Little Popper Works for Pond Fly Fishing

Betts Hand Tied Popper did well even after getting clobbered multiple times by fish! Fish were liking the pattern. But, I had to eventually swap it for another fishing fly.

Bett's Poppers from Walmart

Imitation Rooster Tail

Next in the $2 BFS Lure Series has your's truly fishing an imitation Rooster Tail. Learned a few things that has me leaning towards the Original over the imitation.

Old Bamboo Fly Rod Keeps Catching 👌 - Vintage Bamboo Fly Rod Series Round 3

Back out to the local pond fishing a Muddler Minnow using vintage gear - Southbend Bamboo Fly Rod and Shakespeare Fly Reel.

Was a little slow at first but managed to catch several Bass and Bluegill. Water was clear, could sight cast to most of the time.

Was frustrating at times as I could see fish look and then turn away from the Muddler Minnow.

Overall, the series has been a fun one to do!

Try This Retrieve for Trout - Downstream Drift

Sometimes a downstream drift to trout may be needed. Here is how I fished the Blue River in Oklahoma one trip when trout were lurking in a pocket. Do give it a try!

This trip the trout were not cooperating. They were staying in the pocket but were ignoring the fishing fly.

I moved upstream and started using this retrieve and once I got the timing and depth dialed in, the trout struck immediately!

Another $2 BFS Lure That Works | Snapbean Imitation #fishing #video

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!

Check the lures out at Walmart Online!

Catching Trout in OK's Lower Mount Fork River! #fishing #shorts #tbt

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..."

Bass Chases a Bluegill... who won? #fishing #shorts

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?

This $2 Lure Works, and an Inline Spinner | Plus Cool Video of a Bass Chasing a Bluegill!

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!

Old Abu Garcia Inline Spinner Catches 20+ Fish | Vintage Lure Series - Round 3

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.

Do checkout the video!

Vintage Fishing Series - Lures

New Video Series - $2 BFS Lures | Round 1 Wal-Mart's Crawdad Lure

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!

Can a Bamboo Fly Rod and Muddler Minnow Combo Catch Fish...!

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.

Let's see if that happens sooner than later!

Try tying one, else purchase them from Amazon!

Ultralight Gear, Inline Spinners, and Stocked Trout... An Excellent Combination

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

 

Pier Fishing for Sharks | Tips for Beginners | Fishing Infographic

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

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Pier Fishing for Sharks | Tips for Beginners

Try Trout Fishing in Oklahoma | Turner Falls Park

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.

Olive Near Deere Materials

Vintage Bamboo Fly Rod - Bass and Bluegill for Round 1

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!

Try kayak fly fishing... 😀

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

Clouser Minnow Pack

Left Deceiver Pack

50+ Year Old Rapala Floating Minnow Still Catches Bass!

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!

Rapala Floating Minnow

Cisco Kid Topper

Fly Fishing Tips from the Little Red Book of Fly Fishing | Podcast 43, Episode 24

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

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

Can a 30 Year Old Lure Still Catch Bass? #bassfishing #shorts

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!

First Kayak Fishing Trip for 2022 | Jug Lining for Catfish on Lake Lavon (Apr 18, 2022)

Finally made it out to the local lake for kayak fishing. Opted for jug lines and Catfish fishing.

Had to make a few modification to the jug lines per the Texas Fishing Regulations.

Also, had to read the new rules for Catfish on Lavon. Different compared to past Season!

Do check out the video!