Wooley Rooster Martin Gets Two Fish This Round

Was not able to fish Friday and Saturday.... Worse,... hated to miss the Fishing Derby at Bethany Lakes on Saturday.  Was on the road, so could not fish.  Did make it back this evening and was able to wet a line finally.  Went with the Wooley Rooster Martin and caught two fish - a Bluegill and a little Bass.  Did miss several other Bass though, so the fish were biting, just the reflexes were not up to speed this outing.  Still good to fish rather than drive!

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!

Bluegill and Catfish on Bread

Was hoping for more  Bruisers using a Bread Fly and Cheez-IT Tandem Rig.  Unfortunately, did not happen.  Switched to fishing a baited hook with Bread and caught Bluegill and Catfish.  Little ones but still a fun time.... sure beats working!

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!

Slow Day, Caught Several Fish Luckily

Went to Bethany to try the Deer Hair Bread Fly we made yesterday.  Had several strikes but no hookups.  Switched to a Nymph played around with the Sunfish.  Then, switched to a Purple Foam Grasshopper and caught Bluegill.  And then, switched to a Foam Diver and caught  a little Bass and lost a few 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!

Deer Hair Bread Fly....

No fishing tonight.  Work and other commitments took precedence over fishing.  We hope this does not become a trend.  Did make time to tie another variation of a Bread Fly.  This one is made with Deer Hair spun on a Size 2 Baitholder Hook.  Hope to try it out soon!

Deer Hair Bread 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!

Bread Fly Gets a Bruiser....

Decided to try another variation of a Bread Fly we made several years ago.  Last time we used the inner core of polypropylene rope.  This time, we used a dubbing loop to wrap White Marabou and Mallard Cul De Canard feathers on to a Size 2 Baitholder Hook. 


 Went to Bethany Lakes and chummed with Saltine Crackers, then cast the Bread Fly to the area.  Had several takes but no hook ups, then finally got a solid hookup on a Bruiser Catfish that went 22" in size.  Not bad, seemed fatter than most, too!


Unfortunately, Turtles and Ducks made it tough to keep the are chummed.  Switched to fishing with Bread for bait because it would sink before they could get to it.  Caught Bluegill and little Catfish; no more Bruisers!

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!

Liking Pictures from Our Readers!

Here is one we like... 16.5" Bass caught by Tightline using a Yellow BH Wooly Bugger at Bethany.  Made the COAF Leader Board and the One Fishing Fly Challenge!  For more info/pictures, see the link below.

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!

Float and Bread Caught a Few Catfish

Had fun catching little Catfish using a float and bread for bait.  No Bruisers this round; ducks and turtles were stealing the Cheez-ITs before the Catfish could bite.  Next round hope to go back to using them.  Did like the Float we used - plastic bubble that twists on the line to allow for quick adjustment of the length of line from the bubble and the hook.

Wooley Rooster Martin Does Well Again This Morning!

Decided to go with the inline spinner this morning.  Fished a Wooley Rooster Martin.  Caught Bluegill and Sunfish and one Catfish that went 16" in size.  Really like Plano East Senior High School's 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!

Cheez-ITs Worked This Round!

Could not pass up a chance for another round at the Bruisers at Bethany.  Went with a simple Telescoping Fiberglass Rod, braided line, and a hair rig.  Baited up with Cheez-ITs, chummed with Saltines and Cheez-ITs, and then caught a few Catfish including two Bruisers!  One Bruiser went 25.5" and the other went 25".  Even better, liked how the Telescoping Fiberglass Rod could handled (muscle) them to shore!  Posted both on the COAF Fishing Leader Board since they easily made the 15" minimum to submit.

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!

Saltines This Round

Went back to Bethany for another round at the Catfish.  Used Saltines this round and caught one Catfish that went 18" in size.  Had a lot more missed strikes.  Looks like Cheez-ITs were the better choice.  Saltines tended to break apart quickly.  Cheez-ITs stayed together and floated longer, making for more chances at the "picky" Catfish.  As it got dark, decided to fish the Bread Fly made out of deer hair.  Caught a decent Bass that was hungry for bread!

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!

Saw Catfish Feeding on Crackers, So....

Saw Catfish feeding on crackers that people fed the ducks yesterday.  Noticed the crackers needed to float for the Catfish to strike.  So, modified a hair rig that we used for fishing boilies to take a cracker.  Used Cheez-ITs this round and managed to catch a 20" Bruiser Catfish and little Catfish.  Missed a lot more though.  Need to use Saltines or Cheez-ITs that have a smaller hole in them.  Next round will see if that makes a difference!

Four Fish on Four Different Fishing Flies

Fished Bethany this evening.  Went with flyfishing gear again.  Windy day but managed to catch four fish - a Bluegill on a Purple Grasshopper, a Bass on a Guadalupana, a Bass on a Foam Diver, and a Bass on a White Grasshopper!  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!

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!