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!

Annual Mckinney Trout Derby Scheduled For Saturday, 25 February!

Annual Mckinney Trout Derby is scheduled for Saturday, 25 February!  Get the kids together and gather up the fishing gear, then head out for the Derby.  4000+ Rainbow Trout are planned for release in Towne Lake.  For more info, check out McKinney Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department's press release!

Good Luck and Good Fishing!
COAF Field Team

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!

Cold Day At Bethany!

Fished Bethany and caught a Bass and a Bluegill.  Was rough though; ice kept forming in the rod guides!  Made a short video clip of the "action"!  Package from the Fly Shack arrived, going to stay indoors warm up and then may do more fly tying!

Cold, Cold, Cold, and Windy, Too... Caught a Bass Though!

Fished Bethany the early evening and braved the cold.  Ended up getting several strikes and one hookup on a little Bass.  Did have one that looked decent take a Guadalupana but broke off immediately.  Worse lost a Damsel Fly and Wooley Bugger, too!  Guess it's back to the fly tying table to make more.

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!

Damsel Fly Gets Several Bass at Bethany's Waterfall!

Fished the Waterfall at Bethany and managed to get three Bass to take a Damsel Fly.  No Bruisers but still had fun... even made a short video!

White Wooley Bugger Gets Two Bass At Noon.

Broke away from the salt mines and made it to Bethany for a quick trip.  Caught two Bass on the White Wooley Bugger.  Fun stuff,... may try again later with another pattern - White Damsel Fly!  Thoughts are the Damsel Fly rides with the bend up, so less likely to snag the rocks. Will see....

PS:  Made it back later in the early evening.  Managed one more Bass on the White Damsel Fly.  Had less snags on the bottom, so the concept worked!  Too bad the picture did not come out well... a little Bass!