June's One Fishing Fly Challenge Closes, Field Team Selected "Mellow Yellow" for July!

June's One Fishing Fly Challenge closed out with a 14" Bass caught on a Purple Wooley Bugger.  A larger Bass was hooked and lost using a Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger.  Estimated to be larger than the 7 Pounder caught 28 February of this year!

Better luck next time.  Till then, join us in July's One Fishing Fly Challenge.  Field Team selected "Mellow Yellow" - any fishing fly with the color yellow in the pattern!

Feel free to send pictures to COAF.Weblog@Live.Com!

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!

Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger Gets 2 Bluegill and 2 Bass!

Stopped by Bethany Lakes before the rain hit this evening.  Was trying for the Bruisers chasing the baitfish near the banks.  Had several chase the fishing fly but did not get a hook up on a Bruiser.  Did catch two Bluegill and two Bass on the Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger!

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!

More Fun Catching Catfish on the Bamboo "Stake" Rod

More fun catching Catfish this morning at Bethany Lakes using the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.  Caught over a dozen, largest went 17" in size.  Did lose bigger ones and released more than pictured below.

Good to know the Bruisers are still there; bite stayed steady despite the heat. Bread for bait continues to produce.  Fishing rod looks like it can handle a Bruiser.  Will see what happens the next round.

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!

Back to Bethany Lakes In The Late Afternoon.

Went back to Bethany Lakes in the later afternoon.  Temps were brutal but was able to hide in the shade.  Caught one Catfish on Bread, lost several others.  Still was good to know the hot temps did not slow the bite!

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!

Lost the Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger to a Bruiser!

Fished Bethany Lakes this morning.  Was slow at first but the action picked up with a Bruiser striking on the Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger.

Was larger than the 7 Pounder caught earlier this year.  Fought it for about 5 minutes bringing it close to shore twice.  Ended the fight with a break-off.  Was using a 4 pound tippet, so had to play it carefully.

Was fun while it lasted, better luck next round.  Going to have to tie more Purple-Chenille Wooley Buggers; the one lost to the Bruiser was the last one in the fly box!

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!

Three Catfish Using Bread for Bait and the Bamboo "Stake" Rod!

Fished Bethany Lakes again to see how the rain affected the fishing. Bite was slower than the other day but remained steady with more missed hooksets than landed. Regardless, caught three Catfish that went 17", 15.5", and 15" in size! All were caught using Bread for bait and with the Bamboo "Stake" Rod!

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!

Really Liking the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.... Caught And Released About a Dozen Catfish!

Returned to Bethany Lakes for more fun with the Catfish.  Used Bread for bait and the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.  Caught about a dozen Catfish and took pictures of the three largest - 19", 18.5", and 15"!  Really liking the rod, especially since it as made on the "cheap side".

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!

Another Trip to Bethany Lakes Using the Bamboo "Stake" Rod

Returned to Bethany Lakes this evening for another field test of the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.  Rod held up against four Catfish.  Largest went 18.5" in size.  Really liking the feel of the Rod; has a similar feel as a graphite rod we used way back when fishing popping corks along the oyster beds down South!

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!

Bamboo "Stake" Rod With Wine Cork Handle and Seven Catfish.

Decided to try something different and make a homemade fishing rod. Was a good exercise in tying rod guides; even better, found that the Rod Wrapping Jig we made last week worked like it was designed!

Did not want to "waste" a lot of money on rod building material.  Used bamboo stakes from Home Depot for the rod blank, old wine corks for the handle, and rod guides from Academy.

Spent several hours today putting the rod together.  Ended with a 5 foot light/medium weight spinning rod.  Calling it the Bamboo "Stake" Rod with Wine Cork Handle.

Bamboo "Stake" Rod With Wine Cork Handle

Tested the outfit at Bethany Lakes this evening.  Caught seven catfish including one that went 17" in size.  Really like the thought of hooking a Bruiser and landing it successfully on a homemade fishing rod!

Seven Catfish at Bethany Lakes

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!

Two Buegill and a Bass at Bethany Lakes This Fathers' Day 2010!

Fished Bethany Lakes this morning and caught two Bluegill and a Bass.  Not a bad start this Fathers' Day 2010.  Caught one Bluegill on a Yellow Grasshopper.  Caught the other Bluegill and Bass on a Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger.  Had several looks from a few Bass but could not close the deal.  Seemed more content at chasing the fishing fly than striking.

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!