Fly Fishing BS thread

Thanks !!! Those pools sound awesome, probably great drone action.

 

I went back today to try my luck again. Private lake is 5 minutes from my house. Nice to be retired! There were 4 fly guys fishing again from same club. Totally different group of guys. The 4 today were a lot older and very friendly. They split up in twos fishing 2 different docks. I talked to the 2 closest to me. One must have been in his mid 80’s, used a walker to get to chair on end of dock & had his oxygen with him. His buddy fishing with him helped him when necessary. This guy couldn’t have weighed 100 lbs soaking wet! He had better hearing than his helper! Had a beautiful roll cast from his chair, C&R the most trout! The guy helping was close to my spot so I asked questions. Said just use your floating weight forward line w/ a 9 ft tippet. He was using a birds nest fly & what he called a smaller version of what he said was a yellow sally. He had a small strike indicator & a very small lead weight just above the fly. These guys were using much smaller flies with better results. I commented I would have to try this set up after the first of year. The guy got up, walked to his truck & came back with his spare rig. Told me to try it out! I was dumbfounded! Got this on 3rd cast. I guess I don’t need much else.

 

That's a much better experience and hopefully one that sticks with you. I was going to mention, I think the 9 foot 5 weight setup you have should be just fine for this scenario. That's arguably the most versatile setup in fly fishing. Floating line is fine and if you want the tippet to sink, add a small piece of tungsten putty or split shot. I never wind drift but I know it works for some people. I typically strip streamers or something similar at different rates. Don't be shy to change flies/speed/technique often. I know where I fish is heavily visited and the fish catch on quickly. Any fish rising to the surface?

And I HOPE I can be lucky enough to still be out casting from a chair with oxygen if need be. I will try to find the short film about the former owner of Orvis still out kicking ass hunting and fishing at 90+.

 

He looked so frail but had such a beautiful cast & presentation. His buddy had to release them for him. I’m moaning about my replacement knees at late 60’s and this guy was just sitting there & getting it done. Fish are not on surface- about 18” off bottom. The bite seems to stop around 2-3pm each day. I’ll order up some stuff. Snow is coming next week.

 

Thinking of getting an RTIC softsided cooler for use on my raft (stealthcraft hooligan). Anybody withe a drift boat have a recommendation for sizes? Waffling between the 30 and the 40.

I'm not a guide, but I'd guess my drift fishing will be 75% with 2 people (including me), so space is only a problem for those few times I'd have 3 people. So in that case I figure I'd have to put the cooler between my legs (the Hooligan has a rear rack, but the rear seat attaches to it, so with 3 space is quite limited).

Any suggestions?

 

Had a really good trip a few weeks ago. Very few "stockers" as most was over 16". This was my big one (he was a toothy MF)

 

Also got a new fishpond net (overpriced i know, but man is it nice), new 4wt set up, and belt system i get to try out this weekend!

 

Some Winter fish porn..

Upper Owens River


Some Tenkara action:

 

Is that a crazy looking bow or some kinda cutty?

 

It was a fat old Brownie. Crap picture quality makes it look odd. I have trouble taking cell phone pics when my hands are frozen..haha.

 

A few Winter Steelhead and Rainbow fish pics from a recent, Dec 2018, trip to Northern California. Mostly fished the Trinity River but also hit up the Sacramento River as well. Cold weather kept the fishing pressure down so the fish action was pretty decent. I am a Steelhead novice but did manage to land a couple and others, like my son, had more success.







Drifting Near Redding, Ca

 

mmmmmmmmmm
Bacon and steel. What a combo

Great shots!

 

My first 2019 fish

 

Glad to see this is thread is still going

 

Hey guys, been fly fishing a few times with a friend.
Got a $100 gift card for Cabelas and was looking to buy a rod/reel combo.
Not wanting to spend more than $200 total.

Doing strictly freshwater, and mostly trout.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Was thinking about these two combo deals but could be persuaded otherwise.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/FENWICK-EAGLE-MEDALIST-COMBO/2349340.uts?slotId=2
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Prestige-Fly-Outfit/2926509.uts?slotId=1

 

Those both look like good options, the new medalist reels are pretty sweet
If yer gonna fish for bass at all I’d get the 6wt, all trout the 5wt is king lol
9’ if available

 

I got one of those Fenwich Aeotos and some Echo Base rods. Both are great for the money (if cabelas sells them). My baby is an Orvis Recon.

I fish trout 98% of the time, and i've got 4wt, (2) 5wt, (2) 6wt, and an 8wt. The 6wt is my preferred (there at +10lbs fish in the rivers i go to) set up. but yes a 5wt is king. Best thing you can do is try before you buy (that's why i have 6 rods, LOL). It took me a while to figure out which action i prefer, whether warranty is important or not, etc. WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!

 

Oh, and definitely get a 9ft length rod. I recently got an 8' 4wt, and it's vastly different that my 9' 6wt.

 

My current stock