We appreciate your support for our website and weblog, and we look forward to continuing to provide useful fishing information to our Readers as 2014 closes and 2015 begins.
Sincerely, COAF Field Team
Out and About Podcast
...on another note, looked like Fshng84 sent in another report from Bethany Lakes while he was on a morning run. The Podcast is posted below, do check it out. Key notes this time were:
Trout were rising, surface activity looked promising for PowerWorms
Also, would try a Fishing Fly on a Bobber Fly Rig
Trout were taking Velveeta Cheese under a Bobber
Similar to other days when Super Dupers were getting bites, would anticipate the same today
Heard from the Field Team again! Looks like Glenn continues to fish Bethany Lakes using the COAF Griffith's Gnat. Luckily, three Trout went for the pattern although one was lost while bringing it in.
He had to wait until the early evening when the Trout started rising/feeding on something on the surface. Here are key notes from today:
Drop in temperatures and windy conditions made it tough to hook up; overall action remained slow during the mid-day period
Action did pick up later in the afternoon/early evening with Bubble Fly Rigs and PowerWorms doing well
Also, noted Velveeta Cheese fished with a Bobber were doing well in the early evening
COAF Griffith's Gnat came through when sight casting to rising Trout also in the early evening
Silver Super Duper did well for some; cast for distance to the middle of the pond and use a steady retrieve to hook up
Video clip below shows the COAF Griffith's Gnat hooking up with two Rainbow Trout:
Overall, the action had been hit or miss at our local pond. Trout were actively rising on the surface throughout the day, but fishermen were having trouble consistently hooking up.
There were a few fisherman who did get a limit, and as the afternoon progressed, one area of the pond seemed to have a flurry of activity that resulted in a limit being taken in less than 30" by one fisherman.
Key notes from today were:
Super Dupers worked early in the day but the bite turned off
Bubble Fly Rigs with a Prince Nymph were getting strikes but hook ups were spotty
Black Midge Dry Fly were also getting strikes but missed hook sets seemed to be the norm
Bubble Fly Rigs with a PowerWorm seemed to be the go to rig/lure today
COAF Griffith's Gnat (variant of the Griffith's Gnat) worked well for rising trout
Video clip showing snippets of risers at Bethany Lakes...
Griffith's Gnat courtesy of Scheels!
When midges are on the water think Griffith’s Gnat.
While at first glance this fly doesn’t really appear to be a great imitation of one of the smallest insects on the water, when midges hatch heavily, they tend to cluster together in the current to create a more significant meal for hungry trout.
When fished in combination with a more realistic midge or mayfly nymph as a dropper some amazing fishing can be had. It is the ultimate technical micro dry-dropper rig.
Each year the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Trinity River Regional Water District (TRWD) stock the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas with Rainbow Trout from December to March.
The trout typically range between 9"-11" in length with a some going 12" or longer at times. However, if you are after larger trout, there is an annual event in March that provides the best chance to catch trout measuring 20" or more!
It's TRWD Flyfest!
Retrieved from https://trwdflyfest.com/
TRWD Flyfest
TRWD Flyfest is scheduled for March 12, 2022 and marks the end of the 2021-2022 Trout Stocking Season.
A sponsored event with a laidback feel that promotes fly fishing with a mix of food, beer, wine, and live music.
It's a family friendly environment that offers free fly fishing lessons, expert fly fishing presentations, and other fishing related activities to interest both novice as well as expert fly fisherman.
Moreover, for those who prefer fishing over talking about fishing, TRWD Flyfest hosts a fishing contest - the Orvis Big Trout Contest.
For more details, click the picture in the inset of this section. Don't be surprised to see 20" and larger size trout being caught and released during the contest!
Past Events
Yours truly has attended TRWD Flyfest since the first event held on the banks of the Trinity River by the Acme Brick Company Headquarters in March 2016.
I learned about the event by accident. I was headed to the Brazos River west of Fort Worth to fish for Rainbow Trout and Striped Bass at the tailrace to Possum Kingdom Reservoir.
While on the way, I heard an announcement on the radio mentioning TRWD Flyfest. As I was still in Fort Worth, I diverted my trip to the Acme Brick Company Headquarters.
The event has been held annually with the exception of 2020; however, the trout stocking proceeded as scheduled that year just no TRWD Flyfest.
Below are a series of videos we posted previously on our YouTube Channel - COAF Field Team. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, maybe videos are worth more.
Do check them out!
TRWD Flyfest 2016 - First One Hosted By TRWD!
TRWD Flyfest 2017 - Caught Five Nice Ones with the Switch Rod
When your fly line does not come with a welded loop, what options do you have to attach your leader to your fly line?
Below are four methods we have tried; all will work but there is one in particular that we like.
Do read on!
Braided Loop
The first method uses a braided loop - specifically, Rio Braided Loops.
The Fly Line is inserted into one end of the Braided Loop. Super Glue is then applied to the connection, and then a plastic sleeve is slipped over the connection.
Other brands use a heat shrink tube instead of the plastic sleeve, but the concept is the same.
We have tried this method with several of our fly lines and have had no issues with exception of convenience.
That is, more often than not we are either out of braided loops or forgot where we put them.
The latter being the case for one particular Field Team Member who we will leave un-named.
DIY Loop
The next method calls for making your own fly line loop. There are different techniques to make a fly line loop. Some are elaborate and others are not so elaborate.
In our case, it's not so elaborate...
Form a loop at the end of the fly line,
Super Glue the tag end to the fly line,
Wrap with fly tying Dacron thread or dental floss
Next, Super Glue the thread or floss,
And then, apply Head Cement or Tough as Nails Clear Nail Polish.
Let dry, and then go fishing!
This method worked for us also. The largest fish caught with this connection was a 26" Striped Bass.
However, we noticed our fly line to tippet connection fails first since its connection is a lighter pound test strength compared to the DIY Loop.
Nail Knot
This method is the first one yours truly learned when he first started fly fishing.
No YouTube or Google back then; it was the County Public Library and fly fishing books that described fly lines made of silk and tippets made of horse hair!
More important, the books instructed a "Newbie" like me to attach my leader to the fly line using a Nail Knot.
The Nail Knot called for wrapping the leader around a nail, slipping the leader or more like surgically weaving it under the wraps, and then finally removing the nail and pulling tight.
That said, I stepped up my fly fishing game when I bought a Nail Knot Tying Tool to replace the nail.
In short order, I could quickly replace a leader using the tool even while in the field fishing a river!
Simple and quick to tie. Some fisherman add a little Super Glue to the knot for extra insurance.
But, I tend to pull the knot tight and then leave it "as is". I still use this method but only when I have the Knot Tying Tool. I can still tie the knot using a nail, but it takes me much longer than with the tool.
Luckily, I keep the Knot Tying Tool in my fly vest. However, I am thinking about replacing it with the combination nipper and knot tying tool as I have recently misplaced by nippers!
Nail Knot Variant
The fourth method is a variant of the traditional Nail Knot that yours truly learned years ago.
The variation from the Nail Knot method is that the leader is not tied directly to the fly line.
Instead, we take an 18" section of 30lbs mono-filament, and tie one end to the fly line with a Nail Knot.
Once everything is pulled tight, we attach our leader to our fly line using the loop on our leader to the loop of the 18" section of monofilament.
Like when we use a Braided Loop or a DIY Loop, the Nail Knot Variant allows quick and easy change out of leaders.
Plus it saves us from cutting the fly line and retying the Nail Knot.
+Tippet Rings
With the leader attached to our fly line, we normally use a barrel knot aka blood knot to connect our leader to the tippet.
However, we learned about Tippet Rings one season, and we have since added them to our fly fishing list of "really nice to haves".
Using a Trilene Knot or an Improved Clinch Knot, we attach the Tippet Ring to the leader.
Then, using the same Trilene Knot or Improved Clinch Knot, we attach the tippet to the Tippet Ring.
In short order, we can replace tippets as quick as we can tie a knot. And, in some Seasons, we have not replaced a leader which definitely saves a buck or two given the cost of fly leaders!
Do give them a try! Just be sure to leave the Tippet Ring on the snap swivel while attaching it to your leader, and then take it off the swivel. Else, you may have a hard time otherwise as the rings are small, really small!
Final Thoughts... One Method In Particular!
Although there are other ways to accomplish what we described above, we seem to keep using these connections year in and year out. Moreover, we have been using the Nail Knot Variant more often lately since...
We ran out of Braided Loops; are too lazy as well as impatient to make a DIY Loop (gotta glue, then wrap, then let it dry,... by then, we could have gone fishing already); and tying the Nail Knot is quick especially with a Nail Knot Tying Tool but we hate to cut off a piece of expensive Fly Line every time we change Leaders!
We received another report from Bethany Lakes from Glenn who noted the bite was mixed. Some fishermen were doing well catching their limit, while others were striking out.
What worked this round:
Silver Super Dupers worked well today
Gold Super Dupers were also getting struck
Sight casting to boils as well as a steady retrieve of the Super Duper helped get strikes
As the bite slowed, switching to fishing flies helped
A Bubble Fly Rig also helped in getting the distance needed to reach active fish feeding on the surface
Below is a short video showing one fisherman bringing in a Trout using a Bubble Fly Rig!
The Team confirmed one of our own graduated with an Engineering Degree from Texas A&M University! Now, it's back to fishing again!
Bethany Lakes in Allen
Reports from the Team indicated the action Saturday morning was steady for some while slow for others. In the Team's case, one Rainbow Trout fell for an Olive Wooley Bugger at Bethany Lakes in Allen.
Key notes from the morning round were:
Slow retrieve and/or stop and go retrieve seemed to work
Casting spoons like Super Dupers in Gold and Silver and Mini-Jigs were getting strikes
Bubble Fly Rig cast to fish feeding near the surface were getting strikes
Fish were also taking PowerBait and PowerWorms
Action was steady initially but tapered off with the exception of the Bubble Fly Rig.
Saturday afternoon the action picked up when the Team headed to Waterloo Park Pond in Denison. The Team limited out using an Olive Near Deere, Copper Super Duper, and a Power Bait.
Key notes from the afternoon round were:
Near Deere was getting strikes as it sank slowly on no retrieve
Super Duper was also getting strikes as it sank slowly or when fished slow
Fish were also taking PowerBait, PowerWorms, Corn, and Salmon Eggs
PS: The city of Denison posted a sign advertising their upcoming trout derbies. Three are planned; for more details of Denison's trout derbies as well as other trout derbies, check them out in the FAQs section of StockerTroutFishing.com. It is listed under Trout Derbies.
COAF YouTube Video
Video Clip of Saturday's action is posted below for reference!
Number 19 in the "Little Red Book of Fly Fishing" podcast series where I review fly fishing tips in parallel to the current Winter Trout Stocking Season in our area.
This week it's tips 82 through 87!
Tip 82: That Vision Thing
Tip 83: Timing the Rise
Tip 84: Be a Sneak
Tip 85: Off Broadway
Tip 86: Downstream and Dirty
Tip 87: How Dry am I?
Do check back on our next episode in the series where we discuss tips 88 - 93.
