Bethany Lakes This Evening... 4 Bluegill, 1 Sunfish, and 4 Bass!

Fished Bethany Lakes this evening using the Yellow Grasshopper.  Caught four Bluegill, one Sunfish, and four Bass.  No Bruisers but a lot of activity in the shallows!  Gotta remember to start casting well away from the bank before approaching quietly.  Scared a few Bruisers that were chasing baitfish in the shallows.

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!

Caught a Bruiser Catfish at Celebration Park This Morning!

Stopped by Celebration Park this morning to get a round of fishing in.  Caught several Catfish using Bread for bait.  Action was slow but steady with consistent strikes till about 8AM.  Highlight of the morning was a Bruiser Catfish that went just over 22" in size and 5.5 pounds in weight! Submitted a picture to the COAF Fishing Leader Board; definitely met the 15" minimum to post!

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!

Two Bass and Five Bluegill On A Yellow Grasshopper!

Fished this morning using a Yellow Grasshopper.  Caught two Bass and five Bluegill.  One Bass went 11" in size; other was much smaller.  Fun, fun, fun,...!

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!

Frustration At Celebration Park's East Pond

Stopped by Celebration Park's East Pond to try out the Bread Fly - a pattern offered by Pondbass' Fly Shop Webstore! 

Caught a small Sunfish, then a 12" Catfish using the fishing fly.  Had more bites, then lost the fly to a Bruiser Catfish.  Was a nice run while it lasted, will have to purchase another one.

Did switch to Bread for bait and caught three more Catfish.  Also, lost several Bruisers; just could not set the hook or keep them on long enough to land them.

Fun day, regardless of the frustration of losing a fishing fly and missing out on some Bruisers!

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!

Twenty Caught and Released @ Bethany Lakes Using a Yellow Grasshopper!

Fished Bethany Lakes this evening.  Decided to see how the Yellow Grasshopper would work in the rainy weather.  It worked...!

Caught and released twenty fish - six Bass and fourteen Bluegill/Sunfish.  Bass ranged from a little 8" Bass to a couple of 14" Bass.  Bruisers were working the shallows, had several strikes but no hookups.  Need faster reflexes to get those Bruisers!

Twenty Caught and Released @ Bethany Lakes Using a Yellow Grasshopper!

 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!

June's One Fishing Fly Challenge Closes, Field Team Selected "Mellow Yellow" for July!

June's One Fishing Fly Challenge closed out with a 14" Bass caught on a Purple Wooley Bugger.  A larger Bass was hooked and lost using a Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger.  Estimated to be larger than the 7 Pounder caught 28 February of this year!

Better luck next time.  Till then, join us in July's One Fishing Fly Challenge.  Field Team selected "Mellow Yellow" - any fishing fly with the color yellow in the pattern!

Feel free to send pictures to COAF.Weblog@Live.Com!

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!

Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger Gets 2 Bluegill and 2 Bass!

Stopped by Bethany Lakes before the rain hit this evening.  Was trying for the Bruisers chasing the baitfish near the banks.  Had several chase the fishing fly but did not get a hook up on a Bruiser.  Did catch two Bluegill and two Bass on the Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger!

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!

More Fun Catching Catfish on the Bamboo "Stake" Rod

More fun catching Catfish this morning at Bethany Lakes using the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.  Caught over a dozen, largest went 17" in size.  Did lose bigger ones and released more than pictured below.

Good to know the Bruisers are still there; bite stayed steady despite the heat. Bread for bait continues to produce.  Fishing rod looks like it can handle a Bruiser.  Will see what happens the next round.

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!

Back to Bethany Lakes In The Late Afternoon.

Went back to Bethany Lakes in the later afternoon.  Temps were brutal but was able to hide in the shade.  Caught one Catfish on Bread, lost several others.  Still was good to know the hot temps did not slow the bite!

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!

Lost the Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger to a Bruiser!

Fished Bethany Lakes this morning.  Was slow at first but the action picked up with a Bruiser striking on the Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger.

Was larger than the 7 Pounder caught earlier this year.  Fought it for about 5 minutes bringing it close to shore twice.  Ended the fight with a break-off.  Was using a 4 pound tippet, so had to play it carefully.

Was fun while it lasted, better luck next round.  Going to have to tie more Purple-Chenille Wooley Buggers; the one lost to the Bruiser was the last one in the fly box!

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!

Three Catfish Using Bread for Bait and the Bamboo "Stake" Rod!

Fished Bethany Lakes again to see how the rain affected the fishing. Bite was slower than the other day but remained steady with more missed hooksets than landed. Regardless, caught three Catfish that went 17", 15.5", and 15" in size! All were caught using Bread for bait and with the Bamboo "Stake" Rod!

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!

Really Liking the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.... Caught And Released About a Dozen Catfish!

Returned to Bethany Lakes for more fun with the Catfish.  Used Bread for bait and the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.  Caught about a dozen Catfish and took pictures of the three largest - 19", 18.5", and 15"!  Really liking the rod, especially since it as made on the "cheap side".

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!

Another Trip to Bethany Lakes Using the Bamboo "Stake" Rod

Returned to Bethany Lakes this evening for another field test of the Bamboo "Stake" Rod.  Rod held up against four Catfish.  Largest went 18.5" in size.  Really liking the feel of the Rod; has a similar feel as a graphite rod we used way back when fishing popping corks along the oyster beds down South!

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!

Bamboo "Stake" Rod With Wine Cork Handle and Seven Catfish.

Decided to try something different and make a homemade fishing rod. Was a good exercise in tying rod guides; even better, found that the Rod Wrapping Jig we made last week worked like it was designed!

Did not want to "waste" a lot of money on rod building material.  Used bamboo stakes from Home Depot for the rod blank, old wine corks for the handle, and rod guides from Academy.

Spent several hours today putting the rod together.  Ended with a 5 foot light/medium weight spinning rod.  Calling it the Bamboo "Stake" Rod with Wine Cork Handle.

Bamboo "Stake" Rod With Wine Cork Handle

Tested the outfit at Bethany Lakes this evening.  Caught seven catfish including one that went 17" in size.  Really like the thought of hooking a Bruiser and landing it successfully on a homemade fishing rod!

Seven Catfish at Bethany Lakes

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!

Two Buegill and a Bass at Bethany Lakes This Fathers' Day 2010!

Fished Bethany Lakes this morning and caught two Bluegill and a Bass.  Not a bad start this Fathers' Day 2010.  Caught one Bluegill on a Yellow Grasshopper.  Caught the other Bluegill and Bass on a Purple-Chenille Wooley Bugger.  Had several looks from a few Bass but could not close the deal.  Seemed more content at chasing the fishing fly than striking.

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!

Summer Pattern Is Here.... Made a Rod Wrapping Jig.

Summer pattern is here, so fish early morning or late evening.  Else, fish deep or seek shady areas for fish during the heat of the day.

Or, do other things related to fishing if you cannot breakaway from other commitments.  In our case, decided to make a rod wrapping jig based on plans on the Internet.  Found one that used minimal material. 

Plan to use it to repair several rods with broken rod guides. Posted a picture below.

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!

Quick Trip to Kroger Park This Evening.

Been busy these last few days but managed to wet a line at Kroger Park.  Algae has cleared up, was able fish more than clearing the hook.  Caught two Bass on a White Grasshopper.  No Bruisers but could see them working the shallows.

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!

Steady Action at Denison Dam

Made it to Denison Dam Tailrace this morning for another go at Stripers. Fished before the power plant started generating when waterflow was minimal. Also, fished after the plant started up making for accurate casting into the eddies and pools, else lost rigs were the norm.

Action was steady with a number of Stripers caught and released. Fishing partner and I left when they were still biting.... kept a limit each.

Side Note: Had a tough go catching Shad this week with our cast nets, ended up buying bait at Academy.  Also, been playing around with shock leaders and rigs. Lessons learned/suggestions noted to date listed below:

• Really like the 50lbs braided line compared to the 60lbs mono line we had been using. Observing less breakoffs and more time spent fishing.
• When snagged the 15lbs mono line that is tied to the hook readily breaks off.  Weight and Barrel Swivel remains intact.  Loss of tackle is minimal - Hook and 2'-3' of 15lbs mono line.
• Especially like the "Christopher Knot(?)" to tie the 20lbs mono mainline to the 50lbs braided line shock leader.  Have not had a knot failure as of yet!

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

At Dr Pepper Ballpark....

Change of pace from fishing.  Checked out the Rough Riders at Dr Pepper Ballpark.  Good baseball game that went into extra innnings.  Too bad the Home Team lost by one. Regardless had a great time!  Even won a t-shirt in the T-Shirt Toss!

T-Shirt Toss!

Bratonia Park For Shad

Stopped by Bratonia Park on Lake Lavon yesterday to catch a few Shad.  Making preparations for another run up to Denison Dam's Tailrace.  Really like using Shad for bait when the water flow permits.

 

Took the jon boat and drifted around the buoy by the boat ramp, then worked the shoreline.  Normally, we are able to catch enough bait for a trip in about 30" with our cast nets.  This time, caught 5 Shad only.

 

Not sure where they are lurking; may hit another place later today.  Else, will buy Shad at Academy or Dave's Bait and Tackle.  It will work in a pinch but really like the ones we catch as they are usually bigger and are definitely fresher!

 

Till then... Good Luck and Good Fishing!

 

COAF Field Team