Fallser

I've only used them in salt water for stripers and bluefish. Very effective. I haven't thought about using them for bass. The ones I've used weigh close to 3 oz. A bit heavy for fresh water. I'll to check my salt water box and see if I might have a couple of smaller ones and give them a shot

Figure it's time to bump this forward. Bass season is upon us. I've been working on some frogs for bass season. I pattern my frogs after the plastic frogs ya'll use. I have them in medium and large size. Decided I needed a smaller one for the early season. Hook: Ahrex Swim Bait hook, size 4 Body: strip of 6 mm craft foam Legs: silicone spinner bait skirt layers Eyes: 6 mm Living Eyes Color: Permanent markers I was watching a show this past weekend on one of the outdoor channels. The bass guys were fishing a popping plastic frog. Looked interesting. This is what I came up with. Hook: Ahrex Swim Bait hook, size 2, size 1/0 and 2/0 Body: strip of 6 mm craft foam Head: soft foam popper head, cut to fit. Legs: silicone spinner bait skirt layers Eyes: 6 mm, 7.5 mm and 8 mm Living Eyes Color: Permanent markers I also use a light coat of Flex UV resin to help them float. I still have 9 more of the small frogs to finish up and three more of the popping frogs. Just need to add legs. While I was looking for some materials I came across this half tied fly. I must have started it last year and decided I didn't like the way it looked. All it needed was eyes, so I finished it up. The bass fly fisherman's answer to the Alabama rig, Bob Popovics "Schoolie Fly" I definitely need to do some work on this style.

I mainly fly fish and all my bass flies are barbless. When I first started fishing for bass, particularly smallmouth, I lost quite a few when they jumped. It took awhile but it finally dawned on me that when the fish jumped there was slack in my line that allowed the bass to throw the hook. I learned my lesson about keeping tension on the fish. It's a bit dicey with a 9 foot rod and a reel with a decent drag. I fish barbless with my spinning gear and the same rule applies. So to repeat what everyone else has said keep tension/pressure on the fish. I'm not sure I would back off the drag when the fish gets close. I'm fishing from the shore or a boat, not a kayak.

My sister's done more research than I have on our ancestry. I'm second generation American. So we didn't get here till the early 1900's. She's traced the Italian side(my dad) back to the mid-1800's in Italy. The Ukrainian side has been a bit more difficult. I was able to provide her with the names of our great-great grandparents from my great grandmother's baptism certificate. The stumbling block is my mom's father. As far as we know he was the only one in his family(11 or 12 kids) who immigrated to the US. I remember him complaining to my dad about his sisters who were always asking him to send them American dollars. This was in the late 1950's. Based on his surname, it's quite possible we have relatives in Canada, including a professional hockey player. This is a picture of my grandmother's family shortly after they arrived in the US in the early 1900's. My grandmother is standing next to my great grandfather, who I never met. My great grandmother died in 1958. I also met my great uncles, Mike and Nick. We have no idea who the girl standing in front of my great grandfather is.

We really haven't had that much of winter here. Normally, I don't start throwing top water flies on my local creeks until the second or third week of May. Not because they won't take them but because the creeks are also stocked trout streams and the last stocking is usually the end of April or the first week of May. It usually takes a week or two for stocked trout chasers to clear out. Given the last couple of days the temperatures have been in the mid-80's I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't hitting top water flies or lures right now. Most of the lakes I fish are up in the Poconos, about 75 miles north of here. A different climate. By the time I get up there in mid-May they should be hitting top waters.

I've just started fishing frog patterns with my fly rod two years ago. The initial pattern I tied and fished on a lake in NE Ontario drew several strikes from smallmouth but I didn't hook any of them. I've since modified the pattern and plan to give it a work out on some lakes up in the Poconos in a month or so. I initially was tying them on 3/0 and 4/0 hooks, but latest batch are tied on 1/0 and size 2 hooks. They're weedless but tied on a single hook. Still trying to figure out how to tie them on double hooks.

Well played by Orvis. I didn't notice the date at first, but when I read that it would also have the guides growing as part of the plant. Right. I've never had the urge to own a bamboo fly rod. Figure it's easier to break than graphite, not to mention the price. There was one on the Orvis website that went for $4,500. How about a poor man's bamboo fly rod. I may have to consider it after I finish rebuilding a couple of my dark side rods. There's some two piece bamboo fishing poles for under $5 on line. I use single foot spinning guides on my fly rods. A cheap cork grip and reel seat and I should be good for the chalk streams of England. I'd have to figure out what weight rod I'd end up with. Hopefully something in the 5 to 8 wgt range.

I actually can do that with my fly rods. I use Fuji single foot spinning guides for the running guides on my rods. They're all set up for removable fighting butts. I've made fighting butts from 3 inches to 10 inches long. They become emergency spinning rods if for some reason I break one of my spinning rods. As far as weight goes. I fish mainly a 9' 6 wgt, but do use an 8 wgt when it's needed. I can cast 1/32 oz bucktail or marabou jigs with the 6 wgt. I also tie them on 1/20 oz jigs. As far drop shotting, on some of the fly fishing boards there have been discussions about drop shotting. I guess I should read them. I think it can be done. Probably easier to do from a boat rather than from shore. I would set it up using a sinking line though I guess you could use a floating line depending on the water depth. Short heavy tippet with a loop or swivel at the end. Drop shot portion, shouldn't have to be more than 3 or 4 feet long. The fly should be unweighted. Bucktail or marabou fly. Even a Zonker. What type of weight would use. You could use split shot. I would lean toward a small sinker(1/32 to 1/16th oz). For my own use I have a lot of 1/16 oz or smaller jigs I'd just clip off the hook and use the jig head as the weight. I won't have a chance to try it till late August when I head up to Ontario. Most of the lakes my buddies and I fish are shallow and weedy.

Any idea of where you are going to be on Chesapeake Bay? I concur with casts_by_fly that the big stripers will be in the bay. Just checking one of my magazines. The Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay and it's tributaries are closed to striper fishing from April 1st to May 31st. That leaves largemouth. It's been a mild winter. I might lean toward post spawn. The largemouth are mainly centered in the Upper Chesapeake Bay tributaries. A lot of them are tidal. The fishing will depend on the tide. Usually, the incoming and out going tides are the best time the fish. My rule of thumb is the two hours before and after the top and bottom of the tide are the best times. But that may vary. I've fished the Upper Bay tributaries, but that was years ago and not for bass. It is nice country and the seafood is excellent.

I have to drink decaf also. Doctor's order. I haven't had a cup of caffeinated coffee in 20+ years. It took awhile to get used to and I use a couple of teaspoons of sugar when I drink it. At least I get a sugar boost in the morning. My coffee maker has 12 cup carafe. That works out to about 3 cups for me. Depending on what I'm doing I can finish off a pot in a day. Usually 2 cups a day. It took me awhile to get the coffee the way I like it, strong and black. Once every month or 6 weeks. I buy a couple of bags of decaf expresso, decaf French roast and/or Italian roast beans along with a bag of medium roast beans. I mix them together and put the beans back in the bags and store them in my freezer. Grind them as I need them. I won't use tap water to make my coffee. My sister gave me a Brita system that I use to filter the water for my coffee and ice cubes. It's more expensive than buying ground coffee but it tastes so much better. I'd be doing the same thing if I were drinking caffeinated coffee. If I buy a cup, it's usually either WaWa or Dunkin' Donuts.

The fishing flea market season is pretty much over around here. There's one next week down the shore, but most likely the emphasis will be on salt water items. My buddies and I go to most of the ones that are within reasonable driving distance. Last one I went to a couple of weeks ago, I picked up six lures, 2 Rebel minnows, 2 Yozuri minnows, a Jitterbug and a Hula Popper for a total of $15. The Hula Popper cost me $0.50. It was pretty beat up and didn't have a skirt. I refurbish them, just clean them up, touch up the colors, add eyes if they don't have them and replace the hooks. I have a half-dozen functional lures. I mainly fly fish, but they'll get some use when I switch over to the dark side. Regular flea markets usually have some tables that are dedicated to fishing gear and if you know what your looking for you can get some decent deals.

My fingers are getting more arthritic every year. I saw fly clips and thought they'd be the answer. My local Orvis shop didn't carry them. When I got home, I was thinking what else could I use and came across some mini-articulated shanks that I brought for some reason. I took them with me on my Pocono trip and they worked. They were a bit heavy for some of my panfish flies, but it was a lot easier to change flies. I discovered the twist clips and ordered a pack of them to take with me when I went to Ontario. They ran me $6.99 for 10 of them. I was going through one of my dark-side catalogs looking for some swivels I needed to make wire leaders and Lindy rigs for the trip. I came across "American Made Drop Shot Clips" which were the spitting image of the Rio Fly Clips. The difference was 25 of them cost me $1.93 and they were a bit bigger than the Fly Clips I'd brought. They worked for both flies, jigs and lures. This year I ordered another pack of the smallest ones and a pack of one of the larger ones(3/4 inch long). The bigger ones were a little more expensive, $2.75 for 25. Plan to use them with lures or large flies. I do like the twist clips better than the clips.

I've been going to a lodge in NE Ontario for close to 38 years. It's on Lady Evelyn Lake. It's noted more for its walleye and smallmouth fishing than huge pike. It does have some decent size pike, but we go more for the smallmouth and walleye. Pike are by-catches. It's a 14 hour drive from Philly to the pick-up point and then a 19 mile boat ride to the lodge. Nice thing about it is all we have to bring is our fishing gear and clothes, a few snacks and a bottle or two of alcohol or a case of beer. The lodge provides boats, gas, bait. Two sit-down meals and a packed lunch or they supply the gear and fixings for a shore lunch. You just have to provide the fish. There are only three lodges and two fishing camps on the lake. The lodge I go to is the furthest one and we seldom see any boats when we're fishing. It depends on how far from civilization you want to get and how much you're willing to pay for the experience. Do your research and make the decision. One of the bays we fish off the main lake. A decent smallie

These are some that I made up for the guys I fish with and myself when I'm not fly fishing for them. These are Mepps style using a #3 blade. I used barbless VMC treble hooks for the top four. These are based on an in-line spinner I brought at a fishing flea market. The guy selling them was touting them as lures to use for striped bass in salt water. The original is 9 inches long and weighs 2 oz. He also used an in-line blade. I made my first ones using in-line blades but didn't like the action. I think they were too small. I rebuilt them using French or Colorado blades on a clevis. The action improved. Both the Mepps style and whatever the second style is have caught chain pickerel.

I haven't been to Tokyo since 2015 on my way to the Naval Base in Yokosuka. If you're landing at Narita. It's a good distance from downtown Tokyo. Unless you can read or speak Japanese it would be tough to get where you want to go and find a tackle shop if they let you leave the airport area. I doubt Security has gotten any easier since then. As far as bargains go on fishing tackle, it would depend on the exchange rate. One of the Japanese nationals who worked at our office was a big bass fisherman. I used to have some interesting discussions with him about it, even brought him a couple of lures to try on whatever local lake he fished.

I fly fish 85 to 90 percent of the time. None of the guys I fish with are fly fishers. We just enjoy fishing. Sometimes I out fish them, other times they out fish me. When I first started fly fishing I only fly fished for trout, because I didn't no any better. Fortunately, I discovered I could fish for warm water fish, and a bit later salt water. Have I run into elitists, definitely. Years ago I was fishing a local FFO(fly fishing only)stretch of a local creek. I was dressed in a old T-shirt, urban camouflage BDU's, a vest that hadn't been washed in years, a pair rubber boots cut from an old pair of waders and sitting comfortably on a large boulder next to a nice set of riffles. The creek was about 20 feet wide. I'd already caught a couple of trout and was changing flies. I looked up and there was a guy who looked like he stepped out of an Orvis catalog. Standing in the middle of the creek. I build my own rods and I use single foot spinning guides as my running guides.. He immediately informed me that this was a fly fishing only stretch and I couldn't use spinning gear. I showed him the fly reel on the rod. He waded closer and told me I'd never catch anything with the leader I was using. I was using a thread furled leader. Or with the dry fly I had on, a CDC and Elk. I needed to be using a heavy nymph. He waded right through where I was fishing and worked his way slowly down stream. I waited about 10 minutes and started fishing again. He was still in sight. I caught another of the stocked trout and made big show netting it. They're out there. Fortunately with my choice of guys I fish with I don't run into them to often.

Probably when I was in college, down in NW Tennessee. The fish we caught out of the local farm ponds helped cut down on our food bill. I really got good at filleting flounder, bluefish and other salt water fish in the 80's The trick is a sharp knife. Especially if you're dealing with panfish.

That's one of the reasons I want to take a look at the Creeper material. These are a couple of the "Ned" flies. I used the 1/20th oz "Ned" jig. One on dry land and of them in a container of water. I'm thinking about using it furled for a variation of my weedless frog pattern and one of my crayfish patterns. Winter's just starting I've got plenty of time of tying. The guys I fish with, fish the Senko wacky style. I still prefer it Texas rigged. Pretty much for the same reasons you do.

Nice looking flies. I'm going to have to pick up some of that FnF Creeper and give it a shot. I used FNF Predator-9 Worm soft chenille furled to make up some Ned flies last year, but never got a chance to try them. The Senko pattern would work well on one lake I fish a lot which is pretty weedy. Have you thought about tying the fly "wacky" style?

Nice fish. I think surprise at catching a trout on a lure comes from fly fishing. The idea the only way you can catch trout is delicately casting a tiny fly to a rising trout. I was into that when I first started fly fishing. One day I was fishing the West Branch of the Delaware River when I hooked a nice trout, turned out to be an 18 inch fish. I'd left my net in the cabin and thought to myself it just eats insects, so I lipped it. I held it long enough, while gritting my teeth to show it to a couple of friends before I dropped it. Found my handkerchief and wrapped it around my bleeding thumb till I could get back to the cabin and bandage it. Definitely changed my view of trout.

Almost sounds like you're fly fishing and over thinking it. I'm not sure why you would need a tippet with a fluorocarbon leader or even a fluorocarbon leader with a spinning rod. Bass aren't what you would call leader shy. I use braid on my spinning reels, when I'm casting lures, and I just tie the braid directly to the lure. The bass don't seem to notice. So you're using 20# Low Vis Sufix 832 braid, according to what I found on line, it has a diameter equivalent to 6# mono. That means you would have to use 6 pound fluorocarbon for your leader in order to have any chance of knotting the braid and fluorocarbon together. It can be done with different knots. I wouldn't recommend it if you want to keep your sanity. A tippet would have to be even lighter, 4# or less. I'm not very sporting when I fly fish for bass I use a 25# fluorocarbon tippet. Do you really want to fish for bass with a 6 pound leader and a 4 pound tippet?

I'll look at some of the titles I have, and post them. The books are 20 to 30 years old and feature older patterns. Materials and flies have changed drastically in those years. I fish mainly small, shallow, weedy ponds/lakes rather than larger lakes. I tend to stay away from jointed patterns, but the Game-Changer is probably the most popular of the current ones. There's a thread on this forum called "Fly Tying, getting back into it." I think you'll find it on page 2. Hasn't been active since August, but posts should be picking up as those of us who mostly fly fish for bass get back into our winter tying frenzy and start posting flies we've hatched from our imagination. Check out some of the fly fishing web sites also, most have a Warm Water forum.

Generally, when I'm fishing with my buddies. One medium spinning rod, and two fly rods, a 6 wgt and an 8 wgt. Sometimes I might add a light spinning rod. None of the boats have rod lockers, so it's minimalist fishing. When I go up to a lodge in Ontario, I have "rocket launcher" built from an old wooden milk crate. I drive the boat, and it sits in front of me. It will hold five spinning rods, two fly rods and has a rod holder on one side that holds my trolling rod. Since I usually have to share the holders with whoever is in the boat with me. I'll have three spinning rods, two rigged for jigging, one for casting lures, one trolling rod and two fly rods.

I've fished with spinning gear my whole life. Until I switched over to fly fishing. So I'm accurate with my casts when I use spinning gear. As already mentioned, I can be very accurate when using my fly rod. Not sure why I never tried using a BC though I may have at some point in my younger days. The only thing I've used even close to a BC are the large inshore and off-shore trolling reels. My problem with them was I had to use my dominant hand to reel, and my non-dominant hand/arm to fight the fish. I still use a small lever drag reel for trolling in fresh water with the same complaint. Even when I started fly fishing, most of the reels were right-hand retrieve and I had to get the shop to switch them to left-hand retrieve. At this point in my life, I'm not interested in learning a new trick. I'll leave the BC's to my fishing buddies.

If Lurenet is selling those jigs for $2.49 each, I need to get in the jig tying business. Yours' have to be better than those. I googled the Turner Jones Micro Jigs. Based on the picture in the article where I found them they must be tied on size 14 or smaller jigs. It's an interesting article. He didn't tie them but used shrink wrap to hold the material(a single strand of hen hackle) in place. I just threw a bunch of that material away.