Fly Casting with a Three Foot Fly Rod and no Reel... Hand Hold Revisited? #orvis #practicaster #demo

This video answers the mail – a YouTube Viewer requested we show the hand hold we used in the video One Rod, No Reel.

The intent of the One Rod, No Reel was to show quality fly line was more important than the fly reel, and the suggestion was to focus more on a quality fly line, followed by the fly rod, and then the fly reel for most fishing situations.

In One Rod, No Reel, we used a premium but old 5wt WF Fly line that we have since retired… keeping about 8 yards of the forward portion of the fly line, attaching it to a short section of dacron backing, and a rubber band.

We then attached the rubber band to the rod handle, and then demonstrated casting without a fly reel as well as catching a trout or two at a local pond.

To answer the mail, we removed the 4wt fly reel that was zip tied to an Orvis Practicaster, and used the heavy “rope like” practice line that came with it to show the hand hold used.

And since, we still had the fly line used in the One Rod, No Reel video, decided to show it can be cast using the short three foot Orvis Practicaster, too!

Do check it out!

PS: Appended the On Rod, No Reel video to the end of the demo for ease of reference.

Catch and Cook Blackened Catfish Anyone?

Mixing things up with the catch and cook recipes. This time going to cook the Catfish we caught Sunday at the local lake using a Blackened Fish Recipe.

Recipe calls for the following:

• 1 Tablespoon of Lemon Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon of Garlic Powder
• 1 Teaspoon of Black Pepper
• 1 Teaspoon of Red Pepper (or less if you want less spicy)
• Salt to taste as desired, suggest less than a Teaspoon possibly 1/2

Pan fry preferably in a cast iron skillet using a 1/4 stick of butter and olive oil. Cook 1″ to 2″ for thin fillets, 3″ to 4″ minutes for thicker fillets on high heat. Fillets are done when white and flaky. Cook in 1″ increments each side if fillet does not flake with a fork.

Do try it out first chance you get… it’s tasty!

iFishNews Fishing Podcast #17 - What's In Our Kayak Fishing Jacket Revisited?

Posted an earlier video that shows the items we like to keep at the ready in our kayak fishing jacket.

As a follow-up, decided to grab the jacket and show the items we currently have pocketed away like… a whistle, extra line, multi-tool, etc!

Do check it out!

Kayak Fishing Lavon - Backpaddling Keeps Working! #kayaking #kayakfishing #lakelavon

Here is the follow-on video of yesterday’s kayak fishig trip to Lake Lavon. Bought new kayak fishing sandals from the Columbia Allen Outlet Store to replace the ones that “blew a flat” last year.

Had to give them a “test drive” and take them fishing. Decided on putting in at Lavonia South Ramp. Lots of boats and jet skis but did manage to catch a nice Catfish, several Yellow Bass, and a Crappie.

All caught bottom bouncing a Slab and Jig Rig by backpaddling the kayak along a drop off near the boat ramp.

Fun stuff… do stay tune for more videos and be on the lookout for the new kayak fishing sandals, our footwear of choice in the Summer!

Our Favorite Kayak Fishing Sandals - Columbia Ridgeway! #kayaking #columbia #kayakfishing

Been missing the kayaking sandals but finally found the replacement pair – Columbia’s Ridgeway!

Water shoes were not cutting it; this will be our fourth pair of Columbia Sandals – First two were Santiams (I think), third one was the Riptide, and this one is a Ridgeway.

Columbia is our favorite for fishing shirts and kayaking sandals…. will see how the Ridgeway works out this season and on!

In the past, the sandals stay secure, can get wet but not slippery, and makes a cool tan line when you take them off!

Do stay tuned for more kayak fishing videos… and be on the lookout for the Kayak Fishing Sandals!

Kayak Fishing Lavon - Back Paddling Technique Gets One

Made it to Lavon for a chance at an evening round of kayak fishing the point at Brockdale Park. Another hot day but luckily not too hot to stop us from fishing!

Arrived at the boat ramp with only one other boat at the park. Quick launch and was on the lake trolling shortly after.

Fished a couple of hours without a strike, then shifted to the back paddling technique where we paddle the kayak backwards, and let the slab and jig rig bounce bottom. Managed to avoid a strikeout by getting one Yellow Bass.

No worries… best thing about kayak fishing, can always get a workout in at least!

Posted video of the trip, and then added past video from a trip last year that shows more details on the back paddling technique. Do check it out!

Quick Trip Flyfishing Bethany Lakes #maxcatch #orvis #riotroutmax

Monday made the run late in the day to Bethany Lakes. Was trying the Bennett’s Lunch fishing fly we picked up in Gruene a few weeks ago. Late start because the temps were hot that day… in the 100s, opted to wait till just before dark.

No takers on the Bennett’s Lunch, will have to keep trying as we know it is a great pattern for Stripers and Bass. Did catch a couple of Bluegill on the Foam Spider using the Discount Switch Rod – Maxcatch Fly Rod, Orvis Fly Reel, and Rio Trout Max.

• MaxCatch 2wt Fly Rod: https://amzn.to/2UfM8FG
• Orvis Hydros Sl1 Fly Reel: https://amzn.to/2UiRCPS
• Rio Trout Max (200 grain): https://amzn.to/2HiT2Bs
• Rio SlickShooter Running Line (35lbs): https://amzn.to/2GGIVsZ

Catch and Cook Pan Fried Habanero Trout

Throw back Wednesday to celebrate “Hump Day” and get us through the midweek blues… how about a catch and cook of trout we caught last season?

Froze the trout in ice, and they stayed as fresh as the day we caught them last Winter. Used a Rubber Legged Near Deere to get them to strike!

For cooking, decided to try a new recipe – Pan Fried Habanero Trout!

Ingredients:

• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Chopped Habanero (with or without the seeds, proceed with caution)
• Stocker Sized Rainbow Trout fillets

Directions:

• Season fillets with salt, pepper, and garlic powder
• Sprinkle chopped Habanero over fillets
• Let sit in the refrigerator for two hours or more
• Pan fry in oil on high heat for two minutes each side. Three minutes if crunchy fillets are desired

iFishNews Fishing Podcast #16 - Cast Net Repair, GoFish Camera, and Kayak Juglining!

This round we provide another update on the Team’s fishing activities this past week! Temps are in the 100s but somehow we have made the effort to continue fishing or at least do things related to fishing.

We started out making much needed repairs to our Cast Net, broken braille lines and temp fixes were hindering our abililty to use fresh shad for Stripers, Gar, and Catfish!

Next, the GoFish Camera arrived, have started fish scouting local ponds with some promising results. Hope to twaek our rig to get better action shots and clearer video of the fish.

And then, the Saturday trip to Lake Lavon made for some fun times catching Catfish on juglines for the Beer Batter Fish Fry that evening… plus a nice Gar went for one of our lines; fun time playing with that one before finally releasing it.

Have more things – fishing things, to do this next week. Do check back for another update!

Kayak Fishing Lavon Gets Catfish, a Yellow Bass, and a Gar!

Had a fun time kayak fishing Lake Lavon. The repairs to the cast net made for a much easier and faster means to catch Shad for bait.

Brought jug lines to work the area of the point at Highland Park, bite started out fast, then slowed down as the temps rose.

Did manage six Catfish – 5 Blue Catfish and 1 Channel Catfish, one Yellow Bass, and a Gar. Kept the Catfish for a Beer Batter Recipe Fish Fry as well as flash frozen fish fillets for later grilling!

Release the Yellow Bass and the Gar. The Gar put up a nice fight but no POV action shots as your’s truly deleted the GoPro video by accident. Still managed to capture the essence of the trip… do check it out; was a fun time!