Bethany This Evening

Fished Bethany this evening.  Took an old fiberglass fly rod and fished the Guadalupana and a Foam Grasshopper Variant.  Caught a few Sunfish on the Guadalupana, and then started getting Bass on the Grasshopper.  Fun stuff!



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Steady Action at Bethany with a Grasshopper!

Went to Bethany Friday evening for another round of fishing.  Slow at first but once we found the pattern, it was steady action the remainder of the time.

Algae and other "greenery" is growing, so lures and fishing flies tend to foul more.  Started out with a COAF Damsel Fly and had a few follow it but no takers.  Switched to a Foam Grasshopper and hooked up with several Bass.  Caught a few, lost a few, and then bite quit near sunset.

A "hatch" was going on, and Bass and Bluegill were feeding on the bugs.  A quick switch to a Griffith's Gnat on a Caddis Hook enabled a few more hook ups.

Fun stuff!

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Purple Grasshopper Variant This Time,... Less Missed Strikes

Another go at Bethany this evening.  This time grabbed the Three Weight Flyrod and went with the fly that was already on the line - a Purple Foam Grasshopper Variant.  Some rain and overcast skies.  Action was steady with less missed strikes this time.  Caught 7 Bass and 7 Bluegill/Sunfish.  Water level is up from the recent rains; caught most less than 10' from the bank!

Click-on 2012's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Foam Rubber Spider Variant - Grasshopper Instructions

Slideshow of steps for tying the Foam Rubber Spider Variant - Grasshopper pattern.  The legs can get tricky, suggest checking out the YouTube Video for tying the Foam Spider.  Like the way it shows how to tie on the rubber legs!

Quick Trip Fly Fishing for Sunfish!

Another quick trip to Duck Creek before starting the day job. Sunfish were biting on a size 8 foam grasshopper. Caught several in short order, then the bite stopped unexpectedly. No worries… good reason to stop and head to work!

TBT to Pond Fishing with a Fiberglass Cane Pole aka "Tenkara"?

Here is a picture of a Bass that yours truly caught while pond fishing one morning. Decided to bring a fiberglass cane pole that telescopes to over 15 feet and put a length of line on it to fish a Foam Grasshopper.

After a few strikes and misses, I was able to catch this nice Bass that went well over 15″… It may have gone 18″ or more. Regardless, it was a fun one to catch that put an awesome bend in the “Tenkara” style rod.

Moreover, I released it to get bigger. Maybe it’s really big now because this was caught and released some time ago!

Bethany Lakes: April 11, 2007

Fished the lower pond at Bethany Lakes.  Beautiful day with a moderate wind.  Caught multiple Bluegills, several Sunfish, and one Bass. The lure of the day was the White Foam Rubber Spider.  All fish were caught with the Spider; save for two fish caught with the Black and Red Streamer.

Method:  Fly-Fishing
Lures:  White Foam Rubber Spider, Grasshopper Dryfly, Black and Red Streamer
Catch: 20+ Bluegill, 2 Sunfish, 1 Bass (18")

Note:  Lost a bigger bass using the White Foam Rubber Spider; ended up losing the fly when the line broke.  Also, one Sunfish was 10 inches in length.

Slow Go This Round

Slow go this round. Fished Bethany this evening; was not able to go earlier this week. Lots of rain though, so it's all good. Managed to catch three Bluegill... first one went for a Guadalupana, next one wanted a Foam Grasshopper, and the last one took a Balsa Popper Fly.  Did have several missed strikes from Bass and Bluegill. Not sure why so many missed strikes... guess that's what happens when you miss a week of fishing.

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Another Round at Bethany This Evening

Another round at Bethany this evening.  Action was not as good as yesterday but it stayed steady. Caught Bass using the new - Redington Pursuit 4WT 8'.  Rod feels good; too bad the hook sets were not in time.  Missed a number of Bass.  Started fishing a Foam Grasshopper in Size 8.  Caught a couple; missed more than a couple.  Switched to a Size 12 and was hooking them but kept losing the bigger ones when they threw the hook.  Settled on a Size 10 and had more caught then missed with it.  Liking the new fly rod; still liking the top water action on the Grasshoppers!

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Tenkara Fishing a Small Pond

Out and about this weekend in Oklahoma. Decided to fish a small pond is in Moore or possibly Norman… could be on the border, too!

Trip started out slow with fish actively feeding on “bugs” on the surface. Also, noticed lots of turtles seemed to show up suspiciously near my fishing fly.

I started fishing the pond’s perimeter using a Foam Grasshopper pattern without success. Then, switched to a Guadalupana fished under a strike indicator.

The fish were barely nibbling… more like “pecking like a chicken” at my offering. Once I added the indicator, I was able to detect strikes but it still did not mean a hook-up.

After multiple missed strikes, I managed to catch a little Bluegill. The remainder of the trip continued to be a strike or a miss but I did catch a few more Bluegill, Sunfish, and a Bass.

The pond looks fairly new, so I anticipate more and bigger fish to come. Will keep this one in my back pocket to fish when I am in the area again.

Do check out the video!

More Quick Trips Fly Fishing for Sunfish #duckcreek

Lotta fun catching these Sunfish on the MaxCatch Fly Rod and Orvis Hydros Reel. 2wt makes for a fun fight of these feisty fish!

Tried the size 8 Foam Grasshopper and caught several. Upsized to the size 4 and had some strike but only managed one on the larger pattern.

Great way to start a TGIF and roll into the Memorial Day Weekend!

No Luck on a Senko but Managed a Few on a Grasshopper!

Broke away from the "salt mines" and fished Bethany this evening.  Made it before it got dark this round, so opted for Senko Worms.  No luck,... seemed like the fish were favoring little lures.  Caught one Bluegill on a Tenko Worm, then caught a Bluegill and two Bass on a Grasshopper.  Warmer temps and more surface action, so it made sense that the Foam Rubber Grasshopper Variant produced!

Click-on 2011's COAF Fishing Leader Board to checkout top fish caught this year by our readers. Also, click-on One Fishing Fly Challenge to checkout the Field Team's flyfishing informal contest. Feel free to join; it's simple!

Fly Fishing Duck Creek #maxcatch #orvis #riotroutmax

Quick trip or more like a quick stop on the day job commute… able to wet a line at Duck Creek Park to do a little fly fishing with the Maxcatch Discount Switch Rod.

Started with a Rubber Legged Near Deere but no takers. Switched to size 4 Foam Grasshopper and caught a Bass, then was a little slow while I worked others spots.

Ended with some nice sized Sunfish. Water was clear, polarized glasses made a difference… could see the fish reacting to the fly and their strikes! Fun stuff!

Fly Rod This Round!

Brought the five weight fly rod this evening to Bethany.  Used a Guadalupana to get a couple of Sunfish and a Bluegill.  Tried a Foam Grasshopper Variant and had a couple of strikes but missed the hook set.  Switched to a Lefty Deceiver and caught several Bass and a Sunfish! Also, saw one fisherman catch and release a nice looking Catfish caught using bread for bait. Nice Catfish!

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Sunday Morning Round at Bethany!

Sunday morning round at Bethany Lakes.  First strike ended with a missed Bass using the COAF Purple Damsel Fly.  Kept at it, and hooked a Bass after a while.  Small guy that went for a Balsa Popper Fly.  Then, switched gears working several Bluegill beds.  Caught Bluegill and Sunfish using a Balsa Popper Fly and a Foam Grasshopper!

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Bass Fly Fishing with the Discount Switch Rod #foamgrasshopper

Stopped at Crowley Park in Richardson on the commute. Fished the 2wt Discount Switch Rod and a Foam Grasshopper to catch a Bass or two! Lotta fun… Bass tended to strike when the hopper was sitting still. Slow stop and go was the key! Fum stuff!

Tinkering About... Made a DIY Whip Finish Tool! #flytying

Prototype Worked But...

Work is work but still cannot help but think about fishing. This time, I thought about making a Whip Finish Tool that was just a tad bit larger than the one I bought from Cabela's.

After a little brainstorming, I made a prototype using spring wire from little marker flags used for marking buried lines and cables before a contractor digs up the ground.

Prototype worked but the diameter needed to be smaller.

Let's Try Again!

Next round, I decided to head to Hobby Lobby for ideas. In short order, I picked the parts listed below:

• .047" Music Wire
• 3/32" Brass Tube
• 4mm Round Copper Beads
• Super Glue

Using pliers, diagonal cutters, and a vise grip, I cut and formed the Music Wire into a Whip Finish Tool using one I bought from Cabela's as a template. 

• The modification I made was to lengthen the gap of the tool. This allowed easier whip finishing larger flies that end "mid-body" like the Foam Grasshopper.
• Once the wire  was shaped and cut, I cut brass tubing to make a rotating handle and placed copper beads as spacers at both ends of the handle. 
• To complete the DIY project, I bent the end of the wire to secure the copper bead and added Super Glue for good measure.

Simple to make... do give it a go and make your own DIY Whip Finish Tool!

Till next time, Good Luck and Good Fishing!

PS: If you decide to go the simple and quick route, can always buy a DR Slick Whip Finish Tool courtesy of Bass Pro Shops!

A Stick, Line, and Fly This Round!

Went simple this afternoon after having fished the morning with a Four Weight Fly Rod. Decided to fish using a Tenkara Rod.  Been some time since we used it; good to see that it still can hold it's own when fishing a pond!  Caught several Bluegill; used a Foam Grasshopper and a Balsa Popper Fly.  Fun stuff!

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Cabelas 2wt Fiberglass CGR | Fly Fishing a Pond

Fished the local pond the other day using the little 2wt Cabelas Fiberglass CGR Fly Rod. Paired well with the 2/3 Wt Echo Ion Fly Reel. I am fishing a Caddis Foam Grasshopper and working the pond by casting to spawning Bluegill on their nests. Polarized glasses make a difference in finding them.

• Cabelas 2WT CGR Fiberglass Rod - https://bassproshops.vzck.net/WDz93e
• Orvis Battenkill II - https://bassproshops.vzck.net/b3Kq9M
• Bett's Bream Getter WT - https://bassproshops.vzck.net/n1ZN59
• Bett's Bream Getter - Blk - https://bassproshops.vzck.net/n1ZN59

#pondfishing #bluegill #cabelascgrflyrod

Pond Fishing Quick Trip aka Grocery Shopping?

Running errands to the local grocery store that happens to have a small pond. As luck would have it, had the 5wt Redington Classic Trout rod, Echo Ion reel, and OPST Commando Head in the pickup… wonder who put it there? LOL! Foam Grasshopper did well again with a several Bluegill and a Bass caught and released before I went to the grocery store.