Round 3 of the $2 BFS Lure Series. This one has yours truly struggling fishing an imitation Snapbean. After using less line on the reel and tweaking the magnetic breaks, was able to cast the lure well. Just need to pay attention to casting into the wind... may lead to a backlash so be careful.
Also, fished several ponds getting only a fish in each but did well the following day at another pond. Key take away... slow retrieve seemed to get more bites than a fast one!
TBT to a trip to the Lower Mountain Fork River fishing for trout at Beavers Bend State Park in Oklahoma. Was a fun time with warm temps but cool waters and lots of trout in the River! See full video at Lower Mountain Fork at Beavers Bend State Park!
Want to get started fly fishing but don't want to spend a lot; do checkout our video series - "Getting Started in Fly Fishing..."
Was out fishing the other day when something splashed in front of me. Was not sure but figured it was a Bass. Checked out the video; it was a Bass chasing a Bluegill.... who won?
Here is the second in the $2 BFS Lure Series where I fish discount lures using ultralight baitcasting gear.
First round, I fished a Crawdad. This time, I fish a hard bait that looks like a Yo-Zuri lure.
I started out fishing a Chartreuse one but switched to an Inline Spinner because the pond had lots of greenery fouling the lure.
Soon after, a Bass chased a Bluegill into the shallows directly in front of me. Got some cool video of it! That said, I cast the spinner and caught a Bass... may have been the one that was chasing a Bluegill!
Afterwards, I lost the spinner to a Tree Fish. I decided to go back to the $2 Lure but went with a White one. I also removed the rear hook and left the front hook on in hopes of fouling the lure less.
It did work, caught a Bass and also lost one! I learned a stop and go retrieve works well, and watched a Bass swallow the lure... I set the hook but did not land it.
Fun times... to check back, playing around with another $2 Lure... another Yo-Zuri imitation that looks very similar to a Snapbean!
See more Creme Lures available at Wal-Mart online. Click-on picture for more details!
Another round of fishing in the ongoing Vintage Lure Series where I find old lures at antique stores and fish them using ultralight casting gear aka Bait Finesse System (BFS) Fishing. So far, I have fished the following lures and posted videos on a playlist on YouTube - see video player at the end of this post.
Lures fished so far:
Round 1 - Cisco Kid Diver - Caught and released 7+ Bass
Round 2 - Rapala Floating Minnow - Caught and released multiple Bass
Round 3 - Abu Garcia Inline Spinner - Caught and release 20+ Bass
For Round 3, I fished an inline spinner that was made around the 1960s. Working the bank of a local pond which is more like a lake in size and affectionately called Lake Glenn after yours truly.
The bite was steady with 20+ fish caught and released. It was Bass and Bluegill. The Bass were small and scrappy; the Bluegill were small as well except for one section of the pond that held some Bruiser Bluegill.
Starting a new fishing series that looks at discount lures and their ability to catch fish. Keeping it simple, the series sets a $2 limit for purchasing the lure and focuses on Bait Finesse Systems fishing aka ultralight bait casting.
Regardless, what gear you use, as long as you can cast the $2 lure, you should be able to give them a try fishing them in your area!
Do check out the first in the series... Wal-Marts hard bait lure that I call the Crawdad! It will catch a fish or two!
Available online at Wal-Mart... Click on picture for more details from Wal-Mart. Else, run to your local Wal-Mart and look for them selling for $2.00... specifically, $1.98 before tax!
On a whim, tied a Muddler Minnow and headed to the local pond with the Vintage Bamboo Fly Rod. After figuring our the pattern - short pauses between short pulls of the line, caught a Bluegill and several Bass!
Lots of fun knowing that a fly rod that is older than myself can still be used. I am a little careful when landing fish. But, I do think the rod will land a good size Bass or other similar fish.
Trout Stocking Season is a few months away in Texas. Here is a Shorts from last season where I am using inline spinners and ultralight spinning gear to limit out! See full video at COAF Field Team YouTube Channel
Answering the mail concerning our trip to the Texas Coast last month where we caught a number of fish including some nice size Bull Reds, a Black Drum, and Sharks. Largest was a Black Tip Shark that went 54 inches in length!
Received several requests seeking suggestions and tips when fishing for sharks from a pier. As we are not experts - just "Average Joes" who have a passion for fishing, we thought it best to post things we did this trip as well as past trips to the Coast.
Keeping it simple, created a Fishing Infographic - "Pier Fishing for Sharks | Tips for Beginners", and posted it at the end of this post.
Do check it out.
COAF Field Team Trip to the Coast - Galveston 2022
YouTube Shorts of a past fishing trip to Turner Falls Park in Oklahoma. That Season, they stocked trout above the Waterfall which made for interesting fishing as sections of the river were clobbered with brush and trees.
Luckily, I found a nice spot that offered excellent access and focused my efforts on finding the pattern. After a number of fishing fly changes and varying retrieves, I noted the trout preferred an Olive Near Deere fished with short pull retrieves and no strike indicator.
Also, the trout were readily striking but I missed a few until I began setting the hook as soon as I saw the trout "flash" in the water as it struck the fishing fly.
Fun trip, do give it a try. But, do check with the Park as stockings may be delayed or canceled contingent on water conditions.
Tried the Bamboo Fly Rod for some pond fishing. Put a Fenwick Large Arbor fly reel initially, then switched to an old Shakespeare bought from Oshman's Sportimg Goods in the early 80s.
Had a Bass on but lost it. Was being careful not to horse the Bass in. Later, caught Bluegill and then ended with a Bass that I did land.
So far, liking the Vintage Fishing Series and fishing a fly rod from the past. Do check back for more!
Kayak Fly Fishing is fun! Even better with an OPST Commando Head to make it easier to cast from a sitting position! See full video at https://youtu.be/qnjuabWu4AU
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!
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! Tip 110: You Got to Pick a Pocket (or Two) Tip 111: Rock On Tip 112: Pillow Talk Tip 113: Rob the Banks
Do check back on our next episode in the series where we discuss tips 114 - 117 . Tip 114: Rosenbauer's Rules Tip 115: Be the Tree Tip 116: Nervous Water Tip 117: Your Fly Rod Cannot See
Found an old Rapala Floating Minnow lure while antiquing this past weekend. 30+ years old, still catches fish! Worked well with the Bass Pro Shops Microlite Rod and Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel with clicker!
Planned to fish with Bait Finesse gear for Bass and Bluegill. But, the pond was too clobbered with "green stuff" that fouled lures. Switched to fly fishing - Cabelas 2wt Fiberglass Rod and the Caddis Foam Grasshopper. Was a fun time ultralight fly fishing!
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!
Received a request to post information on how we tie the Olive/Brown Near Deere - the fishing fly we used recently at Murphy City Hall Pond for Rainbow Trout.
In reply, we posted a video below that demonstrates how we tie the fishing fly. Do check it out when you get a chance!
Other key points:
For the fishing fly we tie, it is a variation of the fishing fly that Texas Fishing Forum's Tarpon Fly posted several years ago. He described the pattern and noted its simplicity and effectiveness.
When we tie the Olive/Brown Near Deere, we use Olive Marabou for the tail and Brown Flash Chenille for the body. However, the pattern allows for ease of mixing and matching colors with our favorites being Olive Marabou/Olive Flash Chenille and Olive Marabou/White Flash Chenille.
It can be fished with or without a strike indicator as well as fished as a tandem rig with a GRHEN, Soft Hackle, or Nymphs.
It is a consistent producer of Trout as well as other fish like Bass and Catfish in our area!
Fished Murphy City Hall Pond this evening. Was cold but it was great to get a round of fishing in during the work week! Even better that we managed to limit out on Rainbow Trout.
Used the Four Weight Fly Rod and the Olive/Brown Near Deere that worked the other day. Change in the retrieve compared to last time; long pulls and allow time for the fishing fly to sink instead of the faster retrieve we used on Sunday.
Only fished for about an hour but it was enough time to catch and keep five, catch and release one more, and miss a lot more due to missed hook sets or thrown hooks.
That said, looks like more cold temps and snow are in the forecast which may be a good thing to keep us focused on our day jobs!
PS: Pictures of the Olive/Brown Near Deere and Today's Catch as well as Today's Video are posted below!
