Fly Fishing BS thread

Yeah I recently made the switch from a 9 foot 5 weight to a shorter 7'6 length 3 weight rod for my local stream. It's been a blast. The smaller fish are much more fun to catch and the bigger guys you hook into are a big thrill. I ended up with a cheaper Cabelas rod that has been great thus far. Three piece so very manageable for travel. I was having a hard time findings a 4 piece that was shorter length.

 

Also that being said I haven't been thrilled with the products the new Bass Pro/Cabelas conglomerate has been putting out so I would strongly consider an Orvis Clearwater in 7'6 length 3 weight if I was looking for another. 198 bucks doesn't sting too bad and it's backed by a 25 year warranty.

 

Fly fishing thread, nice!
I hit the Ark below Buena Vista yesterday. Crap day catching but a good day fishing..

 

Fished the Snake River earlier week and caught a few nice bows.

 

You ever fish the Mother’s Day caddis hatch on the Ark? I had a trip scheduled one year but had to cancel it. I’ll get back there one day to fish it.

 

Not quite. They still get a $100 replacement fee. It's the reason I went to cheaper rods that are under a $100.

I can't blame them. People were buying 10 year old Orvis rods on CL or similar for cheap, breaking them on purpose and getting brand new rods for the cost of used stuff of the internet.

All the higher end rod companies are asking for "handling" fees now.

 

Well it’s still covered under a no questions asked warranty and I can’t blame them for charging a fee when people abuse the system. Last I knew it was 65 bucks but that could have changed. I’ve seen Helios lose to the car door a few times so it’s nice knowing you’re all set. I’ve never broken a rod while fishing so I don’t plan to try out the Orvis replacement.

What are you using for rods under 100 bucks?

 

I have a Redington 7’6” 5 pc pack rod in 3 wgt. It was less than $100 but I only use it for limited small stream or backpacking situations (It throws tips if you lean on it).
I will stick with my Sage or Hardy rods if I want to enjoy the fishing experience.

 

I've been very pleased with the Cabela's rods. I can't think of the name. Triple forks?, Triple River, Three Rivers?

 

Cabela’s Three forks are great cheap rods, used to see them on sale for $30-50ish fairly often

 

Yes, that's the name! I think they are a great deal. I have an orvis Clearwater , I can't see that the Clearwater is $125 better.

 

Anyone on here run a jet jon? We have a surplus of tailwaters in our area that require a boat with a very shallow draft. I currently fish from a raft with a rowing frame, but I love the idea of forgetting about a shuttle and motoring up the river to drift back down. I am thinking about rigging up a welded 14'-16' with a 40/30. Have any of you fished from a similar setup? If so, how "drift-able" is this type of rig?

 

Not familiar with that exact setup. If it is only one or two people in it, I’d say it would be fine to drift, and enough to get on plane for shallow water. I’m looking at a G3 tunnel, but in the 20’ range.

 

I know a few guys running jets on the hooch tailwater. They’ll run up and use a trolling motor to drift back down. I think that’ll be my next style boat purchase too.

Really like the looks of those towees or hog island skiffs. Little hesitant to get another fiberglass boat for the river, hence me leaning towards the plastic hog island or an aluminum jon. But the ability to add a rowing frame to the towee is a pretty cool feature!

 

First big natural WV brown on the fly

 

Nice butter
If you don’t mind, what watershed/region were you fishing?
No need to name specific streams lol

 

Agreed on the fiberglass hull bit. I know a guy who ran a towee here in Knox but sold it to get a hog island. He said the towee was a little small for him. He outfitted the hog island with oar locks and rows it as he drifts back down.

I am a major fan of those boats but I'm not sure the gains in rowability outweigh the extra $. Base boat is roughly $4k more than a welded jon.

 

Lol if I told you the watershed it would be too easy to figure out.

 

you been slaying them yet right now around town? Buddy of mine has been catching hammers on the clinch

 

No big deal lol I just like to plug things into my mental database. The water and fish look like they could’ve come from the stream that flows thru the town I live in.
Again, nice fish