Almost Struck Out at Bethany Lakes

Updates for the day

Brief Description - Returned to Bethany Lakes for a chance at the Bass and Bluegill lurking in the Main Pond. After reviewing the UW video from the day before, noted a number of Bass were in the Main Pond and were actively chasing the Rapala Crankbait!

Location - Bethany Lakes

Weather - Sunny and Warm

Gear - Started with the Bait Finesse Gear - Shimano Scorpion 17 BFS XG and BPS MicroLite Fiberglass Rod but switched to Fly Fishing Gear - Redington Pursuit Fly Rod and Ross Flystart 2 Reel in 4wt.

Catch - One Bass that went for the Simple Brown Dry Fly that I tied while taking the TPWD Basic Fly Fishing Class!

Notes - Bass are lurking in their beds but the algae aka "Greenery" is making for hard fishing. Other than top water presentations and fishing flies that can be fished in the upper water column, all others will be quickly fouled. Stick with fishing the upper water column! 

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"Picture/Video of the Day"

Water Wolf Camera 2.0 Field Trials!

Updates for the day

Brief Description - After an initial trial at Lake Glenn, I began tinkering with the Water Wolf Camera 2.0's mount. The OEM version tends to foul when casted because of the metal rod that protrudes from the back of the mount. Will need to test it but for now, did have fun getting to this point with trips to Lake Glenn and Bethany Lakes!

Location - Fished Lake Glenn in Arlington and Bethany Lakes in Allen

Weather - Overcast and cloudy at Lake Glenn and bright and sunny at Bethany Lakes

Gear - Cabelas Bait Casting Rod/Reel Combo, 65 lbs Spiderwire, and a Rapala Husy Jerk 2.5" Suspended Crankbait at Lake Glenn and various lures/flies at Bethany Lakes including the Rapala.

Catch - Two Bass at Lake Glenn and one Bass and one Bluegill at Bethany Lakes

Notes - Need to adjust the leader from 20" to 12"-14" for clarity. Also, need to modify the mount; camera fell off after catching the second Bass at Lake Glenn.

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"Picture/Video of the Day"

No Fishing, But Did Fishing Things!

Updates for the day

Brief Description - Signed up for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Basic Fly Fishing Class and Fly Fishing Instructor Training hosted by the Dallas Fly Fishers.

Location - Rosemeade Recreation Center, Carrollton, TX

Weather - Windy and chilly with some sun later in the day.

Gear - TFO Lefty Kreh Fly Rods and Cabelas Reels, estimate 5wt - 9ft combos.

Catch - No fish caught but did catch the "fishing fever"!

Notes - Basic course provided great info for fisherman interested in getting started fly fishing. Liked the fly tying section in particular. Tied a Wooley Bugger many times over the years but learned better ways to tie the pattern. Looking forward to future events as a Volunteer!

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"Picture/Video of the Day"

More Scouting with the GoFish Underwater Camera - Testing the Rigging Modifications

Updates for the day

Brief Description - Modified the camera rigging to improve the point of view when deployed using .065 instead of .090 diameter trimmer line for the leader. Also, added a sliding fish finder rig to minimize the fouling of the hook.

Location - Fished the pier at Bethany Lakes, setting up on the right side as you face the street. Then, fished from the right to middle of the pier, tending more to the middle. 

Weather - Cloudy with some sun at times. Rain was forecasted around 3PM, started fishing around 1PM and fished for an hour. Stopping once the battery died on the GoFish Cam.

Gear - Used the EmmRod Kayak King Spinning Rod/Reel Combo with braided line and a sliding float and swivel clip to attach the the GoFish Cam. Also, brought the Redington Pursuit 4wt-8ft Fly Rod with the Ross Flystart 2 Reel with 4wt WF flyline.

Catch - Caught two "Red-Ear" Perch using an Olive Near Deere in Size 10 with the fly rod.  Also, had a small Bass take the fishing fly but lost it. Used bread balls and a circle hook on the GoFish Cam. No fish caught but did have Turtles and Bluegill picking at the bait.

Notes - Bass and Bluegill were cruising the pier. Easy casting distance. Olive Near Deere worked but the fish were "skittish". Also, fished under an indicator but removed it; fish wanted a movement and a "twitch" while retrieving would illicit a strike or at least get their "attention". 

PS: Will follow-up with a "Lets Talk Fishing - Underwater Camera" Livestream Session". Do check back in the next few days!

Update: Posted the video of the "Lets Talk Fishing - Underwater Camera" Livestream Session" below!

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"Picture/Video of the Day"

Fly Fishing After Work #GoPro Mobile #Fishing #livestream

Here is the edited version of the GoPro Mobile Fishing Livestream where I fish Stoney Hollow Park Pond on the way home from work!

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"Suggested Gear"

Bass Fly Fishing Post Livestream Edited Version!

Next in the GoPro Mobile Fishing Livestream Series is an outing to a local pond located behind In-N-Out Burger.

This is the post livestream edited version that skips the slow parts and takes you to key items of interest.

Check it out, plan was to work an Impromptu Fishing Fly on spawning beds.Turns out the trusty Olive Near Deere fished under an indicator was the producer this trip!

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"Suggested Gear"

Just For Fun, Invent Your Own Fishing Fly... On the Fly! #fishing #bassfishing #flyfishing

Impromptu Fly

Here is the Impromptu Fishing Fly that I invented on a whim. I planned to fish the local pond for spawning Bass sight casting as they guard their beds. As I like fishing fly that provides a high contrast to the lighter colored beds that Bass build during the spawn, I came up with an impromptu pattern that I now call the "Impromptu Fly"!

In the video below, I had tied this pattern about five minutes before fishing it. Do give this pattern a try and let us know how it works for you.

The recipe calls for:

• Size 8 Streamer Hook
• Two Red Marabou Plume
• Lead Wire .020 - ten wraps
• Pink Chenille - preferably the "fuzzier the better"
• Dacron Tying Thread - Red

Here are the tying instructions:

1. Build a thread base, apply ten wraps of lead wire starting at the middle of the hook shank and wrapping toward the hook eye.
2. Secure the lead wraps with thread wraps along its entire length, stopping the tying thread just forward of the hook bend.
3. Next, tie in one Marabou Plume at the same point - just forward of the hook bend, wrapping toward the hook eye and stopping at the middle of the hook shank. Trim the excess Marabou.
4. Then, flip the hook so the hook point is above the shank. If using a rotary vise, rotate 180 degrees. If not, remove the hook from the vise, and flip the hook over, and then secure in the vise.
5. Tie in the second Marabou Plume where you stopped tying in Step 3 - the middle of the hook shank. wrapping toward the hook eye, then wrapping back to the middle of the hook shank. Trim the excess Marabou.
6. Next, tie in the Pink Chenille forward of the Marabou Plume making sure the Chenille is butted next to the Marabou along the shank. And then, apply thread wraps toward the  hook eye, stopping one hook eye length behind the hook eye.
7. Then, wrap the Chenille forward covering the lead wraps and stopping one hook eye length behind the hook eye. Secure and then trim the excess Chenille.
8. Finally, build a tapering head and secure with a whip finish knot. Apply head cement, let dry and then go fishing.

Fly Fishing for Bass!

 Another GoPro Mobile Fishing Livestream! This round it's fly fishing for Bass using a fly I tied minutes before fishing it... it's called the Impromptu Fly. 

#flyfishing #fishing #livestream 

Shake a Z-Man Ned Rig in Front of a Bass? Caught One! #fishing #livestream #bass

Was walking the bank looking for Bass on beds. Saw two in the shallows but no bed nearby. They were just lurking near the bank. Shook a Ned Rig in front on one Bass' nose... Caught him!

YES, Ultralight Ned Rigs and Rooster Tails Catch Bass!

Edited video from this past weekend's GoPro Mobile Fishing Livestream. I fished using Ultralight Baitcasting Gear aka Bait Finesse Systems, a Z-Man Ned Rig, and a 1/16oz Rooster Tail! Caught and release six Bass.

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"Suggested Gear"