More Tinkering With Tenkara....

It's Friday and the weather is starting to turn for the better... that is for tomorrow's Trout Derbies in Frisco and McKinney.  Should be fun for the kids, will have to stop this weekend for a chance at more Trout!

Till then, did more tinkering with Tenkara fishing things - specifically, made a line holder for the Concept Tenkara Rod and then another furled line for the Caddis Tenkara Rod that is in the mail!

Can't wait to try the furled lines, just need to break away from work, honey do's, etc....

More Tinkering With Tenkara....

Did Some Tinkering... and Made a Furled Line.

Another cold day and no fishing... Did some surfing online to learn more about Tenkara Fishing.  Really liking this method. Ended up putting an order in for a Caddis 12' Tenkara Rod from Fountainhead.   Hope to try it out in the upcoming weeks!

Did notice that furled line or a specially made level line are used when Tenkara Fishing.  So, while waiting for the new rod, decided to do some tinkering with materials on hand to make a furled line.

Had made furled leaders for Fly Fishing in the past using light mono and superglue and an electric screwdriver to twist the line. Figured the same concept would work to make a furled line for Tenkara Fishing.

Only one problem.... the electric screwdriver's battery would not take a charge.  After rummaging through the "parts bin", found an old electric motor, AA battery holder, and a metal bracket to hold the motor.  Throw in some solder and electric tape and a useable "motorized line twister" was had!

After solving the one problem, managed to make a 9' furled line that should work for the 9' "Concept Tenkara Rod".  Going to make another one later once the new Rod arrives.  Till then,....

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

Did Some Tinkering... and Made a Furled Line.

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!

A Bass and Sunfish On The "Concept Tenkara Rod"!

Decided to hit Bethany Lakes before the next cold front....  Chose the "Concept Tenkara Rod" - a Tenkara style fishing rod made using three sections of a Japanese Telescoping Rod.  Wanted to try fishing with only a rod, line, no reel, and a tandem rig of two fishing flies - a BH Leech and Nymph.

Temps were already dropping by the time we got started.  After an hour of fishing, had no strikes in the Main Pond, the Canal, the Waterfalls, and the Back Pond.  Moreover, lost the one Nymph to a snag.

Was getting ready to call it quits but "just one more cast" resulted in a Bass!  A few more casts later made for another hookup on a Bass but lost it while landing it. A few more "just one more casts" brought in a Sunfish.

Fun stuff.... liking the Tenkara style fishing!

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!

Break in the Weather, Went with the Backup Plan.... Limited Out At Prosper!

With the break in the weather decided to go with the backup plan and fish for Trout in Prosper's Whitley Place Park.  Been a couple of weeks since it was stocked and with the recent weather, fishing pressure was likely minimal.

Originally was going to hit one of the Trout Derbies in Frisco or McKinney yesterday but... recent snow and ice caused many roads to be closed. Moreover, ponds were iced over! So, the Trout Derbies have been rescheduled for next weekend.

Trout action started out good with three caught in about 20" after arriving.  Then, slowed down when the next front started rolling in.  Did manage to catch two more Trout to make a limit of five!  All were caught using Orange Powerbait.

Went with the Backup Plan.... Limited Out At Prosper!

Break in the Weather Allows Testing a "Concept Tenkara Rod"!

Been itching to try out Tenkara Fishing - a Japanese fishing technique that uses a Rod, Level Line, a Tippet, and a Fishing Fly.... and No Fly Reel!

Did a web search of "Tenkara" and found articles, videos, blogs, and a website that sells Tenkara Rods! Liked the thought of minimizing gear to catch fish.... But, was taken back by the cost of a Tenkara Rod!  So, before purchasing a Rod decided to check the Rod Bin and see if a "concept rod" could be used as a substitute.

Good thing.... way back when while overseas, had purchased a 17' telescoping rod in Japan. Bought it on a whim and used it on and off over the years. Using three of the five sections of the rod, came up with a useable 9' "Concept Tenkara Rod"!

After putting the rig together, have been wanting to try it out but have been unable given the weather.   Today though... had a break in weather and made a quick trip to Bethany Lakes to try out the Rod!

Was a tough go with all the ice and snow. But, did manage to land a little Bluegill on a BH Nymph!  Despite the cold weather and slow action, really like this technique. Very easy to walk a bank and cast to "key" areas within 20' of the shoreline.   Moreover, it takes a minimalist approach to fishing and at the same time it is still fly fishing!



Bluegill on a "Concept Tenkara Rod"!



"Concept Tenkara Rod"



Denison Dam Has Been Generating Power For Awhile.... Cold Weax Increasing Demand!

Checked out the Denison Dam Real Time Release schedule.  Looks like the cold weather has put a significant demand on power.  The Power Plant has been generating what looks like 24 hours +.  For more info and the link to the schedule, checkout our archived post from several years back - FYI - Real Time Release For Denison Dam.

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!

Two Trout Derbies Postponed.... Moved to 12 February!

The two Trout Derbies planned for Saturday, 5 February in Collin County have been postponed to 12 February due to cold weather!!!!  Should be a lot of fun for the kids and hopefully warmer... for more details checkout the links below:

• McKinney Annual Trout Derby at Towne Lake
• Frisco "Trick a Trout" Derby at the Commons

Good luck and good fishing!
COAF Field Team

Celebration Park - Bullheads and Catfish On Bread....

Decided to checkout the Catfish at Celebration Park's East Pond.  Caught a few Bullheads and one Catfish that went about 16".  Not a bad outing on a nice day!

The angle of the Catfish picture makes it look smaller than 16". Bear with us as we work on better photos....  Regardless, still fun to catch them on Bread and light tackle!

Celebration Park - Bullheads and Catfish On Bread....

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!

Limited Out At Prosper... Used a BH Leech and a "Powerbait Hook" Trailer!

Decided to fish Whitley Place Park using flyfishing gear this morning....  Had a few strikes yesterday but could not hook up with the Trout.  Used a BH Olive Wooley Bugger and Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph yesterday.

Today, went with a BH Leech that we picked up from Scotty's One Stop Shop on a trip to the Blue River last year.  And then, replaced the Nymph trailer with a Size 14 Wet Fly Hook modified by adding a part of a ballpoint pen spring!

Had tried other ways to cast Powerbait using a flyfishing gear with limited success.  Today, the design -  calling it the "Powerbait Hook", allowed for normal flycasting without losing the bait!

Going to keep this one in our backpocket when all else is not working....

Limited Out At Prosper... Used a BH Leech and a "Powerbait Hook" Trailer!

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!

Whitley Place Park Still Producing Limits!

Fished Whitley Place Park in Prosper this morning.  Really nice day with comfortable temps.... Made even better by the limit of Trout caught.  Used Orange Powerbait to take them.  Did try a few fishing flies; some light strikes but no solid hook-ups.  Others were limiting out; looked like Powerbait and Corn continued to be consistent producers!

FYI:  Been getting a number of request from Readers on where the pond is located.  Checkout out yesterday's post; it provides directions to the Pond from the city of Allen.

Whitley Place Park Still Producing Limits!

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!