Cold Morning But A Lot Of Action At McKinney's Towne Lake This AM

Checked out the Trout Derby in McKinney this morning. Cold temps but a lot of action for many participants. Looked like the bait of choice was Powerbait in Chartreuse and Orange with a few caught on Salmon Eggs as well as Corn!

Fished for a little while and had a few hook-ups but lost all but one which went about 10" in size. However, others were easily limiting out on "Stocker"-size Trout!

 

Click-on 2010'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!

Trout Derby At Towne Lake in McKinney

The McKinney Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department is hosting its annual Trout Fishing Derby on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. to noon (East Pavilion at Towne Lake, 1405 Wilson Creek Parkway).

More than 4,700 Rainbow Trout are planned for release into Towne Lake for the derby. The event is open to the public, and prizes will be awarded to the first 300 kids who catch their own fish. Casting clinics are available to all attendees.

The derby is free for kids. Adults 17 and over pay a registration fee of $3 and must have a fresh water fishing license. For more details, see link.

Event gets busy but is a lot of fun for the kids!

Click-on 2010'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!

One Bluegill on a Black Midge Submitted for the OFFC!

Tied a few fishing flies last night for the "One Fishing Fly Challenge (OFFC)". This month's challenge called for Midges. Tied several Black Midges in Size 20 and 22, and then went to Bethany Lakes today to try them out.

Had several strikes and missed hook-ups but did catch one fish - a 5" Bluegill using a Size 22 Black Midge under a strike indicator. Submitted the picture, and confirmed its posted on the OFFC's Picture Board.  Good start but suspect February's challenge will be tough; big fish don't seem to care for small Midges!

PS: Looks like the Lower Pond at Bethany Lakes is being worked on, may be fishable later in the year.

 

Click-on 2010'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!

Order Arrived From The FlyShack....

Order arrived from the FlyShack this afternoon.  Ready now to tie a few fishing flies in sizes 16, 20, and 22!  Also, ordered a few size 14 Wooly Buggers, Parasol Midge Emergers (in size 20 and 22), and various flytying material.

Placed the order last Tuesday, package arrived today!  Slight delay in filling the order but did not mind given the free shipping offer.

 

Click-on 2010'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!

HubPages Article - "Midge Fishing Flies"

Posted a new HubPages article that is line with the One Fishing Fly Challenge's selected fishing fly for February - Midges!

Check it out for a quick read - "Midge Fishing Flies"!

Field Team's "One Fishing Fly Challenge"

The Field Team decided to begin documenting its informal flyfishing contest - the "One Fishing Fly Challenge", where the Team selects a fishing fly to see who catches the biggest fish.

Time periods for the Challenge have varied from one day to one month in the past. For ease of tracking, the Team decided on one month challenges.

For February, the fishing fly selected is Midges. They can be fished wet, dry, on a bubble and fly rig...  all that matters is the fish was caught using a Midge fishing fly!

Feel free to checkout the results and/or join in on the challenge.  The rules are simple, and everyone is a winner - no prizes just fun!

Link to the "One Fishing Fly Challenge"

Three Bullheads On Bread

Quick trip to Celebration Park this afternoon. Caught 3 Bullheads using Bread for bait. No Bruisers but still fun to get out before the cold front arrives tonight!

Still on standby for the flytying material from the FlyShack; Field Team continues to take its coffee break during the weather delay.  Plans are to update the Team's Squidoo Lens "Black Coffee Review" article as we take our break!

Click-on 2010'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!

Coffee Break and Flytying Material

Taking a coffee break as the next front arrives bringing rain, cold, and possibly freezing temps.  Till the weather clears, posted a new Squidoo Lens article, "Black Coffee Review".

As the Field Team are coffee drinkers who prefer to drink coffee black, the team decided to rate coffees using a simple rating scale: "Good", "It'll Do", and "Bad".  Check it out some time!

On another note, I anxiously wait for the flytying material ordered from the Fly Shack.  Soon as the order arrives, going to start working on tying Midges using the patterns detailed on the DVD bought at Scotty's One Stop in Oklahoma!

Click-on 2010'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!

Trout Were Active On The Blue River, Just Not On My Hook!

Returned to the Blue River in Oklahoma for another go at the Bruiser Trout. Fished 5 hours, saw easily 75+ Trout (likely more), and caught one Stocker on a BH Black Wooley Bugger. Trout were actively feeding on midges.... guess what fishing fly I did not have! Did use the smallest Black Gnat I had in my flybox and managed to get about 10 strikes fishing it dry. Just too slow in setting the hook!  Regardless, had a great time out there!

Click-on 2010'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!

Got One This Round - 16.5" Skinny Bass

Hooked and landed a Bass at Bethany Lakes this afternoon. After misses yesterday at Bethany Lakes and Bethany Ridge, was able to bring this one in using a BH Olive Wooley Bugger.

Warmer day... no strike indicator and a fast retrieve was the key. Bass went 16.5" in size. Will post on the COAF Fishing Leader Board as it meets the 15" minimum, even if it is "kinda skinny"!

 

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Struck Out Twice at Bethany Lakes and Bethany Ridge.

Struck out at Bethany Lakes this morning.  Struck out at Bethany Ridge yesterday evening.  Had three hook-ups on Bass but lost them soon after at Bethany Lakes.  Had zero strikes at Bethany Ridge.

Did see another fisherman catch a few Bass casting lures at Bethany Ridge.  So, the fish are there, just need to find the right presentation and/or lure!

FYI:  Post another Squidoo Lens article, "Trout Fishing Blogs".  Check it out when you get chance!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Top Fishing Flies of Interst and TPWD's LMB Weight "Estimator"

Posted a Squidoo Len's article that the Field Team put together - "Fishing Flies Of Interest".  Check it out, seems like these fishing flies have been consistent producers.

Also, question came up about how we estimate the weight of Largemouth Bass.  We use an "estimator" published by TPWD.  Will add links to the sidebar for future reference for our Readers!

For those that are interested in estimating weight using the "estimator", here are pictures with measurements of Bass caught at Bethany Lakes' Lower Pond before it was drained.

Click-on "estimator" to go to TPWD's website!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Tested The Weighted Olive Wooley Bugger Variant - 2 Sunfish and a Little Bass!

Returned to Bethany Lakes to test out the Weighted Olive Wooley Bugger Variant, fishing fly created using material on-hand to replace the BH Olive Wooley Bugger that was lost to a "Tree Fish" yesterday.

Hit the Main Pond and on the second cast hooked and then lost a Bass. Looked like the same 2-Pounder that we lost yesterday or its brother.

Fished the Back Pond and noted surface activity.  Had a few light strikes but no hook-ups. Suspect they were Bluegill/Sunfish. Makes sense given the weather was warm enough that it felt like Spring.

Finally, hit the Feeder Creek and managed to bring in 2 Sunfish and a little Bass. Looks like the fishing fly works. Only issue (or not) is that it sinks much slower than the BH Olive Wooley Bugger we were using.

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Weighted Olive Wooley Bugger Variant

Having lost my last BH Olive Wooley Bugger to a "Tree Fish", decided to tie one using material on-hand. Ran out of Bead Heads, so opted to use lead-free wire to weight the fishing fly. No Olive Dacron, so went with Black Dacron. Did have Olive Chennile, Marabou, and Hackles, added Pearl Flashabou for the extra "teaser".

Not sure how this one will do compared to the BH Olive Wooley Bugger. May be a winner like the Foam Rubber Spider Variant that worked well in the Spring and Summer two years ago. Will post results; hopefully soon!

 

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

1 Crappie Caught and 1 Bass Lost

Fished Bethany Lakes this evening. Caught a Crappie that went about 13" in size and lost a Bass that may have gone 2 lbs. All were caught in the Main Pond using a BH Oliver Wooley Bugger! Will post the picture with measurement as a "Fish Of Interest" on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board.

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Fun On The Blue River; Caught Three Trout!

Fished the Blue River in Oklahoma for a chance at the Bruiser Trout stocked this past week! Was able to land three Stocker Trout (9"-10" in size), missed a bunch more, and watched a few others land some Bruisers. Great day, great weather, great River!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

On The Road Today, Checked Out College Station's Central Park

While on the road today, made a stop in College Station and checked out the Trout action at Central Park. Was not able to fish but did take a picture of one fisherman's Trout in a cooler that went just over 12". Action looked promising with surface activity noted!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

One Bass On A Slowwwww Retrieve....

Managed to make a quick trip to Bethany Lakes this evening. Hoped today's warmer temps would get the Bass in the Main Pond feeding. Not for certain but it did not seem so.  Action was slow but did manage to catch one Bass fishing an Olive Wooley Bugger. Used a very slowwwww retrieve....

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Bethany Lakes A Bust This Evening!

Stopped by Bethany Lakes after work this evening.  No luck flyfishing a Crappie Jig Variant or an Olive Wooley Bugger.  Stopped by the "horseshoe" pond and noted zero surface activity; looks like the season may be over for Trout at Bethany.

Luckily, there are Trout Stockings planned for McKinney and Prosper.  Also, Waterloo in Denison continues to see action!  That said, really itching to hit the Blue River in Oklahoma.  Have an Oklahoma Fishing License and Trout Stamp, just need to make the run up there.

Till then, been enjoying updates and fishing reports on the Blue River from another avid fisherman/blogger.  Check it out some time - Drifting The Prairie Ocean!


Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.

Trout Limits at Waterloo; Field Team's First Limit for 2010!

Ran up to Denison Dam to scout out the Striped Bass action this afternoon. Fished without success for about 2 hours, then called it quits. Shifted gears from Striped Bass to Trout and fished Waterloo Park Pond. Limited out in about 30" using Orange Powerbait. Pond was frozen save for the area near the fountain. Regardless, the Trout were active and hungry. Not a bad outing with the first Trout Limit taken by the Field Team in 2010!

Click-on 2010's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers.