Bass, Poppers, and OPST Rock!

 Quick trip to the local pond for Bass!

Kayak Fishing for Catfish with Jug Lines | Keeping It Simple 👍👍👍

This round I take the kayak to the local lake to catch a Catfish or two using jug lines! Bite was steady with five Blue Catfish caught. Largest went 20" in length!

Testing My DIY Floating Tip | OPST Commando Head for One-Handed Spey Fly Fishing 👍👍👍

Ordered a 175 grain OPST Commando Head for my 8ft 4wt Redington Pursuit Fly Rod. Going to use it with the 4/5wt Echo Ion Fly Reel. Should deliver Saturday. In preparation, made a DIY Floating Tip. After a quick test, the floating tip is good to go. Do check back, hope to kickoff the next video series... One-Hand Spey Fly Fishing!

Pond Fly Fishing Suggestions from an Average Joe... 😎

Back to the local pond for a quick trip fly fishing for Bass and Bluegill using the Martin Fly Fishing Kit. This round I am fishing Betts Hand Tied Poppers and continue using the OPST Commando Head for a shooting head added to the 5wt Level Fly Line that came with the kit. Short trip but still lots of fun catching a fish or two.

Bass Want Dragon Flies, Give Them Dragon Flies #matchthehatch #shorts

Quick trip to the local pond. Bass were striking Dragon Flies… match the hatch. Switched to Dragon Flies!

How To Fly Fish | Get Started Fly Fishing | Martin Fly Fishing Kit Review👍👍👍

Closing out the Getting Started Fly Fishing series with a Product Review of the Martin Fly Fishing Kit which comes with rod, reel, fly line, backing, and leader as well as fishing flies and an instruction booklet. It comes ready to fish - just tie on a fishing fly.

Review provides recommendations and tips to get started in fly fishing and some thoughts on what to do next after fishing with the combo

PS: Do check back on a follow-up video where I cast the combo with the level line that reel came with  compared to casting with a shooting head - specifically, the OPST Commando Head!

Wooley Bugger Came Through | Martin Fly Fishing Combo Is a Great Starter Kit 👍👍👍

Ready to closeout the Getting Started Fly Fishing $33 Amazon Challenge after one more round at a local pond. Martin Fly Fishing Kit has been a great deal... fly rod and reel; fly line, backing and leader; and fishing flies, too!

And, this round... the Wooley Bugger took a beating and was retired but it came through with Bass and Bluegill caught. Also, was able to show the false casts that I  used to cast the level line for distance.

Do check back... plan to post a closeout video with thoughts on the Martin Fly Fishing Kit and an extra video where I add an OPST Commando Head to the combo!

Trouble With Fly Casting, Try Less Line.... Getting Started Fly Fishing👍👍👍

Next in the Getting Started in Fly Fishing series is a video that shows yours truly catching fish using only 32 feet of line - 8 feet of line on the rod, 16 feet of line past th rod tip, and 8 feet of leader tippet.

If you are first starting out and you get frustrated with your cast, try less line and focus on a stealth approach/presentation to fish lurking near the bank.

And, gain a feel for setting the hook and playing a fish on a fly rod.

Fun stuff!

Do check back for more in the series... next up is a look at the fishing flies that came with the $33 Martin Fly Fishing Kit!

$33 Martin Fly Fishing Combo Is a Deal! Pond Fly Fishing 👍👍👍

Back to a local pond that I have not fished for in awhile to “test” the Martin Fly Fishing Combo sold in a kit by Amazon. Using a Muddler Minnow that came with the kit. It’s beaten up but still catches fish. Lots of fun, and got a new idea for the next video in the series where I use only 32 feet of line to fish. The intent… you don’t need to cast long distances to catch fish to get started fly fishing! Stay tuned for more!

$33 Martin Fly Fishing Combo Is a Deal! Pond Fly Fishing 👍👍👍

Back to a local pond that I have not fished for in awhile to "test" the Martin Fly Fishing Combo sold in a kit by Amazon. Using a Muddler Minnow that came with the kit. It's beaten up but still catches fish. Lots of fun, and got a new idea for the next video in the series where I use only 32 feet of line to fish. The intent... you don't need to cast long distances to catch fish to get started fly fishing! Stay tuned for more!

Make Your Own DIY Fly Fishing Leader, Save $$$ | Getting Started in Fly Fishing Series 👍👍👍

Next in the ongoing Getting Started in Fly Fishing - $33 Amazon Challenge is a money saving DIY demo where yours truly shows you how I make my own fly fishing leader.

Costing less than a dollar, much less if you don't use tippet rings, the DIY Fly Fishing Leader uses a Perfection Loop, Blood Knot, Improved Clinch Knot, and a Trilene Knot and different lengths and strengths of monofilament line.

Do give it a try and let us know how it works for you. And, do check back for more in the Series... look for upcoming videos of the Muddler Minnow that came with the Martin Fly Fishing Kit that is the base for this series!

Also, have upcoming videos with suggestions that may be of interest to some... and, they won't cut into your fishing budget!

Try These Two Modifications for the Martin Fly Fishing Combo

Before you go fishing with the Martin Fly Fishing Combo, try these two modifications.

• Mod 1. If you want to change reel’s left-hand retrieve to a right-hand retrieve.
• Mod 2. Add a section of 30lbs mono to replace the knot used to connect the fly line to the leader with a loop to loop connection.

Works for similar single action fly reels that use a click-pawl drag aka clicker. Do check back for the next video if the Getting Started Fly Fishing – $33 Amazon Challenge… look for DIY Leader Recipe that show how we make our own fly fishing leaders instead of buying them!

How To Switch a Martin Fly Reel's Retrieve?

Video snippet showing how I switch the Martin Fly Reel from left to right hand retrieve. Works for similar click-pawl drag single action, fly reels.

For more details, see the full video Try These Two Modifications for the Martin Fly Fishing Combo

How To Switch a Martin Fly Reel's Retrieve?

Video snippet showing how I switch the Martin Fly Reel from left to right hand retrieve. Works for similar click-pawl drag single action, fly reels.

For more details, see the full video Try These Two Modifications for the Martin Fly Fishing Combo!

Yes, You Can Get Started Fly Fishing... Amazon Challenge! #shorts 👍👍👍

 First fish of the Getting Started Fly Fishing - $33 Amazon Challenge was a Bass!

Getting Started Fly Fishing - $33 Amazon Fishing Challenge 🤑

Kicked off the Amazon Challenge to show you can get started fly fishing for $33... specifically for $32.46 for a Martin Fly Fishing Fly Rod and Reel combo. It was on sale for $29.99, shipping was free, and tax was $2.47.

Martin Complete Fly Fishing Kit offered on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xVbniyIncluded with the kit:

• 3 piece, 8 ft, 5/6wt fiberglass fly rod
• 4-6wt, single action, fly reel
• 6wt floating, level fly line, Dacron backing line, and a Tapered, knotless leader
• 5 fishing flies:
• Popper, Wooley Bugger, Royal Coachman, Muddler Minnow, And, a Pheasant Tail Nymph.
• Plus yarn for a strike indicator.
• Fly Fishing Instruction pamphlet

Also, the reel was spooled with the backing, fly line, and leader. And, the reel was set for a left-hand retrieve.

Instructions on the packaging showed how to tie an Arbor Knot for attaching the backing to the reel and an Uni-Knot to connect the backing to the fly line and also connect the fly line to the leader. Personal preference is to use a Nail Knot instead of the Uni-Knot. Modifications made prior to fishing the combo...

• Switched the reel to a right-hand retrieve by unspooling the leader, fly line and backing, flipped the reel on the reel seat so the handle was on the right, retied the backing to the arbor, and the reeling everything back on to the reel.
• Created a Loop to Loop connection for the fly line by cutting the leader from the fly line, tying 1 ft section of 30lbs mono to the fly line using a Nail Knot, and then tying a Perfection Loop on the tag end of the mono adjusting its length to about 6 inches once complete.
  

No other modifications were made. Will post video on the modifications separately. Do check back for more on the Getting Started in Fly Fishing - $33 Amazon Challenge. PS. Fished the combo once since posting the video. Initial impressions are positive. Did have a fish on briefly before breaking off... lost the Royal Coachman. Luckily, the Muddler Minnow came through!

Closeout the Old Fiberglass Fly Rod #shorts - What's Next?

One last fishing trip with the old Cortland Fiberglass Rod, and then it will be putaway to closeout the series. What's next,... "Getting Started in Fly Fishing - Amazon Fly Fishing Challenge". Ordered a Fly Rod/Reel combo for $32, delivers this week. Do stay tuned!

Quick Update - Amazon Fly Fishing Challenge

Quick update to kickoff the Amazon Fly Fishing Challenge to demo getting started in fly fishing for $32... plus an update on yesterday's kayak fishing at the local lake!

Kayak Fishing Anyone? Tough Go... #shorts

Tough go at our local lake yesterday. Struck out at Clear Lake Park on Lake Lavon. At least got a great workout! Later, fished Highland Park. Had a few hits on Shad. Even had one on the line but did not keep it... had a lesion that I was wary about.

#kayakfishing #lakelavon

Fiberglass Fly Rod - Slow Speed, No Drag, Gets Bassy #shorts 😀

This round I take the old Cortland Fiberglass Rod that has no drag except for the reel clicker and palming the reel to the local pond for Bass. Rod has a slow action making it really bendy!