More tinkering around with Micro Fly Rods. This time making a handle using wine corks. Once done, going to dry fit the Ice Fishing Rod Blank before working on the Rod Guides. Hope this one turns out as good as the Micro Fly Rod I and Micro Fly Rod II.
Made it back to Murphy City Hall Pond before the front arrived. Used an Olive/Brown Near Deere, PowerBait, and a Super Duper to limit out!
Fishing Buddy hooked up with three on PowerBait, one on a Black Super Duper, and one on an Olive/Brown Near Deere. I took a limit on the fly with an Olive/Brown Near Deere.
Saw others hooking up as well! Not sure what they were using but the Trout were biting! Now it's time to bundle up and prepare for the colder temps and freezing conditions.
Looks like this Saturday should be a fun one for kids participating in Trout Derbies in the Murphy and Denison! For more information, do check out the their websites! Hope the rain does not delay things... cross our fingers!
Fun time in Denison today. Nuclaroche and I fished Waterloo Park Pond. After a lot of missed hook sets to rising trout feeding on little, black bugs, we figured out the pattern - a COAF Griffith's Gnat in Size 16!
The Trout started out taking dry flies on a dead drift but as the wind picked up and the insects started "skittering" on the surface more, the Trout were wanting more movement on the dry fly.
Fun day, especially being able to catch them on dry flies. Also, had lots of fun casting and catching fish using the COAF Micro Fly Rod!
Late start Saturday for Nuclaroche and I. We planned to fish Frisco Commons for Rainbow Trout that morning but I was sidetracked by work and then some early "Spring" cleaning of the office. By the time all was done, it was late afternoon.
Around 4PM, we made it to Frisco and fished till after sunset. Nuclaroche hooked up with one Rainbow Trout using PowerBait. I stuck with different dry flies trying to hook the Trout that were rising on the surface, and then eventually switched to the Micro Fly Rod.
A quick check to match the hatch did not help either. I had caught one of the bugs flying around, and then tried several fishing flies that looked like it. No luck!
Still had fun catching little Bluegill on the Micro Fly Rod!
It has been a long work week but Friday is here at last. The weekend is looking good for fishing; however, we must do our duty and pledge our everlasting love to our significant others as tomorrow is Valentine's Day.
That said, the Trout Derby on the Blue River in Oklahoma has us itching for a run across the border. Unfortunately, we are unable to make it this weekend.
We do plan to wet a line, most likely at Frisco Commons Pond which was stocked last weekend with Rainbow Trout.
While preparing the fly box, I noticed the Soft Hackles purchased at Beavers Bend Fly Shop last year were looking beat. Guess a fishing fly can only take so much abuse from feisty trout and scrappy bluegill!
I decided to tie a few Soft Hackles. After a few "do overs", I was able to turn out a few that looked "fishable"; hope to try them this weekend.
PS: Really glad for the YouTube video - Partridge and Orange Soft Hackle!
After limiting out on Trout, decided to have another go with the Micro Fly Rod. Changed the fly line by using less backing line and more fly line. No knot to hang up on the rod guides, so I was able to get more distance on the cast.
Caught two little Bluegill and one Bass on a Soft Hackle at Frisco Commons Pond. Then, took a break to get hydrated again. Sun came out in force today; even think the temps hit above 70 degrees. Much different than last years freezing conditions at this time.
Later in the afternoon, fished the Feeder Creek at Bethany Lakes, Soft hackle had a few strikes but no hook ups. Switched to a Red Midge in Size 22 and hooked several soon after. Then, noticed fish feeding on something on the surface. So, switched to a Size 22 BWO and ended up catching several more.
So far, have been pleasantly surprised with the casting capability of the little rod. The cast is different compared to standard size fly rods; the back cast straightens quickly, so the forward cast is started much sooner than I am used to.
No worries... got the hang of it and was able to get a few "long" casts in to where the fish were lurking. Fun stuff!
Long week but was finally able to go fishing Saturday. Started out "testing" Micro Fly Rod II by doing some Micro Fishing at the Davis Library Pond.
Rod worked well! I was able to catch little Bass and Bluegill as well as several larger Bluegill. I do plan to make adjustments to the fly line by using less backing and more fly line. The knot I tend to hang up as it passed through the rod guides. With the adjustment, should be able to see if the little rod can take on some of the Stocker Trout in the area!
Afterwards, headed up the road to fish Frisco Commons Pond. The city hosted its Annual Trick-A-Trout Derby that morning, so Trout were freshly stocked in the pond! Windy day, so no chance to try the Micro Fly Rod without the fly line modification. But, was able to limit out with five Trout.
Trout went for an Olive and White Near Deere, and then a BH GRHEN fished on a Tandem Rig in conjunction with the Near Deere.
Fifty plus years old Rapala Floating Minnow still can catch a Bass or two! Round Two of the Vintage Fishing Lure series gets more Bass. Not as big as the Cisco Kid Diver and the 7+ lbs Bass but the Rapala Minnow still rocks in the 21st Century!
Quick trip to Lake Glenn gets several Bass on the vintage Rapala lure I picked up at an antique store in Denison, Texas. Working it on a jerky retrieve, the Bass were readily striking.
I did notice the Bass were tending to the North and East sides of the Lake. I suspect it was due to the clobbered areas along the South and West sides. Lots of hydrilla like greenery has much of the area fouled.
No worries though... Bass were scrappy with one going about 15 inches in length!
Round One of the Vintage Lures Series kicks of the series with an estimated 7+ lbs Bass measuring 23 inches in length. Fishing a Bait Finesse Systems combo and a $2 vintage lure - Cisco Kid Diver, we picked up antiquing in Oklahoma. Great start to the series!
Gear Used:
Starting two new series based on the antiquing finds from this weekend! To kickoff things off, here is a brief summary. Do check back for the Vintage Lures and Vintage Bamboo Fly Rod series! #fishing #flyfishing #antiquing
How about a quick trip to Lake Glenn for ultralight baitcasting with the Kastking Zephyr BFS reel. Started with an inline spinner but turned out the Rapala Husky Jerk was what Bass wanted!
Episode 24 in the "Little Red Book of Fly Fishing" podcast series where I review fly fishing tips....
This round it's tips 110 through 113!
Do check back on our next episode in the series where we discuss tips 114 - 117 .
Good Luck and Good Fishing!
Video premiere tonight - August 31, 2022
The Team's annual fishing trip the Texas Coast is in the books. We fished the Galveston Fishing Pier for four days and came away with several Personal Bests with a 41 inch Redfish, a 38 inch Redfish, a 33 inch Black Drum, and a 54 inch Black Tip Shark! Do check out the video as I summarize the Team's fishing fun and point out several lessons learned to keep at the ready next trip!
#fishing #galveston #pier
Episode 23 in the "Little Red Book of Fly Fishing" podcast series where I review fly fishing tips....
This round it's tips 106 through 109!
Do check back on our next episode in the series where we shift from Part Two: Presentations to Part Three: Reading Water and discuss tips 110 - 113.
Good Luck and Good Fishing!
Here is a brief demo of the technique we used fishing for Sand Trout this past week at Galveston Fishing Pier. Slow reel, trout mouths lure, feel pressure (resistance), set hook! Do give it a try... should work for Speckle Trout, too. Let us know if it works for you, too!
Lots of fun fishing at the Galveston Fishing Pier. Caught lots of fish, including a Shark!
Quick YouTube shorts of yours truly sight casting to feeding (correction Jack Crevalle) not Pompano with a tandem rigged speck rig and the Shimano Scorpion BFS XG reel and Bass Pro MicroLite Rod... works in Saltwater too!
Great start to our trip to the Texas Coast, fishing the Galveston Fishing Pier in 2022!
Steady action on sand trout, hardheads and gaff top... with a nice 41 inch redfish to spice things up.
Even broke out the ultralight baitcaster and the tandem rigged spec rigs for sand trout under the lights!
Do stay tuned for more!
