Flyfishing This Round

With all the "green growth" making it tough to fish with the inline spinner, decided to go with flyfishing gear this round.  Caught Bass and Sunfish, lost a Bruiser, missed a lot more strikes on nesting Bluegill, and worse,... lost the Purple Grasshopper.  Bruiser struck it twice, chased it, was hooked solid, but broke the line with ease.  Gotta go with a heavier tippet than 4lbs test.

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!

Wooley Rooster Martin Gets a Mixed Bag This Morning!

Returned to Plano East Senior High School this morning in hopes of hooking up with at least one Bruiser that we lost yesterday.  Caught one Bruiser Bass that went 16.5". Then, caught a mix of Sunfish, Bluegill, and a little Catfish, and then hooked a Bruiser Catfish that went 17"! Caught one more little Bass before deciding to try another location.


Tried the feeder creek at Harrington Park in Plano and caught Sunfish, Bluegill, and Longear.  Did sight cast to several Carp lurking in the area but  none wanted the spinner.


Went on to Shawnee Park in Plano and struck out!  Tough place to fish with the "Buffer Zone" hampering access from the bank.


Finally closed out the morning outing with a stop at the feeder creek to Shadow Lakes in Allen. Caught a Bluegill and then had several missed strikes from more Bluegill.

PS:  Quick trip to Bethany this evening gets two more fish - a little Bass and a Bluegill.

Wooley Rooster Martin Worked Well Enough

Wooley Rooster Martin worked well enough.  Was a slow go at Stoney Hollow in Plano with only three missed strikes.  Could not get a good hook set to land them.  Moved down the road for a chance at the Catch and Release Pond at Plano East Senior High.  Caught a few Panfish, little Bass, and even a little Catfish.  Did lose three Bruiser Bass though.  Good to see the Pond is doing well!

Wooley Martin Field Test Goes Well

Was able to field test the Wooley Martin this evening after work.  Caught little Panfish at Celebration Park.  Went on to Bethany Lakes and caught a nice Sunfish and a little Bass.  Cool front changed the pattern but was good to see the Wooley Martin did its job - catching fish. Really like the Wooley Martin because the blade spins easily even when retrieved slooooowly!

Wooley Martin gets nine Panfish and a little Bass!

Another Go at Auburn Springs

Decided to take the Bait Casting Rod for another go at Auburn Springs.  Was hoping for a repeat of the Bruisers caught yesterday.  Unfortunately, it was not so.  Fished weightless Senko Worms and had one Bass take but lost it soon after striking.  Then, went an hour without a hit.  Finally, managed a nice size Sunfish by slowly dragging the Senko on the bottom.  Glad to have not struck out this round!

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!

Gotta Love Those Senkos!

Made it to Auburn Springs to "field test" a Wooley Spinner.  Caught one little Bass on the inline spinner, then lost the inline spinner to a Bruiser that broke the line.


Ultralight Spinning Gear and 4-lbs test don't mix when a Bruiser takes a lure deep and chafes the line! Luckily, had the emergency pack of Gary Yamamoto Senko Worms.


So, tied on a worm hook, baited it with a Senko, and then started working the banks.  Soon after, hooked a 17" Bruiser Bass!  Moved to an open area and caught a scrappy little Bass, then went back to working the banks and managed to a hook and land a 20" Bruiser Bass  (the angle of the photo makes it look shorter but we checked it several times; it went 20").


Gotta love those Senkos,... Thank you Gary Yamamoto,... your the best!

Another Inline Spinner, then a Rooster Tail

Made another inline spinner.  This one is similar to the HL Spinner that we used yesterday.  Main difference is the single hook and the curly tail grub instead of the dressed treble hook.  Went to Bethany and fished it.  Had several light strikes, then caught a little Bass.  Afterwards, went to an Orange Rooster Tail and caught some bedding Bluegill and another little Bass!

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!

Another Inline Spinner Field Test - HL Spinner

Still having fun with inline spinners.  This time made one using parts from Hobby Lobby.  Calling this one the HL Spinner (HL for Hobby Lobby).

Field tested the HL Spinner with a go at Auburn Springs' North Pond.  Did not get a single strike!  Then, went to the South Pond and luckily started hooking up with Panfish.  Lotta fun catching them on your own lures.  Even had a few Bruiser Bass chase the spinner; just missed the hookset!

Rain Cleared, Was Able to Field Test a Homemade Inline Spinner

Stopped at Cabelas to stay out of the rain.  Noticed lure parts for making inline spinners.  Bought some and made an inline spinner after discarding two prototypes.  This one is made with Olive Antron Dubbing, Olive Hackle, and a few beads.  Calling it the "Wooley Spinner". 

Rain let up, so we used the "excuse" of field testing the lure.  Went to Bethany and after several strikes and misses, finally hooked and landed a Bass, then a Bluegill, Sunfish, and a little Bass.  Fun stuff!

Break in the Rain; Went Fishing

Rain was pouring this morning.  But, there was a break in the rain.  Long enough for a quick trip to Bethany,... so went fishing.  Fished for about 30" using Ultralight Spinning Gear and an Orange Rooster Tail. Caught four Bass of which two measured 14" in size.  Bite was still on when the rain started up again.  Decided to dry out and head for some coffee and doughnuts.

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!

Purple Grasshopper Variant!

Went to Bethany around 1PM.  But, forgot to bring the flybox and other things.  Only had a three weight outfit and a Purple Grasshoppenr variant!  Did well!

Rooster Tails Do Well at Bethany, But Watch for Snakes.

Fished Bethany this evening.  Caught three Bass on a White Rooster Tail, then caught seven Bass and a Bluegill on an Orange Rooster Tail.  Seeing Bluegill in their beds, so things should heat up on the Panfish side of things.  Do watch out for Snakes; watched one that went four feet in length cross the sidewalk and headed for the Upper Pond!

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!

Bethany and Kroger Park this Round

Fished Bethany this evening.  Was hoping for more surface action  with the Foam Beetle.  Had a few strikes but no hook ups.  Switched to a White Damsel Fly and started catching Sunfish, Bluegill, and a few Bass.  After a break, decided to checkout Kroger Park across the street.  Caught a Bluegill and a Bass on a White Grasshopper Variant. Did see a couple of Bruisers on their beds; too bad they did not want to bite.  Fun stuff!

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!

Foam Beetle Does Well Again!

Busy day but managed to make it for a quick trip to Bethany before dark.  Caught four Bass and a Bluegill using a Foam Beetle!  Bass continue to feed on the "bugs" flying about.

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!

Six Bass and a Bluegill this Evening

Made it to Bethany this evening.  Was hoping for another try at the Koi in the Back Pond.  Sight fished to one for a while with no success.  Shifted to a White Grasshopper Variant and caught a couple of Bass and missed several more.  Then, switched to a Yellow Foam Beetle and had more fun catching Bass and a Bluegill.  Only six Bass and a Bluegill this round.  But, was a lot of fun catching them on surface,... even had one jump clear out of the water to take the Beetle!  Missed a lot more than were hooked and landed.

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!

A Couple of Bass at Bethany, but Lost a Big One!

Quick trip to Bethany after work this evening.  Caught a couple of Bass on a White Damsel Fly but lost a big one.... a big Koi went for a Deer Hair Bug!  Will need to tie more Deer Hair Bugs.

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!

More Fun Fishing an Ultralight and Roostertails

Rain stopped after dinner; decided to rig up the Ultralight with a White Roostertail and head to Bethany.  Caught six Bass working the banks.  Most were caught within 5 feet of the shore.  Even better, water level is up so spent more time fishing than clearing the lure of algae!

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!

More Bruiser Bluegill at the Village and a few Bass

Decided to hit the Village again before the rain arrived.  Slower action compared to yesterday but was still a good time.  Caught more Bruiser Bluegill (8" or better in length) and Bass.  All struck the Guadalupana!

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!

Ultralight Spinning Gear and a Roadrunner Worked Well at Bethany this Evening

Fished Bethany this evening to round out today's fishing activities.  Had a lot of fun catching Bass at the Village on Flyfishing Gear.  Switched to Ultralight Spinning Gear for this round!  Started out with a Roadrunner.  Spent more time clearing algae, then fishing.  Looks like the warm temps has the "greenery" growing in and out of the water.  Switched to a 1/16 oz Black Roostertail with a silver blade and started getting strikes and hookups!  Key today was to fish areas clear of algae or    where the algae remained submerged.  Then, worked the Roostertail using a slow retrieve that kept the blade spinning but fast enough to keep the lure above the submerged algae.  Also, holding the rod tip high and polarized sunglasses helped keeping the lure clear!

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!

Village Holding Well... Bass and Bruiser Bluegill!

Stopped by the Village for a go at the Bass.  Fished a Guadalupana, BH Olive Wooley Bugger, and Brown Damsel Fly Variant.  Caught several Bass on the Guadalupana but ended up losing it when a Bruiser struck!  Went with the Wooley Bugger and caught more Bass and then lucked in to some Bruiser Bluegill,... largest ones went 8.5" with wide bodies giving them extra heft!  Ended the outing with one more Bass on the Damsel Fly Variant.  Glad to see the Village made it through last season's drought conditions.  PS: Since the Bluegill met the minimum 8" length, have posted them on the COAF Leader Board!