Fly Fishing BS thread

Did someone say salt water fishing?!

I've got a trip planned for the end of May-beginning of June to go after the Tarpon. We plan on fishing the Bogy channel near Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys. We try to make it down there every other year.

I had my 9 WT out last time. I only hooked up once and that was momentarily. What ever hit my Wooly Booger Hybrid was huge! Rod tip dove to the water and it was gone!

I don't know if I'll have time to do any flats fishing or not. Maybe we will get luck and jump the Tarpon early then move to the flats.

 

Every year I threaten to get a pa license so I can fish the Carlisle spring creeks, the yough, cassleman, state college spring creeks, and Erie steelhead. Life keeps getting in the way lol

 

That's awesome! I remember trolling as a youngster with my grandfather and his brothers back when they rowed those beautiful wooden boats. I can still hear (or not) the quietness and unique sound of the hour after hour pattern of oars dipping in water. Those were the days.

Here in Maine you can still find tiers who do those old classic Carrie Stevens patterns. I just had a buddy tie up a dozen of her "Shangs Special" pattern.

 

I'll be the keys 1-5 of May. I'll catch all the tarpon so you don't get any.

 

Do it. PA has lots of nice water. I've fished the Yough a few times. It's a big intimidating river.

I typically like to fish streams I can jump across.

Awesome. Closest place I've fished around there is Little Toby and its tribs. I fished farther east a lot near Benezette and Emporium. Like I said above, I like fishing little water for trout.

 

I have a 14' raft and fishing frame I bought when I was living in Missoula
It makes fishing big water less intimidating and more accessible

I've been down the lower yough in it a few times but never with a rod lol

 

Well shit. That makes it worth it then. The only way to properly fish the Yough would be from a boat. Too much water to cover fishing it from the shore, not to mention it's beyond dangerous in most spots. I've waded the tailrace and that was a pain in the dick hole. Once you get down in the middle Yough it's all but impossible to wade below Ramcat Run.

 

I'll let you know if I get a trip put together this spring or summer

 

Hell yes.

 

Bass action is heating up in OK

 

Got into a few early season LL Salmon this morning. Skinny from the long winter.

 

Went out for an hour or so this evening. Water is still fast and high, but I figured out what they wanted, and how they wanted it tonight. Caught 17, all rainbows about 10-12 inches.

 

That is awesome

 

What's the best time of year to target these salmon with a fly rod?
Is it mostly trolling or do they cruise the shallows?
They in the rivers as well as lakes?
Do they ever chase big skating dries like Atlantic salmon?

Sorry for all the questions but I want to catch one so bad I'd actually drive that far to make it happen

 

They can be caught any time of year really. Spring is best as they feed on the smelts that are running in the rivers & streams. They feed aggressively as they've been pretty dormant all winter and are hungry. After the smelt runs, they feed on the typical insects (nymphs, emergers and dries) that hatch throughout the season in the various watersheds. Dries are far my favorite.

They are in both rivers and lakes. When rivers warm, they'll head to the lakes for deeper/cooler water in the summer. Most of the dams have fish ladders. We do have some rivers that remain cold enough in the summer that salmon stay there year round.

Yes, in the summer Big Bugs work great. It'll bring up big fish and they hammer the flies when they do. This is when they jump a lot.

Many people troll early season near river inlets to catch the smelt runs. I don't troll. I was wading yesterday using small streamers.

I generally stop fly-fishing for salmonoids during the months of July & August as I don't want to stress the fish in warm water conditions. If the Hex hatch extends into July, I will chase Brook Trout in ponds as there are thermal refuge areas where they can cool.

Most waters here close on Sept 30th for trout & salmon. Some stay open through October, but it's limited to C&R only. Some stocked waters stay open year round for the put & take crowd. But the quality waters are better regulated.

 

My standard streamer rig, especially floating the Colorado, is a wooly bugger to a tan slump buster. Lethal combination.

 

I loved fishing the headwaters of the Colorado in the park, and the other streams in the park. Some of my best days fishing were in the park.

 

I've got pics and vids posted on my Instagram if anyone is interested.

https://instagram.com/p/BSr-UJUBDN-/