Trout Fishing | Bubble and PowerWorm Rig Worked This Round

Decided to fish Pottsboro Lake in Pottsboro Texas this past Saturday. After a little rain in the morning, made it to the pond just as a cold front rolled in. Cold and windy, did manage three trout. Planned to catch trout using ultralight lures and a BFS Rod/Reel, but trout wanted PowerWorms. Good thing I had the Bubble and Fly Rig handy, just swapped the fishing fly for a PowerWorm. Bite was steady, just kept missing the hookset. Did get a few Bluegill and a Bass on the PowerWorms. Plus got some underwater video of what was lurking in the pond! Do check out the video!

Spiderwire 10lbs EZ Braid

Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel Product Review | Pros, Cons, and Tips

Product review of the Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel where yours truly details why he likes the reel noting pros, cons, and tips… more like suggestions for those interested in trying BFS fishing but at a entry price point that is much easier on the wallet compared to other reels!

Also, here is the Spiderwire EZ Braid we used for the Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel. Used 10lbs test which has an equivalent 2lbs mono diameter. Also, only put about 120-130 feet on the spool – about 30 turns of the handle.

Much easier to undo backlashes and not too concerned about the amount of line as I am targeting stocker size trout. Can easily cast to the Arbor knot attaching the line to the spool.

EZ Braid Spderwire

See more gear on our COAF Field Team Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/coaffieldteam

Zebco Slingshot Still Under $10

Been keeping an eye out on the Zebco Slingshot Spinning Rod and Reel Combo. It is still available for under $10 at Walmart as of today. We have a fondness for this combo because the older version has a handle that keeps the rod afloat even if it falls overboard.

And, in our case, we lost two rods while kayaking a few years back. Those rods cost much more than $10 and since funds can be low at times, we jumped on the Zebco Slingshot while grocery shopping at the local Walmart.

We bought two more this year even though the rod no longer floats… the new version has a “skeleton handle” so it is no longer as buoyant compared to the older model.

No worries, we still like the rods! And, as noted in the title of this post, it is still under $10!

“Cool colors. Hot spinning performance. All at a great price. These custom-matched Combos are great for all ages with long-casting Slingshot spinning reels and durable 2-piece Z-Glass rods.” – Walmart

See latest price at Walmart online.

Trout Fishing with PowerWorms #shorts

YouTube Shorts Video of underwater action shots of a Trout really liking a Berkley PowerWorm! Ended up catching three trout today but missed a lot more.

Fished using the Kastking Zephyr BFS reel and a bubble fly rig but used a PowerWorm instead of a fishing fly. Windy and cold, still had lots of fun!

Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool | Making a Line Strike Indicator

Question from a Viewer on the Tie-Fast Knot Tyer Tool and how I used it to make a line strike indicator. Made a short video that explains it. May be of interest to others. Click on the picture or go to this link – Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool.

The Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool is what we use to make a line strike indicator for fly fishing as well as a variation of a loop to loop connection for our fly line to leader when our fly line does not come with a pre-formed loop.

Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool

Maltese Goes Kayaking or Swimming? #shorts

YouTube Shorts video of a #TBT to Charlie the Maltese Puppy back then on his first kayaking trip, or maybe swimming trip!

He did well after the initial dunking. Once dried, he did not want to leave. Oh well, next time Charlie!

COAF Field Team Amazon Page Is Live!

Do check out our Amazon Page where we have collated products we have used in our past fishing trips. We started the page for ease of reference when answering Readers questions. It is still a work in progress as there are a number of items that we have been asked about. Do check back and/or follow the page use the [Follow+] button to get notifications as we post them.

COAF Field Team Amazon Page

Casting Ultralight Lures for Trout #shorts

YouTube Shorts video where I practice casting ultralight lures using a Kastking Zephyr BFS reel lined with 10lbs Spiderwire which has an equivalent diameter to 2lbs monofilament. 1/16oz Roostertail gets one trout to strike!

Still educating my thumb. As a workaround while I train my thumb, I will line the reel with about 100 plus feet of braided line. This allows me to cast all line on the spool, and if I do get a backlash, I can quickly untangle the line and get back to casting.

This round was a little more tricky to get dialed in due to the windy conditions and the thin diameter of the line which tended to hang up on the arbor knot I used to attach the line to the spool.

Do check back, plan to try more BFS fishing for trout in the next few weeks.

Dual BFS Fly Rod Suggestions

Charlie Goes Fishing #shorts #maltese #dog

YouTube Shorts video of Charlie the Maltese Doggy out and about fishing with us in the old jon boat at the local lake!

Fishing for Trout with Yakima's Roostertails #shorts

YouTube Shorts video of yours truly trout fishing using a Kastking Zephyr BFS reel and a Fire Tiger Roostertail, and then a Penn Pursuit spinning reel and a Black Roostertail. Steady but fast retrieve was key!

Texas Trout Stocking | Limited Out After Finding the Pattern

Back to the local pond for more trout fishing. Cold temps with frost had changed the pattern. Eventually found a lure and a retrieve that worked. Limited out casting to passing schools of trout. Do check out the video to see how I found pattern.

Texas Trout Stocking | Places We Like for the 2021-2022 Season

Our local pond – Bethany Lakes, gets its trout stocking tomorrow – December 9, 2021.

We have always enjoyed fishing for stocker trout; we even created a website – StockerTroutFishing.com (http://stockertroutfishing.com/), to collate notes and tips from past trips into a central repository.

The site has been helpful over the years and partners well with our YouTube Channel – COAF Field Team (https://www.youtube.com/channel/coaffieldteam).

To kick-off the Texas Trout Stocking Season, we posted a video that describes places we like to fish for the 2021-2022 Season. Specifically, three counties near the DFW Metroplex and then the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

Do check out the video, and do let us know how this Season is going for you… “are you catching a trout or two, or more?”

texastroutstocking #texastroutfishing #dfwfishing

Are You Fishing Legally in Oklahoma? Watch this video just in case.

Answering the mail concerning one of Oklahoma’s fishing regulations that some may not be aware of… check out the video!

Related links:

• https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/general-fishing-regulations Reference to… “Possess fish in a tailwater without keeping their fish separate, marked with their customer ID number. See Tailwaters section in the “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations.”
• https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/public-fishing-areas-special-regulations-s-z Reference to… Each angler must keep their fish separate, marked with their name and customer ID number or lifetime license number when fishing in tailwaters, except at Wister,…
• https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/trout-regulations Reference to…”All trout in possession must be kept on a stringer marked with that angler’s name and customer ID number. All anglers must have their own stringer.”

Fishing Denison Dam | Shad Worked for #stripedbass

Day after Thanksgiving decided to fish Denison Dam on the Oklahoma side for a go at the Striped Bass that tend to lurk near the drainage pipe that flows even though they are not generating power or releasing water.

Brought medium spinning gear and the pier rods with the Penn Squall 15 reels that worked well on our trip to Galveston earlier in the year.

Bite was slow but then picked up later once our fishing partner fund them lurking near the far wall. No Bruisers but still had a great time!

Fly Fishing Tips from the Little Red Book of Fly Fishing | Podcast 40, Episode 21

Episode 21 in the “Little Red Book of Fly Fishing” podcast series where I review fly fishing tips….

This week it’s tips 94 through 99!
Tip 94: Fish Flies Atypically
Tip 95: Shake, Shake, Shake (Your Streamer)
Tip 96: Snake Your Way to Success
Tip 97: Ditch the Bobber
Tip 98: More on Indicators
Tip 99: Balloon Going Up

Do check back on our next episode in the series where we discuss tips 100 – 105.
Tip 100: The Sting
Tip 101: Easy on the Grease
Tip 102: Accuracy Above All
Tip 103: Beware the Wave
Tip 104: Spare the Rod
Tip 105: Ups and Downs

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

ifishnews #fishingpodcasts #flyfishingtips

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See full playlist

Happy Thanksgiving! #fieldteam #fishing #updates

Happy Thanksgiving from us to you and yours! No fishing today, been busy with meal preps as well as updates to our website… stockertroutfishing.com

Here is to a day of thanks to family, friends, and tasty meal shared with those close to you!

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