Fly Fishing BS thread

I always carry my gear on the plane. Try and pack all your flies in one bag. I'm not sure how many rods you're gonna bring, but you can usually pack 2 rods in a tube if you're careful. I flew to Texas earlier this year and brought 4 rods in 2 tubes. I just taped them together to make it one item. I did get stopped as I was boarding the plane on my way home. The TSA agent that barely spoke English wanted to see if there was anything sharp in my vest. After pulling out all my fly boxes I was set free. Other than that I have had no issues bringing rods/flies on a plane. I've even had 2 piece rod tubes on the plane. Good luck on your trip. Where in the Bahamas are you going? Are you gonna hire a guide? I'm super jealous. Take lots of pictures.

 

I'm going to Eleuthera. I havent made up my mind yet about the guide, but probably. However, Eleuthera is supposed to be the best place for DIY bonefishing in the Bahamas and the idea of catching my first bone, on my own, on a fly that I tied myself is pretty gnarly and would make for a helluva story. Im definitely gonna take a ton of pictures. I just bought a gopro today. So hopefully I'll have a couple of cool videos too.

 

My friend just got back from Honduras and did just that. On a 5wt no less. Broke his 8wt the first day there on a rock. I wouldn't get stuck on that idea after traveling all the way down there. Maybe give it a shot the first day and if nothing than get a guide. Are you on any fly fishing forums?

 

A couple of local trout and bass bum forums. Nothing like the drake. Haha maybe this trip will give me the pictures enough to join

 

Hi guys, I just found this thread this morning. I've fly fished off and on over the years mainly for bream and bass on KY lake or small warm water rivers in middle TN. Recently moved to Chattanooga, although not living there for another 3 weeks, so I'm looking forward to being closer to some trout waters. My fiance wants to learn how to fly fish so I'm thinking about finding someone local to give a lesson or two since I'm not a very good teacher and could probably use a real lesson myself. I like seeing all the pics in this thread and the ones out west make me jealous of the landscape there.

 

Just got back from my yearly Keys trip. We did a mixed bag of flats, channels and bridges with assorted types of gear.

My most memorable moments came on the flats with the fly rod.

One was this bonefish.


Then, a friend and I were on a flat that we had never explored before. We saw a couple of fish pushing but nothing I would consider targetable. Then I saw a tarpon rise. I alerted my friend and his immediate response was "F-you!". From years of crying wolf none of us pay much attention to fish alerts.



I changed from my 8 wt to my 10. On my second cast there was a large "Pop". I strip set a couple of times and a 70-100 lb Tarpon turned the water to a froth in front of me. He landed on my leader, rolled, and we parted ways. It was awesome! Maybe next year I will be able to keep one on long enough to get it on the reel.

We also found a huge sea turtle skull out there.

 

Yeah, the main reason is that I'm not a very good teacher. Normally I wouldn't hire a guide at all, but it'd be so she can learn the basics and we don't get a divorce before getting married.

On another note, I found out this morning that my favorite bream bug, Accardo Round Dinny, is no longer made, so I might have to try to figure out how to tie them myself.

 

Hiring a guide will help shorten the learning curve while also building confidence so she will want to go more often. I'm slightly biased though as I am a guide.

 

Check out kienes fly fishing forum. A lot of good info and some really helpful people.

 

Little Rivers Outfitters gives a beginners class... You can take her up there and drop her off then hit the park. Im in chattanooga. Shoot me a message sometime and we may can hook up and go. Did you fish the Elk or Duck much when you lived in Nashville?

 

WYO this weekend:

 

Damn!! Some very nice fish James! If you don't mind, PM me where this was in WY as I'll be up there in July and would love to get something like those fish on my line!

 

^^ nice fish! Floating or sinking line?

 

See if you can find a women's only class. That was what I gave my mom for her birthday last year and how I eased her into the hobby. As she told me, it was much less intimidating for her since she didn't feel like there was any pressure to not screw up in front of men. That, and the class was making jokes about rods and poles the hole time...

 

Fished 2 flies all weekend, 14 Hares Ear with an 18 RS2 dropper, never need to change it up. All fished on a floating line, 2-3 feet below indicator.

 

Nice! Did the dropper get most of the fish?

 

Pretty even mix, the bigger fish took the hares ear.

 

Right on! Looks like you had a blast.

 

What's a good beginner combo for AZ? I was thinking a 4 or 5 weight. Maybe the Cabelas RLS+, Orvis Streamline 5, or White River Hobbs Creek.

Thanks!

 

A 9' 5 WT is a good all around rod for just about everything. If you generally fish for bigger fish on larger rivers or lakes, maybe go up to a 6.