McKinney Trout Derby... Fun, Fun, Fun. Field Team Lands Two Limits!

Made it to the McKinney Trout Derby this morning.  Lotta fishermen, lotta Trout, lotta limits taken... and trophies to award!  Field Team's T-Bone and Fshng84 managed to limit out early.  Each taking a limit using Rainbow Glitter Powerbait.   Even better - Fshng84 ties for the 3rd Smallest Trout in the Adult Category... measuring a whopping 7-5/8"!

Hair Rig... We Used To Catch Goldfish!

FYI:  Here is a picture of the Hair Rig we used to catch the Goldfish today.  Used a size 16 hook, 4lbs mono for the knotless hair rig, and a piece of a spring from a ballpoint pen.

Two Goldfish This Round; Hair Rig Made a Difference!

Made it back for another go at Goldfish.  Caught two using bread for bait.  The difference today... a Hair Rig!  Fish took the bait and were hooked and released unharmed... no deep hookups!

A Goldfish and a Catfish!

Returned to the local pond we went to yesterday in hopes of catching more Bruiser Goldfish.  Had a great time... caught one Goldfish that went 14" in size and then a 16" Catfish.  Both went for Bread!

Goldfishing Anyone? ... Bread and a Homemade Automatic Hooksetter!

Went "Goldfishing" this evening.  Managed to catch and release four of them.  Used Bread for bait.  Two were caught freelining the Bread.  And, two were caught using the homemade automatic hooksetter. Great fighters... especially on ultralight gear!

Two Bruiser Catfish at Glendover Park!

Been tinkering with the homemade automatic hooksetter. Have tested it out several times and caught Bullheads.  Reworked the trigger making for more consistent hookups.  But, still need to work it just a little bit more based on today's outing.

Managed two Bruiser Catfish at Glendover Park using Bread for bait.  Missed several others when the trigger released either too early or too late.  One Catfish went about 17" in length and the other went about 20".

Going to start bringing a tape measure so we can quit "guestimating".  Also, this last modification to the trigger should make a difference on hookup rates going forward!

Annual Mckinney Trout Derby Scheduled For Saturday, 25 February!

Annual Mckinney Trout Derby is scheduled for Saturday, 25 February!  Get the kids together and gather up the fishing gear, then head out for the Derby.  4000+ Rainbow Trout are planned for release in Towne Lake.  For more info, check out McKinney Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department's press release!

Good Luck and Good Fishing!
COAF Field Team

Bullheads at Celebration Park.

Went back to Celebration Park to test out a homemade automatic hook setter.  Worked well but need to make a few more adjustments to the trigger.  Ended up catching several Bullheads.  None of which were hooked deep!

Click-on 2012'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 Bullheads On Bread This Round

Went back to Celebration this evening.  No Bruisers; just two Bullheads this round.  Caught on Bread and used the Hook Set Pro again.  Missed several other bites; still working out the kinks but feel the catch rate may increase once we figure it out!

Click-on 2012'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 Catfish at Celebration Park... Bread and Hook Set Pro!

Was out and about running errands. Somehow ended up at Cabelas (wink, wink, wink). While browsing the aisles, noticed a fishing tool called the Hook Set Pro by FishingScience.com; ended up buying it on a whim. Bought it in hopes of setting up a fishing rod to freeline bread for Catfish that lurk in the community lakes and ponds in the area.

With the cold temps, thoughts were to setup the rig, then sit back and watch things happen. Meaning keeping our hands warm in our coat pockets while the Hook Set Pro took care of setting the hook when the Catfish struck.

Ended up catching two - one Bruiser that went about 20" in length (posted it on the COAF Leader Board) and a little Bullhead! Fun stuff!

Cold Day At Bethany!

Fished Bethany and caught a Bass and a Bluegill.  Was rough though; ice kept forming in the rod guides!  Made a short video clip of the "action"!  Package from the Fly Shack arrived, going to stay indoors warm up and then may do more fly tying!

Cold, Cold, Cold, and Windy, Too... Caught a Bass Though!

Fished Bethany the early evening and braved the cold.  Ended up getting several strikes and one hookup on a little Bass.  Did have one that looked decent take a Guadalupana but broke off immediately.  Worse lost a Damsel Fly and Wooley Bugger, too!  Guess it's back to the fly tying table to make more.

Click-on 2012'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!

Damsel Fly Gets Several Bass at Bethany's Waterfall!

Fished the Waterfall at Bethany and managed to get three Bass to take a Damsel Fly.  No Bruisers but still had fun... even made a short video!

White Wooley Bugger Gets Two Bass At Noon.

Broke away from the salt mines and made it to Bethany for a quick trip.  Caught two Bass on the White Wooley Bugger.  Fun stuff,... may try again later with another pattern - White Damsel Fly!  Thoughts are the Damsel Fly rides with the bend up, so less likely to snag the rocks. Will see....

PS:  Made it back later in the early evening.  Managed one more Bass on the White Damsel Fly.  Had less snags on the bottom, so the concept worked!  Too bad the picture did not come out well... a little Bass!

Colder Than Yesterday!

Colder than yesterday.  Had to slow things down.  No Bass this round and only one little Bluegill.  Hope an uptick in the temps picks up the action!

Click-on 2012'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!

White Wooley Bugger Does Well At Bethany This Afternoon!

Been tying Olive Wooley Buggers and fishing them with good results during the Spring and Summer. 

Took the advice from one of our Readers to try fishing a White Wooley Bugger.  So, stopped at Cabelas earlier today and picked up material to make them. 

Good thing!  Managed to catch and release nine Bass, a Bluegill, and a Sunfish this afternoon.  Fast retrieve and working the shallows were key today.

No Bruisers but still had a lot fun catching them!

Click-on 2012'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!

Frisco Trout Derby This Saturday!

City of Frisco is holding its Trout Derby this Saturday, 4 February! 

Do give it a try; nice park for the kids, and who can resist a chance to go fishing.

For more info, checkout their link - Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish!

Click-on 2012'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!

Hand Poured Creature Gets Three Bass at Bethany!

Was able to make it to Bethany before it got dark today!  Fished a weightless Hand Poured Creature and managed to catch three Bass and lose another.  Slow retrieve and letting the lure free fall were key.  However, a front is arriving and rain may come with it.  Pattern may change again!

Click-on 2012'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 Bass Finally....

Been more misses than hits these last two days.  Late starts and short trips have been the case yesterday and the day before.

On both occassions, not a fish was to be had.  It was promising yesterday when Bass were in the shallows actively chasing something.  Even had several look at a Hand Poured Creature and one nudge a Senko Worm.

Today was able to get one Bass finally.  Caught it at Bethany on an Olive Damsel Fly!

Click-on 2012'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!

Busy, Busy, Busy,.... Hand Poured Plastics - Half-Quatro and Creature!

Busy, busy, busy day.  No time to go fishing, may be like this all week.  No worries....  Can still do things in preparation for fishing!  In this case, decided to mix up a batch of plastisol and make some Hand Poured Plastics.  Went with the Half-Quatro and the Creature.  Made this batch really soft; hope it makes a difference when the Bass bite!