Coffee Break and Flytying Material

Taking a coffee break as the next front arrives bringing rain, cold, and possibly freezing temps.  Till the weather clears, posted a new Squidoo Lens article, "Black Coffee Review".

As the Field Team are coffee drinkers who prefer to drink coffee black, the team decided to rate coffees using a simple rating scale: "Good", "It'll Do", and "Bad".  Check it out some time!

On another note, I anxiously wait for the flytying material ordered from the Fly Shack.  Soon as the order arrives, going to start working on tying Midges using the patterns detailed on the DVD bought at Scotty's One Stop in Oklahoma!

Click-on 2010'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!

Trout Were Active On The Blue River, Just Not On My Hook!

Returned to the Blue River in Oklahoma for another go at the Bruiser Trout. Fished 5 hours, saw easily 75+ Trout (likely more), and caught one Stocker on a BH Black Wooley Bugger. Trout were actively feeding on midges.... guess what fishing fly I did not have! Did use the smallest Black Gnat I had in my flybox and managed to get about 10 strikes fishing it dry. Just too slow in setting the hook!  Regardless, had a great time out there!

Click-on 2010'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!

Got One This Round - 16.5" Skinny Bass

Hooked and landed a Bass at Bethany Lakes this afternoon. After misses yesterday at Bethany Lakes and Bethany Ridge, was able to bring this one in using a BH Olive Wooley Bugger.

Warmer day... no strike indicator and a fast retrieve was the key. Bass went 16.5" in size. Will post on the COAF Fishing Leader Board as it meets the 15" minimum, even if it is "kinda skinny"!

 

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Struck Out Twice at Bethany Lakes and Bethany Ridge.

Struck out at Bethany Lakes this morning.  Struck out at Bethany Ridge yesterday evening.  Had three hook-ups on Bass but lost them soon after at Bethany Lakes.  Had zero strikes at Bethany Ridge.

Did see another fisherman catch a few Bass casting lures at Bethany Ridge.  So, the fish are there, just need to find the right presentation and/or lure!

FYI:  Post another Squidoo Lens article, "Trout Fishing Blogs".  Check it out when you get chance!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Top Fishing Flies of Interst and TPWD's LMB Weight "Estimator"

Posted a Squidoo Len's article that the Field Team put together - "Fishing Flies Of Interest".  Check it out, seems like these fishing flies have been consistent producers.

Also, question came up about how we estimate the weight of Largemouth Bass.  We use an "estimator" published by TPWD.  Will add links to the sidebar for future reference for our Readers!

For those that are interested in estimating weight using the "estimator", here are pictures with measurements of Bass caught at Bethany Lakes' Lower Pond before it was drained.

Click-on "estimator" to go to TPWD's website!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Tested The Weighted Olive Wooley Bugger Variant - 2 Sunfish and a Little Bass!

Returned to Bethany Lakes to test out the Weighted Olive Wooley Bugger Variant, fishing fly created using material on-hand to replace the BH Olive Wooley Bugger that was lost to a "Tree Fish" yesterday.

Hit the Main Pond and on the second cast hooked and then lost a Bass. Looked like the same 2-Pounder that we lost yesterday or its brother.

Fished the Back Pond and noted surface activity.  Had a few light strikes but no hook-ups. Suspect they were Bluegill/Sunfish. Makes sense given the weather was warm enough that it felt like Spring.

Finally, hit the Feeder Creek and managed to bring in 2 Sunfish and a little Bass. Looks like the fishing fly works. Only issue (or not) is that it sinks much slower than the BH Olive Wooley Bugger we were using.

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Weighted Olive Wooley Bugger Variant

Having lost my last BH Olive Wooley Bugger to a "Tree Fish", decided to tie one using material on-hand. Ran out of Bead Heads, so opted to use lead-free wire to weight the fishing fly. No Olive Dacron, so went with Black Dacron. Did have Olive Chennile, Marabou, and Hackles, added Pearl Flashabou for the extra "teaser".

Not sure how this one will do compared to the BH Olive Wooley Bugger. May be a winner like the Foam Rubber Spider Variant that worked well in the Spring and Summer two years ago. Will post results; hopefully soon!

 

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

1 Crappie Caught and 1 Bass Lost

Fished Bethany Lakes this evening. Caught a Crappie that went about 13" in size and lost a Bass that may have gone 2 lbs. All were caught in the Main Pond using a BH Oliver Wooley Bugger! Will post the picture with measurement as a "Fish Of Interest" on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board.

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Fun On The Blue River; Caught Three Trout!

Fished the Blue River in Oklahoma for a chance at the Bruiser Trout stocked this past week! Was able to land three Stocker Trout (9"-10" in size), missed a bunch more, and watched a few others land some Bruisers. Great day, great weather, great River!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

On The Road Today, Checked Out College Station's Central Park

While on the road today, made a stop in College Station and checked out the Trout action at Central Park. Was not able to fish but did take a picture of one fisherman's Trout in a cooler that went just over 12". Action looked promising with surface activity noted!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.