on our partner website - "Texas Rainbow Trout Fishing: Top 5 Lures and Baits for Community Lakes"! 

Check it out when you get a chance.  Hope it helps next Season!  Until then, here is a picture of the last Rainbow Trout the Team caught this season.  Used Bread for bait... caught it after a lengthy wait!

Five Sunfish and a Catfish on Bread and a Hair Rig!

Been testing the Hair Rig out these past few weeks.  This round gave it a try at Celebration Park's North Pond.  Caught five Sunfish and a Catfish that went 16".  Posted the Catfish on the COAF Leader Board as it made the 15" minimum.  Really liking the Hair Rig; getting hookups that are on the lips and not in the throat!  Makes for a better catch and release!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Hair Rig... We Used To Catch Goldfish!

FYI:  Here is a picture of the Hair Rig we used to catch the Goldfish today.  Used a size 16 hook, 4lbs mono for the knotless hair rig, and a piece of a spring from a ballpoint pen.

Two Goldfish This Round; Hair Rig Made a Difference!

Made it back for another go at Goldfish.  Caught two using bread for bait.  The difference today... a Hair Rig!  Fish took the bait and were hooked and released unharmed... no deep hookups!

A Goldfish and a Catfish!

Returned to the local pond we went to yesterday in hopes of catching more Bruiser Goldfish.  Had a great time... caught one Goldfish that went 14" in size and then a 16" Catfish.  Both went for Bread!

Goldfishing Anyone? ... Bread and a Homemade Automatic Hooksetter!

Went "Goldfishing" this evening.  Managed to catch and release four of them.  Used Bread for bait.  Two were caught freelining the Bread.  And, two were caught using the homemade automatic hooksetter. Great fighters... especially on ultralight gear!

Two Bruiser Catfish at Glendover Park!

Been tinkering with the homemade automatic hooksetter. Have tested it out several times and caught Bullheads.  Reworked the trigger making for more consistent hookups.  But, still need to work it just a little bit more based on today's outing.

Managed two Bruiser Catfish at Glendover Park using Bread for bait.  Missed several others when the trigger released either too early or too late.  One Catfish went about 17" in length and the other went about 20".

Going to start bringing a tape measure so we can quit "guestimating".  Also, this last modification to the trigger should make a difference on hookup rates going forward!

Bullheads at Celebration Park.

Went back to Celebration Park to test out a homemade automatic hook setter.  Worked well but need to make a few more adjustments to the trigger.  Ended up catching several Bullheads.  None of which were hooked deep!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Two Bullheads On Bread This Round

Went back to Celebration this evening.  No Bruisers; just two Bullheads this round.  Caught on Bread and used the Hook Set Pro again.  Missed several other bites; still working out the kinks but feel the catch rate may increase once we figure it out!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Two Catfish at Celebration Park... Bread and Hook Set Pro!

Was out and about running errands. Somehow ended up at Cabelas (wink, wink, wink). While browsing the aisles, noticed a fishing tool called the Hook Set Pro by FishingScience.com; ended up buying it on a whim. Bought it in hopes of setting up a fishing rod to freeline bread for Catfish that lurk in the community lakes and ponds in the area.

With the cold temps, thoughts were to setup the rig, then sit back and watch things happen. Meaning keeping our hands warm in our coat pockets while the Hook Set Pro took care of setting the hook when the Catfish struck.

Ended up catching two - one Bruiser that went about 20" in length (posted it on the COAF Leader Board) and a little Bullhead! Fun stuff!

Two Bruisers on Bread at Glendover.

Windy day but managed to freeline some Bread at Glendover Park.  Had several strikes and misses and two solid hooksets!  One Catfish went about 17"; other went 20"+.  No ruler but easily makes the 15" minimum of the COAF Leader Board for this year! Fun stuff....

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Cold Front Rolled In; One Bullhead on Bread!

Cold front rolled in today and dropped temps.  Add the wind and it gets chilly standing there watching your line in the water hoping for a bite.  Tried a quick trip to Celebration Park's East Pond at lunch today.  Had a couple of strikes and managed one Bullhead on bread for bait.  Action slowed down compared to yesterday but things should settle in a few days.  Have noticed that the Catfish and Bullheads will continue to bite even in freezing weather; more a matter of how much you are willing to wait it out.

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Bullheads on Bread and a Catfish at Celebration Park Starts the 2012 COAF Leader Board!

Fished the East Pond at Celebration Park this evening.  Used the Slip-Bobber Rig and Bread on light Spinning Gear.  Caught several Bullheads - seem to be bigger this year compared to last year.  Drought may not have impacted them as much thankfully!

While fishing the pond met another fisherman (Fishing54) who was using Hot Dogs for bait.  Caught a few Bullheads too, and then a decent Bruiser Catfish that went 17"-18" in size.  Easily made the COAF Leader Board for 2012!  Have since posted on the Board as the first entry of the year  Nice catch Fishing54!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Another Bluegill On Bread.

Caught another Bluegill at Bethany today.  Used the Slip-Bobber again.  Like the rig because depth can be easily adjusted.  May need to use a lighter weight though.  No Trout this round.  Worse... Saw a couple of Cormorant working the area.  Not good!

One Bluegill caught using Bread!

One Bluegill caught using Bread and a Slip-Bobber Rig.  Was going for Trout.  Had a few missed strikes else only the one Bluegill.

Did see a couple fishermen limit out using Bread though.  Good to see the Trout are still lurking... Even better that the Cormorant have not arrived yet!

Switched the Waterlogged Reel to Another Rod and Fished with Bread...

Switched the now fixed "waterlogged" reel to another fishing rod, and then took it to Celebration Park.  Was testing the waters to see if the Bruiser Catfish were still lurking in the East Pond.  Had several strikes and misses, but finally hooked and landed a 16" Catfish.  Caught it using Bread!  Posted a picture on the 2011 COAF Leader Board.

Water Levels are Low But One Bruiser Still Lurks!

Click-on 2011's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

"River Why" Tip Comes Through!

Went back to Kroger Park this afternoon for a go at the Catfish.  Brought Ultralight Gear and Bread for bait.  Unfortunately, struck out miserably.  Not a bite at all.

Did see Bluegill and Bass working the shallows. A quick check of the gear on hand... an Ultralight Spinning Rod/Reel, Bread, Hooks, and an Olive Wooley Bugger found on the floorboard of the truck.

Taking a tip from the movie "River Why", wrapped the Olive Wooley Bugger with Bread (mud was used in the movie) and casted the fly using the Ultralight Gear.  Shortly after casting the Wooley Bugger, the Bread broke apart and was able to fish the fly!

Caught one Bass and a Bluegill, hooked but lost two other Bass.  Not a bad outing saved by a piece of Bread!

"River Why" Tip Comes Through!

Click-on 2011's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!