New Wading Stick | Repurposed Walking Stick from Academy Sports $9.99

Suggestion from one of the Facebook Fishing Groups that I am a member. Broke my wooden wading stick that I had for years this past Sunday. Planned to get another stick floating in the river to replace it, and then it was suggested to use Walking Sticks also called Trekking Poles.

Picked this one up at Academy Sports for $9.99! Liking the lightweight aluminum and the telescoping/collapsible function. Moreover, pulled the rubber tip to screw on the mud guard on and noticed a “cleat” like tip already in place.

I think this suggestion will work; plan to use it this Season! More to come!

Blue River Fishing Tips | What Worked For Me This Round #blueriverok #oklahomatroutfishing

Hoped to catch one of the Bruiser trout that are stocked for the Trout Derby on the Blue River. Did not catch a Bruiser but still managed three that went 12″ – 14″ in size, making for a nice dinner!

After scouting the upriver from Hughes Crossing, went back to Hughes Crossing and fished just upriver of the low water crossing. Tried the same fishing fly and presentation as I did on an earlier trip.

Pattern this round…
Pat’s Near Deere on dead drift with a twitch now and then as well as a Stop and Go Retrieve. Same applied to a Pat’s Rubber Leg.

Fishing an Olive Near Deere and a Guadalupana, trout wanted a fast retrieve with rapid short pulls. While a Pink Near Deere was a no go!

Do check out the video!

Fly Fishing Stop and Go Retrieve Demo #shorts

YouTube Shorts video that shows the retrieve we used when the trout stopped biting. We started with a strike indicator with a Pat’s Near Deere set 3-4 feet from the indicator. Using a dead drift, the trout were readily striking that morning. But, as the day progressed, the trout stopped biting.

Trying different retrieves, finally found a Stop and Go Retrieve without a strike indicator worked. Trout wanted movement, striking the fishing fly as it hesitated on the stop.

Do check it out, and do check out the full video of the trip, too!

Fun with Spreadsheets | Texas Parks and Wildlife Winter Trout Stocking Schedule for 2021-2022

Oops, I did it again… another Winter trout stocking season is soon to be here. Like in past seasons, yours truly modified the schedule posted by TPWD to sort by Stocking Date and the count of trout stockings planned for a location and its estimated trout to be stocked.

Makes for ease of reference by allowing Readers to quickly see when the next trout stocking is planned. As changes are unexpected for various reasons like weather, do check for updates, changes, and corrections at TPWD’s website – 2021-2022 TPWD Trout Stocking Schedule.

Note: Dates for trout stockings at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFCC) in Athens show 12/1/21, 1/1/22, and 2/2/22. These are placeholders as TPWD’s schedule indicates various stockings instead of a specific date. Before planning a trip do contact Athens TFCC – contact page.

See pdf of the sorted schedule…

2021TroutStockingSummary_20211112_rev1

First Trout This Season | Blue River, OK #shorts

Made it to the Blue River in Oklahoma today. River was stocked October 28 but was not able to fish the river till today.

Limited out with three trout per the new daily limits this season. No worries… was a fun time.

Pat’s Near Deere worked well, do check back for the full video of the trip. Till then, this YouTube Shorts shows the first trout of the season for yours truly!

Pond Fishing Practice for the Blue River | Near Deere, Rainbow Warrior, and OPST Commando Head

Halloween Day last weekend. Was not able to fish the Blue River in Oklahoma but did take the opportunity to practice fishing using the same setup I would use on the Blue River.

Fished the local pond – Bethany Lakes in Allen, for whatever would bite. Opted for a tandem-rigged leading Near Deere and trailing Rainbow Warrior. This is the same rig I like to use when fishing for trout, changing out the fishing flies as the fish dictate.

Caught a Bass and several Bluegill after switching to a single fishing fly and using a short pull, fast retrieve. Another presentation I like to use on the Blue River when the trout are actively feeding on minnows, nymphs, and other emergent.

Do give it a try… especially liking the One Handed Spey setup: Redington Classic Trout 9ft 5wt, Echo Ion 4/5wt reel, and the OPST Commando Head with Lazarline Running Line!

Rainbow Warrior Midge Quick Tie Fly Tying Video

Here is another pattern that has been a producer of trout for us over the years. It is the Rainbow Warrior Midge that we like to fish in tandem with a lead fishing fly like an Olive Wooley Bugger or a Near Deere.

Material for this pattern are:

• Red Dacron Tying Thread
• Size 16 Hook
• Bead Head of the color of your choice
• Pearlscent Tinsel
• Pink and Ice Dubbing or Sow Bug Dubbing
• Head Cement or UV Glue

Do give it a try next chance you get for trout, and let us know how it worked for you!

Five Fly Fishing Presentations for this Season... Trout Fishing Anyone?

Here is a follow-up fishing video that describes five fly fishing presentations that have worked well for us when trout fishing in Oklahoma – specifically, the Blue River, Broken Bow (also known as the Lower Mountain Fork), and Turner Falls.

The five fly fishing presentations are:

– Upstream

– Upstream 45 degrees

– Cross Stream

– Downstream 45 degrees

– Downstream

Of note, one must continue to maintain a drag free drift to ensure the fishing fly mimics a natural moving “bug”.

PS: Video includes one more presentation that is a variation of several them.

Fly Fishing for Trout | Blue River Oklahoma #shorts

YouTube Shorts video of yours truly showing how I work a Near Deere set four feet under a strike indicator.

Working at a slight angle upstream, I drift the Near Deere at the same speed to match the bubbles drifting downriver.

This video was taken on the Blue River several seasons ago near the “Island” downriver from Hughes Crossing. Was a fun trip, even limited out!

Suggested Fishing Flies – Trout

Simple Fly Tying GRHEN | Quick Tie #shorts

YouTube Shorts video of a simple fishing fly pattern that has worked well for the COAF Field Team over the years for stocked trout. This is the GRHEN in a Bead Head Variant.

GRHEN is short for Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph. It is tied in size 16 in the Quick Tie Demo but cab be tied in other sizes to match the hatch.

Additionally, the GRHEN can be fished as a single fly but we tend to fish it as a tandem fly rig with the GRHEN as the trailing fly to a streamer lead fly like a Near Deere or Wooley Bugger.

Do give this one a try this Season!

TBT to Pond Fishing with a Fiberglass Cane Pole aka "Tenkara"?

Here is a picture of a Bass that yours truly caught while pond fishing one morning. Decided to bring a fiberglass cane pole that telescopes to over 15 feet and put a length of line on it to fish a Foam Grasshopper.

After a few strikes and misses, I was able to catch this nice Bass that went well over 15″… It may have gone 18″ or more. Regardless, it was a fun one to catch that put an awesome bend in the “Tenkara” style rod.

Moreover, I released it to get bigger. Maybe it’s really big now because this was caught and released some time ago!

TBT to the Blue River | The Other Trout

Just over two weeks away from Trout Stocking Season in Oklahoma! In two Fridays, there will be Rainbow Trout swimming in the Blue River.

While checking out past videos and blog posts, came across a video that recalled a fly tying session the night before I headed to the Blue several seasons ago.

Tied Near Deere in Olive and Orange, and then a pattern I called the PMC Emerger that can be fished wet or dry.

Check it out the YouTube Short Video below, and do give it a try on your next trip for Trout!

 

Are you going trout fishing in Oklahoma? | Viewer Poll - Oklahoma changed the daily limit

Oklahoma daily statewide limit changed from six to three trout recently. For those in Oklahoma, North Texas, or have previously fished for trout in Oklahoma, do you still plan to fish for trout in Oklahoma this stocking season – Nov21′ to Mar’22? Please add comments to expand on your answer. Link to poll.

Pond Fishing Quick Trip aka Grocery Shopping?

Running errands to the local grocery store that happens to have a small pond. As luck would have it, had the 5wt Redington Classic Trout rod, Echo Ion reel, and OPST Commando Head in the pickup… wonder who put it there? LOL! Foam Grasshopper did well again with a several Bluegill and a Bass caught and released before I went to the grocery store.

Easy Fly Tying #shorts | The Guadalupana!

Easy fly tying pattern in the YouTube Shorts format that demos how we tie a simple but effective pattern that works well on Bass, Bluegill, and Trout! Do give it a try this next trout stocking season!

Pond Fly Fishing for Bluegill and Bass | Foam Grasshopper Works!

Pond Fly Fishing fun with the foam grasshopper coupled with the One Handed Spey combo – Classic Trout Redington 9′ 5wt, Echo Ion 4/5wt reel, and the OPST Commando Head with Lazar Line running line. Caught Bluegill at first, then the Bass started biting using a fast retrieve! Fun stuff!

See What's Lurking Below | DIY GoFish Cam to Phone Live Feed Rig #shorts

YouTube Shorts video of the bass lurking in our local pond, using the DIY GoFish Cam to Phone Rig to get a live feed of the action below.

Micro Fly Rod and DIY GoFish Cam Phone Rig | It Works! | Field Test 2

Another round in the field with the DIY GoFish Cam and Phone Rig that allows us to see the underwater action while fishing. Brought the two piece micro fly rod to work the feeder creek for a Bluegill that we would use as live bait. Caught two little ones but let them go in hopes of a bigger size fish. Then. caught a little Bass before finally catching a Bluegill for live bait. After deploying the rig, soon had Bluegill as well as several Bass check out the live bait. Liking this DIY GoFish Cam to Phone Live Rig. Will say this round was a success! Checkout the video!

How to check if your hook is barbless? #shorts

YouTube Shorts video that shows a suggestion we learned from fishermen in Missouri or was it Arkansas. No worries… we like it! How to check if your hook is barbless especially in those special regulation areas that require the use of barbless hooks! Give it a try and let us know if it works for you!

Suggested Trout Fishing SuppliesFly Fishing Tying Suggestions

Before You Go Trout Fishing in Oklahoma, Check Out This Video.| Three Places We Like for Trout Fishing

In preparation for the approaching Trout Stocking Season, put a video together about three Oklahoma rivers – two that offer year round trout fishing and one seasonal fishery.

Do check it out; we also included some key items to be aware of in the the Trout Area Regulations and General Trout Regulations posted by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation online at https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/trout-area-information.

May be useful to first timers thinking about fishing this Season!

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

PS: Added a bonus tip at the end that my be for interest to some!