This week saw my son's third month, and things are finally getting back to some semblance of normal. My goal is to start setting some time back towards tying flies, and reinvesting my time into fishing.
Seeing that it is now December, the warm water predatory fish have all fallen into their winter patterns. This makes most fishing obsolete this time of year, and is a great time to take stock of current gear, and fill out wish lists for next season.
As I take stock of what I have learned during my second season of fly fishing, I plan to share my current gear selection, and how I came to choose the rods and reels that make up my fly fishing quiver. Also, as I work on tying for the spring months to come, I will have a few new beginner fly recommendations, and even share some of my fly tying tips and tricks for those thinking about venturing into fly tying.
Until then, I hope everyone had a great end to their 2016 fishing season, and have already passed Santa the list of fishing materials you hope to find in your stockings in a few weeks.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Temporary Break
Hey Everyone,
I will be taking a temporary break for the next week or two, so I can take care of my Son. I am proud to say he was born on September 3rd, and already has his first fishing rod.
I will be taking a temporary break for the next week or two, so I can take care of my Son. I am proud to say he was born on September 3rd, and already has his first fishing rod.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Fishing Report 24-AUG-2016
Well, August is nearing its conclusion, and the cooler nights are finally starting to creep into the area. Naturally, a rally of the hot, humid weather should be expected, but it will not be too long before Autumn is upon us. With that said, fishing is still in the summer patterns, and I have been splitting my time between river and lake fishing.
With river fishing, the time of day is less important, with keeping an eye on water clarity and lighting conditions more so. Rivers tend to be clearer than lakes, and typically are more shallow. This makes fish more skittish of aerial predators. I've been spending some time fishing the Rivanna River near downtown Charlottesville, and have enjoyed my fair share of smallmouth action. Typically, during sunny, clear water days, the action can be slow, with the best success coming from fish hiding in the shadow lines found near the banks. Generally, fishing is better during overcast or muddier water days (although not too muddy), as the fish tend to swim around more freely. This is also true for the early morning and evening hours, as the lower light conditions have a similar effect. This is not to say that fish cannot be caught during the bright, sunny, summer days, but it does help narrow down where the fish may be hiding.
As for flies, I've been finding great success with topwater in the evening hours, and deceivers during the rest. Specifically, I've found blue over white deceivers to be particularly deadly, with both swing and cross current retrieves working best.
In the lakes, subsurface flies are a must during the day, with topwater not setting in until just before sunset. With that said, some of the best fishing is to be had in the last hour of the day, with the bass keying in on topwater lures. Lately, I've been having fun with the Master Splinter mouse pattern. It is a great topwater pattern that is easy to tie, lightweight, and casts well.
As a general rule, you know when you've selected the right topwater fly when the bass inhale the lure deep. This makes going barbless even more important to ensure safe releases. I've found the best success with either a slow twitch retrieve, or a steady, gurgling retrieve. The key is to find what motion attracts the best strikes for the particular time of day you are fishing. While the sun is still fairly bright, I've found a slower retrieve to be more successful, but typically speed things up as the sun sets.
With river fishing, the time of day is less important, with keeping an eye on water clarity and lighting conditions more so. Rivers tend to be clearer than lakes, and typically are more shallow. This makes fish more skittish of aerial predators. I've been spending some time fishing the Rivanna River near downtown Charlottesville, and have enjoyed my fair share of smallmouth action. Typically, during sunny, clear water days, the action can be slow, with the best success coming from fish hiding in the shadow lines found near the banks. Generally, fishing is better during overcast or muddier water days (although not too muddy), as the fish tend to swim around more freely. This is also true for the early morning and evening hours, as the lower light conditions have a similar effect. This is not to say that fish cannot be caught during the bright, sunny, summer days, but it does help narrow down where the fish may be hiding.
As for flies, I've been finding great success with topwater in the evening hours, and deceivers during the rest. Specifically, I've found blue over white deceivers to be particularly deadly, with both swing and cross current retrieves working best.
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| Blue over white deceivers have been very successful against smallmouth lately |
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| The Master Splinter is a great mouse pattern |
As a general rule, you know when you've selected the right topwater fly when the bass inhale the lure deep. This makes going barbless even more important to ensure safe releases. I've found the best success with either a slow twitch retrieve, or a steady, gurgling retrieve. The key is to find what motion attracts the best strikes for the particular time of day you are fishing. While the sun is still fairly bright, I've found a slower retrieve to be more successful, but typically speed things up as the sun sets.
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| This ambition little bream decided to go for a big meal with my mouse pattern |
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Fishing in Maryland: Potomac and Conococheague
Once again this weekend found me up in Maryland visiting friends and family. After spending the day at Pangborn Park playing Ultimate Frisbee, and otherwise goofing off during my friend's annual reunion, my father and I spent the evening at the Potomac River. This night, the fish were not overly enthusiastic about anything, and very little action was to be found.
After trying deep and mid level waters, the sun was getting closer to the horizon, and I decided that enough time had past since the harsh midday sun to throw on a topwater popper. This was to be rewarded with a largemouth bass near the edge of a weed patch, and a smallmouth on the edge of a whitewater channel. This was actually very interesting, as it perfectly highlighted the preferred habitats for both species, and shows how one river can support both species with very little overlapping competition.
This morning, we decided to try a more scenic river, and found ourselves along Conococheague Creek. We set out around an hour after sunrise, and if you have never fished that early, you are missing out. One of nature's finest effects is the steam rising off the water early in a summer's morning. This only happens when the water is warmer than the surrounding air, and never fails to take my breath away. Even if we hadn't caught a fish, it would have been a trip worth taking.
The good news is the fishing matched the scenery, and we had an outstanding day. Since we started early enough, and since the first stretch of the creek was fairly shallow with lots of grass beds, I kept my popper on from the evening before, and quickly was rewarded with a fun little longear sunfish.
With the topwater bite being strong, I quickly found success targeting smallmouth, and many smallies were taken, with much bending of the fly rod :) Most of the catches were your average small river bass, but all put up a strong fight.
The earliest hours saw very aggressive topwater takes, but as the sun rose, and the temperatures increased, more action was found on subsurface streamers. I found the best luck on green over white clousers, and blue over white deceivers. All in all, it was a great day, with nearly forty fish landed, including more than five different species. Definitely a good sign of a great day, and a healthy river.
And, naturally, my father outfished me again...although he does tend to use a spinning rod, so I like to say I have more fun ;)
After trying deep and mid level waters, the sun was getting closer to the horizon, and I decided that enough time had past since the harsh midday sun to throw on a topwater popper. This was to be rewarded with a largemouth bass near the edge of a weed patch, and a smallmouth on the edge of a whitewater channel. This was actually very interesting, as it perfectly highlighted the preferred habitats for both species, and shows how one river can support both species with very little overlapping competition.
This morning, we decided to try a more scenic river, and found ourselves along Conococheague Creek. We set out around an hour after sunrise, and if you have never fished that early, you are missing out. One of nature's finest effects is the steam rising off the water early in a summer's morning. This only happens when the water is warmer than the surrounding air, and never fails to take my breath away. Even if we hadn't caught a fish, it would have been a trip worth taking.
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| Smoke on the water...one of my favorite sights |
The good news is the fishing matched the scenery, and we had an outstanding day. Since we started early enough, and since the first stretch of the creek was fairly shallow with lots of grass beds, I kept my popper on from the evening before, and quickly was rewarded with a fun little longear sunfish.
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| Not the most common of catches East of the Appalachian Mountains |
With the topwater bite being strong, I quickly found success targeting smallmouth, and many smallies were taken, with much bending of the fly rod :) Most of the catches were your average small river bass, but all put up a strong fight.
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| Small but fierce, these guys are a ton of fun on any rod, especially the fly |
The earliest hours saw very aggressive topwater takes, but as the sun rose, and the temperatures increased, more action was found on subsurface streamers. I found the best luck on green over white clousers, and blue over white deceivers. All in all, it was a great day, with nearly forty fish landed, including more than five different species. Definitely a good sign of a great day, and a healthy river.
And, naturally, my father outfished me again...although he does tend to use a spinning rod, so I like to say I have more fun ;)
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Wednesday, August 3, 2016
First Striper on the fly
As I usually do when I am traveling on the road, before I leave I check to see whether or not I should bring my fly rod. This week, I am up in Portland, Maine, and the Internet said they were catching Rockfish/ Striped Bass/ Greenhead/ Squid Head/ or whatever else people have named this hard fighting fish. After seeing that the fish were biting, I next checked to see what the local fishing regulations were, and, for Maine, saltwater fishing only requires a $1.00 angler registration with the Maine fisheries department, so I happily packed my 8 weight.
One thing I highly recommend if you travel with your fishing gear, is to find a local tackle shop, and patron their store. This is a great way to pick up some tips, and to learn if there are any local restrictions/precautions that should be taken. If you do visit a local shop, be sure to support them by picking up some local flies or gear. For this trip, I visited the nice folks at The Tackle Shop (http://www.thetackleshop.net/). They were awesome, and gave me great advice on when and where to go, as well as what to use. If you find yourself in Portland, Maine, I highly recommend you pay them a visit.
Following their advice, I found myself at Back Cove this morning, looking at a salt flat during full low tide. After tying on a CK Baitfish and sinking leader, I walked along the shore to begin my search.
The CK Baitfish is an amazing fly designed to mimic the darting, panicked actions of a fleeing minnow. Walking along the shore, I checked for signs of baitfish, and variations in shoreline structure. Sure enough, at a section where the tidal flats drained into the main channel of the bay, tons of small minnows were schooled up along the shore. A quick couple of casts, and my flyline slammed tight with my first Striped Bass on the fly.
One thing I highly recommend if you travel with your fishing gear, is to find a local tackle shop, and patron their store. This is a great way to pick up some tips, and to learn if there are any local restrictions/precautions that should be taken. If you do visit a local shop, be sure to support them by picking up some local flies or gear. For this trip, I visited the nice folks at The Tackle Shop (http://www.thetackleshop.net/). They were awesome, and gave me great advice on when and where to go, as well as what to use. If you find yourself in Portland, Maine, I highly recommend you pay them a visit.
Following their advice, I found myself at Back Cove this morning, looking at a salt flat during full low tide. After tying on a CK Baitfish and sinking leader, I walked along the shore to begin my search.
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| CK Baitfish designed by the legendary Chuck Kraft |
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| Hello Beautiful |
Monday, August 1, 2016
Fishing Report 1-AUG-2016
Well...my ocean trip was a bit of a bust, and by bust, I mean it was never meant to be. Such is life, and it was for the best. Next Time! As a consolation, my family came down to Charlottesville, and the local fishing commenced.
The first stop was the Rivanna River, during the heat of the afternoon. As was stated before, during the dogs days of summer, expect the bass to be less active during the day, with better fishing times in the early morning, and late evening hours. If you can only pick one time of day, pick the evening, as the bass tend to eat late into the night, and therefore are less hungry in the morning. With that said, sometimes you don't have the opportunity to fish during the best hours, and just getting out is a reward in itself.
As was expected, fishing was tough, and was made more-so by the passing kayaks and river floats. With that said, we still managed to catch a few fish, with the largest smallmouth being caught deeper in a fast moving rapid. Warmer waters mean less dissolved oxygen, so look for fish to take advantage of deeper white water during the hottest hours.
After an afternoon cookout, an ode to summer charcoal, my father and I hooked up the boat, and headed to Chris Greene. After all the recent rains, the water is back to a darker chocolate, but the fish are still active, and did not disappoint. After starting the evening with the usual bluegill, ensuring a successful trip, we targeted a deep water drop off near the shoreline with lots of fallen trees. This type of bank structure allows access to cooler water with a shorter swim to bait rich shallows seeking refuge in the sunken tree limbs. Here, fishing deep and slow is the key, and my father was rewarded with a nice 2-3 lbs largemouth, among many other fish. Unfortunately, as is the danger with evening fishing trips, a strong thunderstorm rolled onto the lake, ending our trip.
Sunday morning, for our last outing, we decided to go to a more scenic lake, and trailed the boat to Beaver Creek Reservoir. Besides from the pleasant views, Beaver Creek is spring fed, resulting in consistently clear waters. While all of the surrounding ponds and rivers were mud choked from the torrent of Saturday night, Beaver Creek was still holding 4 foot visibility. Unfortunately, while the morning looked fishy, the bass did not respond. Several fish were raised from the deep by clousers, but none took the fly. Our best guess is that the previous night's passing storm caused too great a shift in one or more environmental variables (temperature, pressure, etc), and shut down the bite. Even the bluegill were reluctant to respond, although I did trick a decent 10"+ brim on a small yellow popper.
Next weekend sees the return to the upper Potomac...weather permitting of course.
The first stop was the Rivanna River, during the heat of the afternoon. As was stated before, during the dogs days of summer, expect the bass to be less active during the day, with better fishing times in the early morning, and late evening hours. If you can only pick one time of day, pick the evening, as the bass tend to eat late into the night, and therefore are less hungry in the morning. With that said, sometimes you don't have the opportunity to fish during the best hours, and just getting out is a reward in itself.
As was expected, fishing was tough, and was made more-so by the passing kayaks and river floats. With that said, we still managed to catch a few fish, with the largest smallmouth being caught deeper in a fast moving rapid. Warmer waters mean less dissolved oxygen, so look for fish to take advantage of deeper white water during the hottest hours.
After an afternoon cookout, an ode to summer charcoal, my father and I hooked up the boat, and headed to Chris Greene. After all the recent rains, the water is back to a darker chocolate, but the fish are still active, and did not disappoint. After starting the evening with the usual bluegill, ensuring a successful trip, we targeted a deep water drop off near the shoreline with lots of fallen trees. This type of bank structure allows access to cooler water with a shorter swim to bait rich shallows seeking refuge in the sunken tree limbs. Here, fishing deep and slow is the key, and my father was rewarded with a nice 2-3 lbs largemouth, among many other fish. Unfortunately, as is the danger with evening fishing trips, a strong thunderstorm rolled onto the lake, ending our trip.
Sunday morning, for our last outing, we decided to go to a more scenic lake, and trailed the boat to Beaver Creek Reservoir. Besides from the pleasant views, Beaver Creek is spring fed, resulting in consistently clear waters. While all of the surrounding ponds and rivers were mud choked from the torrent of Saturday night, Beaver Creek was still holding 4 foot visibility. Unfortunately, while the morning looked fishy, the bass did not respond. Several fish were raised from the deep by clousers, but none took the fly. Our best guess is that the previous night's passing storm caused too great a shift in one or more environmental variables (temperature, pressure, etc), and shut down the bite. Even the bluegill were reluctant to respond, although I did trick a decent 10"+ brim on a small yellow popper.
Next weekend sees the return to the upper Potomac...weather permitting of course.
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| Sometimes a fishing trip is just an excuse to get away, and enjoy the water... |
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Gearing up for Flounder
With the summer heat, bass, crappie, and the other lake fish are deep and lethargic during the daylight hours. Unless you get out very early, or very late, you shouldn't expect too much on the surface, with the exception to bluegill, because, hey, bluegill are always up for hitting topwater. Additionally, the heat brings major stress to our resident brook trout populations, so hitting the mountain streams should wait until the weather cools back down. The end result? Time to hit the saltwater.
The good news for me is that I have family near the coast, and they make a perfect staging point to hit the back bays along the Maryland and Virginia Coasts...and it's nice to seem them as well:) One of my goals this year was to try and catch a flounder off the fly. Obviously, flounder are not the most targeted fish off the fly, but they are catchable, and even a small flounder could be fun off the long rod.
There are two strategies for targeting flounder with the fly. The first is to stick to the shallows, and use weighted flies. This permits the use of a floating line, while still being able to get the fly into the strike zone. Of course, this means there will be a limitation in the habitat and waters that will be fishable. To overcome this, a sink tip, or even a full sinking line will be required. For me, I will be using a full sinking line. This allows me to fish all zones of the back bays; allowing me to target not only bottom dwelling fish like flounder, but also the mid and upper levels of the water column. Remember, even though the line may sink, the moment you start stripping, the fly will come alive. This still allows casting into breaking fish, with the added advantage of hitting the top of the boil, as well as allowing the choice to let the fly to sink to where larger fish may be lurking.
As for flies, the usual saltwater suspects apply. Think clousers, deceivers, half-n-halves, but shrimp and squid patterns are also useful. Granted, tying an all white clouser or deceiver may do a decent job of imitating a squid, and tying either in pink colors is a decent soft shrimp imitation (they are pinkish when they shed their shell), but having an excuse to tie something new is more than enough for me to have to break out the fly tying kit.
There are plenty of good guides on youtube and the Internet to find interesting patterns and ideas for saltwater flies. My search helped me to develop the squid fly above. I chose to use dumbbell eyes near the rear of the hook to (1) invert the hook, and (2) change the action of the fly to more closely resemble a swimming squid. I also used some of my holoflash, which has tons of different colors, and, I think, will more closely imitate the rapid color changes squids are known for...plus, it helps it look cool :) Sometimes, making the fly look better to yourself actually makes the fly fish better, because you will fish it with more confidence, and throw it for longer. A great quote is even a poorly tied fly will catch fish if you throw it long enough.
For shrimp patterns, I decided to try my hand at the crazy charlie. This is one of THE patterns for bonefish, because it imitates a small shrimp or crustacean...hey, that sounds good enough to me. I did tie mine a little larger than the average charlie, and added some colors that more closely match the shrimp in the back bays where I fish, including some touches of pink for one of the flies. Believe it or not, pink can sometimes be the only color flounder will hit, and therefore I always make sure at least one of my flies incorporates this hue.
All in all, it will just be nice to get out and hit the salt. I'll be sure to post an update, but, remember, getting out to fish is just as important as actually catching a fish. Even if you strike out, you should always have a good time...I know I will.
The good news for me is that I have family near the coast, and they make a perfect staging point to hit the back bays along the Maryland and Virginia Coasts...and it's nice to seem them as well:) One of my goals this year was to try and catch a flounder off the fly. Obviously, flounder are not the most targeted fish off the fly, but they are catchable, and even a small flounder could be fun off the long rod.
There are two strategies for targeting flounder with the fly. The first is to stick to the shallows, and use weighted flies. This permits the use of a floating line, while still being able to get the fly into the strike zone. Of course, this means there will be a limitation in the habitat and waters that will be fishable. To overcome this, a sink tip, or even a full sinking line will be required. For me, I will be using a full sinking line. This allows me to fish all zones of the back bays; allowing me to target not only bottom dwelling fish like flounder, but also the mid and upper levels of the water column. Remember, even though the line may sink, the moment you start stripping, the fly will come alive. This still allows casting into breaking fish, with the added advantage of hitting the top of the boil, as well as allowing the choice to let the fly to sink to where larger fish may be lurking.
As for flies, the usual saltwater suspects apply. Think clousers, deceivers, half-n-halves, but shrimp and squid patterns are also useful. Granted, tying an all white clouser or deceiver may do a decent job of imitating a squid, and tying either in pink colors is a decent soft shrimp imitation (they are pinkish when they shed their shell), but having an excuse to tie something new is more than enough for me to have to break out the fly tying kit.
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| Tying a squid fly is a nice change from the typical trout and bass flies |
For shrimp patterns, I decided to try my hand at the crazy charlie. This is one of THE patterns for bonefish, because it imitates a small shrimp or crustacean...hey, that sounds good enough to me. I did tie mine a little larger than the average charlie, and added some colors that more closely match the shrimp in the back bays where I fish, including some touches of pink for one of the flies. Believe it or not, pink can sometimes be the only color flounder will hit, and therefore I always make sure at least one of my flies incorporates this hue.
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| Some of the crazy charlies I tied for flounder |
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Upper Potomac Fishing Trip
Greetings Everyone! The good news is that the waters have subsided long enough for me to brave the Upper Potomac. Earlier this week, while visiting my parents, my father and I snuck out to spend a few hours on the river for some summer smallmouth action, and the river did not disappoint.
It's always nice going out on a river with someone familiar with the water, and my father chose a spot packed with smallmouth, and a few other surprises. While most smallies were subsurface along the edges of the whitewater, requiring a sinking leader to get down quick while moving the fly quickly...luckily I forgot mine, a few were found to take a topwater popper, which I was happy enough to oblige.
It is always a blast to catch smallmouth, and even more so off a fly rod. If you haven't had the chance, I dare you to try. Pound for pound, they are one of the scrappiest fish, and I dare say more fun than a trout twice its size! The little guy pictured above was no exception, and decided after several failed attempts to shake the fly while going airborne the best course of action was to do a crazy Ivan, and swim right under a log. Fortunately, I was able to get Mr. Smallie out from under the submerged tree, and safely land and release...to be caught another day.
In addition to the abundance of smallmouth, my father also managed to land his first tiger muskie. While it was a far cry from the size of some of the monsters the Potomac is known for, it gave him quite a fit on his ultra light outfit. Personally, I have yet to battle a hybrid or a full strain muskie on the fly, but, just like my father, there is always a first time for anything.
As expected the rock bass were also quite active, being found near the edges of grasses, and in the shallows along the shore. What was unexpected, was the occasional walleye we caught in the deeper pools and eddies. For these, the trick was to get the lure down as far as possible, with slower movements. I found the greatest success with a half n half, which is basically the offspring of a clouser minnow with a Lefty's deceiver. Typically, this is a good saltwater striper pattern, but sometimes its worth throwing something they may not have seen before. As always, tight lines.
It's always nice going out on a river with someone familiar with the water, and my father chose a spot packed with smallmouth, and a few other surprises. While most smallies were subsurface along the edges of the whitewater, requiring a sinking leader to get down quick while moving the fly quickly...luckily I forgot mine, a few were found to take a topwater popper, which I was happy enough to oblige.
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| Any size smallmouth is a blast on the fly |
In addition to the abundance of smallmouth, my father also managed to land his first tiger muskie. While it was a far cry from the size of some of the monsters the Potomac is known for, it gave him quite a fit on his ultra light outfit. Personally, I have yet to battle a hybrid or a full strain muskie on the fly, but, just like my father, there is always a first time for anything.
As expected the rock bass were also quite active, being found near the edges of grasses, and in the shallows along the shore. What was unexpected, was the occasional walleye we caught in the deeper pools and eddies. For these, the trick was to get the lure down as far as possible, with slower movements. I found the greatest success with a half n half, which is basically the offspring of a clouser minnow with a Lefty's deceiver. Typically, this is a good saltwater striper pattern, but sometimes its worth throwing something they may not have seen before. As always, tight lines.
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| An unexpected, but welcomed catch |
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Long Time No Post...What Gives?
So it's been a while...actually it's been a long while, since my last update. And, if you've been like me, it's been frustrating watching storm after storm after storm roll through May and early June. This has absolutely wrecked havoc on the local rivers, and only recently has the weather held off long enough for them to be fishable for smallmouth. Unfortunately, work has decided to get really busy, and has made getting out to fish even harder.
So...yada yada yada, I am still around, but fishing has been something that has been a bit difficult to manage. With that said, the waters are now fully fishable, and the fish are out there. Actually, if you can brave the humidity and hot weather, now is a great time to hit the rivers or lakes, because even if the bite is not as strong as it was, you could always take a quick dip to cool off.
If you do decide to hit the mountain streams, remember to take extra precaution with the brookies, and to try and end the fight quickly, and return even quicker, as the warmer temperatures will be stressing our state fish.
Finally, I should have a better fishing report next week, as I will be traveling to Smith Mountain Lake to celebrate the holiday. Cheers and tight lines!
So...yada yada yada, I am still around, but fishing has been something that has been a bit difficult to manage. With that said, the waters are now fully fishable, and the fish are out there. Actually, if you can brave the humidity and hot weather, now is a great time to hit the rivers or lakes, because even if the bite is not as strong as it was, you could always take a quick dip to cool off.
If you do decide to hit the mountain streams, remember to take extra precaution with the brookies, and to try and end the fight quickly, and return even quicker, as the warmer temperatures will be stressing our state fish.
Finally, I should have a better fishing report next week, as I will be traveling to Smith Mountain Lake to celebrate the holiday. Cheers and tight lines!
Monday, May 30, 2016
Fishing Report 30-May-2016
Happy Memorial Day everyone, and hello to the sun! Finally, after what seemed like a month of rain, a stretch of good weather said hello to our area, and the fish responded. In honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, I did what I felt best respected their legacy, and fished as hard as I could. This resulted in what may have been my first 100 fish day, with an unbelievable four hours spent on Chris Green Lake. While what I caught may not have been overly large, I brought more than enough to the boat to satisfy the ever growing void caused by all of the recent rain.
The weekend started with my first mate keeping watch over the lake Friday; on the lookout for the tell tale ripples left behind by fish enjoying the evening hatch. While very adorable, she does pose a noise hazard, and makes it impossible to sneak up on any Grass Carp. Luckily, the lake water looks to be clearing faster than anticipated. Hopefully, this good stretch of weather will hold, and the clarity will continue to increase, allowing for better sight fishing opportunities.
After playing host on Saturday to some friends from out of town, I was ready to get out and stretch the lines on Sunday. What followed is some of the most active fishing I've ever experienced...anywhere. Over the course of four hours, I boated some 100 fish, with 60-70 being crappie, and the rest a mix between bluegill and largemouth bass. The crappie were found holding by two beaver dams, and reminded me of small tuna in the way they were aggressively pursing flies. While I did snag a few on topwater, I quickly realized getting the fly down a foot or two resulted in a flurry of furious attacking...which prompted the small Clousers and damsel fly streamer patterns to come out. Even though the crappie were in the 5-9 inch class, catching these on a two weight rod was more than satisfying...especially with the occasional largemouth bass to crash the party. The trick was to keep the fly moving, even if only with subtle twitches.
This morning I decided to head up into the mountain blue lines, to cap my weekend off with breathtaking scenery, and a few brookies. The fishing was a bit slower than expected, with less activity being found on the surface, although I was able to witness the occasional back flip as a trout lunged after my dry. Overall, the better action was found below the surface, with the dropper being the hot item. Personally, my favorite dropper to use is a lightning bug nymph, tied in most any color. I believe as long as it has a bit of flash, the actual color of tinsel is not overly significant. In addition to a few adult sized trout and creek chubs, I was able to have some fun with a few juveniles, and the good news is the future continues to look bright, as the fingerlings were happy and fat.
Hopefully, you were able to get out and enjoy this beautiful weekend as well...if not, well it is never to late to pick up a rod, and cast a line.
The weekend started with my first mate keeping watch over the lake Friday; on the lookout for the tell tale ripples left behind by fish enjoying the evening hatch. While very adorable, she does pose a noise hazard, and makes it impossible to sneak up on any Grass Carp. Luckily, the lake water looks to be clearing faster than anticipated. Hopefully, this good stretch of weather will hold, and the clarity will continue to increase, allowing for better sight fishing opportunities.
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| Holding down the front of the boat, while waiting for the next fish |
This morning I decided to head up into the mountain blue lines, to cap my weekend off with breathtaking scenery, and a few brookies. The fishing was a bit slower than expected, with less activity being found on the surface, although I was able to witness the occasional back flip as a trout lunged after my dry. Overall, the better action was found below the surface, with the dropper being the hot item. Personally, my favorite dropper to use is a lightning bug nymph, tied in most any color. I believe as long as it has a bit of flash, the actual color of tinsel is not overly significant. In addition to a few adult sized trout and creek chubs, I was able to have some fun with a few juveniles, and the good news is the future continues to look bright, as the fingerlings were happy and fat.
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| The juvenile brook trout were out in force, and appear to be very healthy |
Monday, May 16, 2016
Rain and Travel
Well...this is awkward. After all these days coupled with an unusual amount of rain (yes, just about everyone in the region broke their consecutive rain record), and an annoying packed work schedule, I do not have a fishing report to write. Yes, I assume they are biting, but I have not had the pleasure of pursuing their hunger.
...hopefully, I'll have something next week.
...hopefully, I'll have something next week.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Fishing Report 7-MAY-2016
It's been a while since my last fishing report update, and there is good reason, other than laziness. My goal was to have a clever update to include a photo of a flounder caught on the fly...sadly such a photo was not meant to be...nor any real report to speak of.
This past week, my Uncle and I went to Wachapreague, VA to target flounder. The trip started off well enough, with three keepers pulled in off of conventional spinning tackle. The goal was to help put enough fish in the ice box before pulling out the 8 weight to catch a seldom targeted fish on the fly. Unfortunately, those three flounder were the only caught of the trip. The already poor weather turned worse, and our trip was basically a wash out. The goal is to return to the VA Eastern Shore in the summer, and take another crack at the flatties.
To make up for the busted trip, I took advantage of being near my family's farm in Maryland, and took an hour to fish for stocked trout in the Patapsco. Believe it or not, this trip saw my first rainbow on the fly (caught off of a PMX hopper imitation). In retrospect, it's difficult to catch a rainbow when you only fish native brook trout waters :). While not large or spectacular in any measurement, it is still another milestone in my fly fishing scrapbook.
I was hoping to end the week with a trip up to a blue line stream in the Shenandoah, now that the Rocky Mount fire is out, but a day wasted waiting on a FedEx package, and a surprise project to replace my mailbox post postponed my brookie adventure to next week.
Oh well, sometimes just getting out is reward enough in itself...and sometimes just being able to get out can be a daunting challenge. The good news is the weather is clearing, and the warmer temperatures are returning...next week should be better :)
This past week, my Uncle and I went to Wachapreague, VA to target flounder. The trip started off well enough, with three keepers pulled in off of conventional spinning tackle. The goal was to help put enough fish in the ice box before pulling out the 8 weight to catch a seldom targeted fish on the fly. Unfortunately, those three flounder were the only caught of the trip. The already poor weather turned worse, and our trip was basically a wash out. The goal is to return to the VA Eastern Shore in the summer, and take another crack at the flatties.
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| The three flounder of the trip...but they were all over 18" |
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| Always love catching trout off of a dry. This particular trout did a backflip out of the water to take the PMX, |
Oh well, sometimes just getting out is reward enough in itself...and sometimes just being able to get out can be a daunting challenge. The good news is the weather is clearing, and the warmer temperatures are returning...next week should be better :)
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Great Beginners Flies Series: Betts Grim Popper
Popper season is officially here, and with the Bass spawning in our local lakes and ponds, now is the perfect time to throw your favorite small popper for bluegill. For me, I have special reverence for the Betts Grim Popper.
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| The Betts Grim Popper is the perfect beginners popper |
I may be slightly biased towards this popper, since it was the first fly I caught fish with, and have always found it to be my go to "cheater" fly...for when I just want to catch something. The key to this popper is its ease of use. Because of the excellent profile, coloration, and design, this fly is just as effective sitting still as it is in motion. This is all the better when you are learning how to cast. While I was learning, many times I had a fish hitting this popper before I was able to begin a strip retrieve.
The other nice feature of this fly is its overall size to hook ratio. What I mean by this is the hook is set far enough back to ensure most panfish worth catching can be hooked, but the shape of the body and legs helps prevent a small panfish from completely engulfing the fly (granted this can still happen, but I find it occurs a lot less with this fly). After using several other types of poppers, this is a design feature I am grateful for, as I always strive to release the fish as quickly as possible...and remember to crush your barbs!
One thing to remember when fishing poppers, especially those with legs, the fly will have a tendency to spin, which can cause tangles, and lead to a higher frequency of wind knots. Always check your leader and tippet after several casts, and never be afraid to retie. In the end, tippet is always cheaper than poppers.
As for what you may catch...really anything that will take topwater flies will crush this little bug. I have caught countless panfish, and quite a number of largemouth bass with this fly. Fishing this fly close to rocks has lead to many good sized rock bass, and even the occasional crappie. For the bass, short strips of the fly tend to lead to better takes.
Finally, no matter what you read, there is no wrong way to fish a fly, and no fly design that is wrong. The real fun of fishing is to develop your own preferences and styles, and to find what works for you. True, there are some purist who only use those patterns developed 100 years ago, but for me, if it catches a fish, I'll tie it on!
Monday, April 25, 2016
Fishing Report 25-APR-2016
The past week saw the largemouth bass in our area move into their spawning beds in our local lakes and ponds. As a result, I decided to switch over towards targeting bluegills and other panfish. This is actually where I started one year ago, when I threw my first fly, and always results in a good deal of fun on the water. Every trip resulted in more fish than I cared to count, and small fish or not that is never a bad day :)
To celebrate my one year flyiversary (yes, that is now a word), I took a special VIP out for their first fishing trip, and she loved it!
In general, the panfish are hitting most anything they can, with smaller woolly buggers and damsel fly patterns being good streamers to cast from your favorite lightweight rig. Personally, I love to throw a two weight TFO Finesse setup, which, in addition to my bluegill rod, doubles as my mountain brook trout rod. This rod has a more classic action, which is great for beginners to really learn to feel when the line loads the rod. It also helps when roll casting in the tight confines of a mountain stream, and for quick loading during shorter casts. There is definitely an emphasis for faster and stiffer fly rods, but for beginners, nothing compares to a medium to slow action rod...plus they are way more fun to catch fish on!
As expected for this time of year, the fish are stacked against the shoreline, and are likely to be found near any fallen sticks or logs, and under the shade of trees and bushes. If your local pond has any rock formations, this is a great time of year to target rock bass with a small zonker or other streamer. These fish are really getting aggressive, and will often leave a wake as they zoom in to crush your fly.
One of the best things about bluegill fishing is it is an easy, and fun, way to learn how to fly fish, especially when using a small popper or other floating bug. With the water temps continuing to rise, the topwater bite is really starting to catch on, so now is a great time to learn! Try using different techniques to entice a bite. Often, just casting the fly next to some cover, and letting it sit perfectly still will result in a good splash, but sometimes adding a few short strips to twitch the popper will be needed. If bass are around, using a pause-retrieve-pause pattern with strips of only a few inches can really be effective. While I was not specifically targeting bass this week, I wasn't disappointed when more than a few decided to take my topwater poppers. Even a small bass on a lightweight rod can result in a lot of fun!
With the smaller bass already showing interest in topwater patterns, I cannot wait for the spawn to complete, and the topwater action to get really interesting.
To celebrate my one year flyiversary (yes, that is now a word), I took a special VIP out for their first fishing trip, and she loved it!
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| Penny's first fishing trip was a blast! |
In general, the panfish are hitting most anything they can, with smaller woolly buggers and damsel fly patterns being good streamers to cast from your favorite lightweight rig. Personally, I love to throw a two weight TFO Finesse setup, which, in addition to my bluegill rod, doubles as my mountain brook trout rod. This rod has a more classic action, which is great for beginners to really learn to feel when the line loads the rod. It also helps when roll casting in the tight confines of a mountain stream, and for quick loading during shorter casts. There is definitely an emphasis for faster and stiffer fly rods, but for beginners, nothing compares to a medium to slow action rod...plus they are way more fun to catch fish on!
As expected for this time of year, the fish are stacked against the shoreline, and are likely to be found near any fallen sticks or logs, and under the shade of trees and bushes. If your local pond has any rock formations, this is a great time of year to target rock bass with a small zonker or other streamer. These fish are really getting aggressive, and will often leave a wake as they zoom in to crush your fly.
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| While small, rock bass are a fun fish to catch off a lightweight fly rod, and a great way to learn how to fish streamers. |
One of the best things about bluegill fishing is it is an easy, and fun, way to learn how to fly fish, especially when using a small popper or other floating bug. With the water temps continuing to rise, the topwater bite is really starting to catch on, so now is a great time to learn! Try using different techniques to entice a bite. Often, just casting the fly next to some cover, and letting it sit perfectly still will result in a good splash, but sometimes adding a few short strips to twitch the popper will be needed. If bass are around, using a pause-retrieve-pause pattern with strips of only a few inches can really be effective. While I was not specifically targeting bass this week, I wasn't disappointed when more than a few decided to take my topwater poppers. Even a small bass on a lightweight rod can result in a lot of fun!
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| No bass were eaten in the making of this post, but quite a few were licked :) |
With the smaller bass already showing interest in topwater patterns, I cannot wait for the spawn to complete, and the topwater action to get really interesting.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Great Beginner Flies Series: Zonker
Originally developed in the 1970's by Dan Byford, the zonker has become a mainstay in most any fly fisherman's fly box, with many variations to target most any species of fish. This fly is so effective for two reasons: (1) it is simple to tie, and (2) it yields unbelievable movement in the water. This makes the fly attractive to the angler as well as the fish.
My personal favorite is using a striped bunny zonker strip with some flashabou added for a more reflective tail. The key is to allow the flashabou to be slightly longer than the zonker strip. So far, I have tied this pattern in green and white. Almost every trip, one of these two zonker colors is on my four weight rod, ready to target largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, rock bass, and most anything else that swims by.
I have found the most effective technique is to use slow to medium strips, with a pause and retrieve method often proving deadly when the fish are less aggressive. Since the zonker tail has so much underwater movement, you will find the fly flutters seductively down the water column when pausing the retrieve. If a slightly deeper presentation is desired, a conehead can be added. Personally, I never tie the fly without a generous amount of wire wrapped around the hook shank, which helps to get the fly just below the surface.
While the debate still goes on about whether adding a red throat yield better catch rates, I always prefer to tie with red thread, and to add a touch of red bucktail towards the front, simply to make the fly look better if nothing else. Then again, I have caught a lot of fish with this pattern, so I feel the hotspot works.
As you can see, the zonkers above are a bit smaller than average. I have found this smaller size to be more effective, especially if you are targeting bigger crappie and bluegill. I have also caught more than enough bass to justify the smaller size, and, in general, have found smaller flies to be more effective. In the end, feel free to experiment for yourself, and, as always, tight lines!
My personal favorite is using a striped bunny zonker strip with some flashabou added for a more reflective tail. The key is to allow the flashabou to be slightly longer than the zonker strip. So far, I have tied this pattern in green and white. Almost every trip, one of these two zonker colors is on my four weight rod, ready to target largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, rock bass, and most anything else that swims by.
I have found the most effective technique is to use slow to medium strips, with a pause and retrieve method often proving deadly when the fish are less aggressive. Since the zonker tail has so much underwater movement, you will find the fly flutters seductively down the water column when pausing the retrieve. If a slightly deeper presentation is desired, a conehead can be added. Personally, I never tie the fly without a generous amount of wire wrapped around the hook shank, which helps to get the fly just below the surface.
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| The White Tiger Zonker, AKA the Siegfried and Roy |
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| The Chartreuse Tiger Zonker |
As you can see, the zonkers above are a bit smaller than average. I have found this smaller size to be more effective, especially if you are targeting bigger crappie and bluegill. I have also caught more than enough bass to justify the smaller size, and, in general, have found smaller flies to be more effective. In the end, feel free to experiment for yourself, and, as always, tight lines!
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Weekend Bliss in Maryland
Got to take the boat up to my old stomping grounds in Maryland this weekend, and had a fine day of catching crappie. The second day was not as good, but saw the trip salvaged by a nice Maryland sized Northern Pike (aka, not that big compared to those monsters found up north).
It always strikes me how a hundred and fifty miles of northern latitude can affect fishing. While the bass are nearing their spawning stage, and the topwater bite is already beginning in the lakes and rivers near Charlottesville, the Maryland waters are still too cold, with the fish down deep, and staging around the points on the outside of coves.
This weekend started with a Friday afternoon/evening trip up to Big Pool, near Ft. Frederick, MD. There the water was more shallow, and therefore just warm enough for the crappie to really start getting active, and the slabs were stacked near the shoreline. All in all we landed more than two dozen fish, and we took home a nice stringer for my father and good friend to cook up. While my friend and father were throwing traditional crankbaits, I did my damage with a clouser and waited zonker. The fish were holding down deeper, and the trick was to get the fly near bottom. Fishing would have been easier if I had a sinking or intermediate line.
Day two involved a drive out to one of my favorite lakes, Triadelphia Reservoir. Located north of our Nation's Capital, Triadelphia is a hidden gem containing both Stripped Bass and Northern Pike. Due to the deeper depths, the reservoir was still quite cold, which made fishing much tougher. All in all, we only pulled in two fish, but the second was a beautiful Maryland Northern Pike at ~30 inches (yes, up north they get much, much bigger, but this is what we have in the Mid Atlantic). More importantly, it was my first pike on the fly! Again, fishing deep was key, which made clousers essential. This particular specimen found a chartreuse on white too irresistible to pass up.
It always strikes me how a hundred and fifty miles of northern latitude can affect fishing. While the bass are nearing their spawning stage, and the topwater bite is already beginning in the lakes and rivers near Charlottesville, the Maryland waters are still too cold, with the fish down deep, and staging around the points on the outside of coves.
This weekend started with a Friday afternoon/evening trip up to Big Pool, near Ft. Frederick, MD. There the water was more shallow, and therefore just warm enough for the crappie to really start getting active, and the slabs were stacked near the shoreline. All in all we landed more than two dozen fish, and we took home a nice stringer for my father and good friend to cook up. While my friend and father were throwing traditional crankbaits, I did my damage with a clouser and waited zonker. The fish were holding down deeper, and the trick was to get the fly near bottom. Fishing would have been easier if I had a sinking or intermediate line.
A nice baker's dozen
Definitely a stringer worth a closeup
Day two involved a drive out to one of my favorite lakes, Triadelphia Reservoir. Located north of our Nation's Capital, Triadelphia is a hidden gem containing both Stripped Bass and Northern Pike. Due to the deeper depths, the reservoir was still quite cold, which made fishing much tougher. All in all, we only pulled in two fish, but the second was a beautiful Maryland Northern Pike at ~30 inches (yes, up north they get much, much bigger, but this is what we have in the Mid Atlantic). More importantly, it was my first pike on the fly! Again, fishing deep was key, which made clousers essential. This particular specimen found a chartreuse on white too irresistible to pass up.
My first Pike on the Fly!
Monday, April 11, 2016
Fishing Report 11-APR-2016
Last week saw many groundhogs throwing in the towel as what should be winter's last breath crept across the area.
While of not too much of consequence to the mountain trout (the days were mostly still above 40 degrees), it had a major effect on the local lakes and rivers.
As a result of the Arctic blast, fish activity was severely dampened, and evening top water action was only a fraction of what was seen last week.
The good news is that with the warmer weather moving back in, the fish activity should quickly recover. The larger bass are already in the vicinity of the flats (I spotted a nice five pound largemouth hanging out tight against a bank). Once the warmer sunshine returns, I expect these larger bass to become more aggressive before they begin their spawn.
While of not too much of consequence to the mountain trout (the days were mostly still above 40 degrees), it had a major effect on the local lakes and rivers.
As a result of the Arctic blast, fish activity was severely dampened, and evening top water action was only a fraction of what was seen last week.
The good news is that with the warmer weather moving back in, the fish activity should quickly recover. The larger bass are already in the vicinity of the flats (I spotted a nice five pound largemouth hanging out tight against a bank). Once the warmer sunshine returns, I expect these larger bass to become more aggressive before they begin their spawn.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Great Beginner Flies Series: Clouser
The Clouser Minnow
Chances are you have heard of this fly, but if you have not, or if you have not fished it, you are missing one of the first, and best, flies you should ever use for fresh and saltwater species. Known as probably the most versatile fly ever crafted, the clouser minnow should probably be the first fly you ever throw, and the first you should tie, especially if you are targeting bass.
The go to standard color combination is chartreuse on white, but I have found a white on white with a red accent on the head/throat can yield success, especially in the early spring for largemouth bass and crappie.
For me, I have found the most success fishing this fly with a slower retrieve in the spring, with a retrieve of 3 to 4 inches per strip per second. Letting the fly sit on the bottom for a few seconds periodically can also entice a strike in the early season. If you are specifically targeting crappie, a slightly more aggressive retrieve can be effective.
If, like myself, you prefer to try your own flies, the clouser minnow is one of the best begginner flies to learn. Rather than provide my own interpretation, the clouser is best learned from the master himself, Bob Clouser:
If you have not already, give the clouser a try, and, as always, tight lines!
Chances are you have heard of this fly, but if you have not, or if you have not fished it, you are missing one of the first, and best, flies you should ever use for fresh and saltwater species. Known as probably the most versatile fly ever crafted, the clouser minnow should probably be the first fly you ever throw, and the first you should tie, especially if you are targeting bass.
The go to standard color combination is chartreuse on white, but I have found a white on white with a red accent on the head/throat can yield success, especially in the early spring for largemouth bass and crappie.
The white/white with a red head/throat clouser is one of my favorite early spring flies for bass and crappie
For me, I have found the most success fishing this fly with a slower retrieve in the spring, with a retrieve of 3 to 4 inches per strip per second. Letting the fly sit on the bottom for a few seconds periodically can also entice a strike in the early season. If you are specifically targeting crappie, a slightly more aggressive retrieve can be effective.
If, like myself, you prefer to try your own flies, the clouser minnow is one of the best begginner flies to learn. Rather than provide my own interpretation, the clouser is best learned from the master himself, Bob Clouser:
Why learn from anyone else, when you can go straight to the source
If you have not already, give the clouser a try, and, as always, tight lines!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Fishing Report: 4-APR-2016
The icy grip of winter has finally slipped away from the smaller ponds, rivers, and streams in the greater Charlottesville area, and the fish are responding accordingly. Over the past month I've been fishing the upper Rapidan River and Chris Greene lake, and if you have not picked up a rod you should rectify immediately.
The Rapidan is in full dry fly action, with strong bites on the usual assortment of go to spring flies. Personally, my greatest luck has come from sulpher parachutes in the 14 to 16 size range, although I know plenty of others who have already switched to stimulators.
Over the past month, I've been watching the local lakes and rivers slowly clear from the abundant winter rains, and the big snowmelt from earlier this year. The coffee colored water was really affecting the bite, although there were some bass already working the shallows enjoying the warmer water.
With the clearer water, the fish are really getting active, and the larger fish are moving into the shallows to begin the staging for this spring's spawn. Always early for this event are the crappie, and Chris Greene is no exception. Recently, I've been slamming decent sized crappie along the rock lines, and near beaver homes, with the greatest luck coming from casting small white clousers with a red head.
All in all, it looks to be a good spring. Tight lines.
The Rapidan is in full dry fly action, with strong bites on the usual assortment of go to spring flies. Personally, my greatest luck has come from sulpher parachutes in the 14 to 16 size range, although I know plenty of others who have already switched to stimulators.
Got to love the mountain brookies
Over the past month, I've been watching the local lakes and rivers slowly clear from the abundant winter rains, and the big snowmelt from earlier this year. The coffee colored water was really affecting the bite, although there were some bass already working the shallows enjoying the warmer water.
Although small, this was my first bass of the year (note the coffee colored water)
With the clearer water, the fish are really getting active, and the larger fish are moving into the shallows to begin the staging for this spring's spawn. Always early for this event are the crappie, and Chris Greene is no exception. Recently, I've been slamming decent sized crappie along the rock lines, and near beaver homes, with the greatest luck coming from casting small white clousers with a red head.
With the clearer water, the crappie bite has really turned on
All in all, it looks to be a good spring. Tight lines.
Rain-X for Dry Flies?
Ah, the Rapidan River. So majestic, so peaceful, so full of brookies....and nice swift flowing water. When I visited my first fly shop in the Charlottesville area, Albamarle Angler (they're great), I was told in order to fish the mountain streams I needed a dry fly floatant. This, I thought, was a silly notion, but after one attempt to fish still water, I realized quickly how important this stuff really is. For the mountain streams and rivers, it is almost a requirement.
As anyone who has fished heavy water knows, keeping your fly on the water's surface can make all the difference in getting that selective trout to rise and strike. Regardless of what fly floatant you use (Gink, Aquel, Mucilin, etc), it is likely the same thought has occurred to you while fishing: is there something better?
Recently, I was at a fly fishing show, and someone suggested what they thought was that something better: Rain-X. This, at first, seemed silly, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered about the feasibility. On paper, it sounded as if it would work, and browsing through the internet (a scary notion I know) did not seem to object, so I decided to give it a try...scientifically...or at least as scientifically as my kitchen counter would allow.
For this test, I pitted a non-treated Rusty Parachute against two other, treated flies. One was treated with my current floatant, Loon Aquel, the other with Rain-X. For the Rain-X fly, the fly was suspended for 5+ minutes in a container of Rain-X, before removing, and hung overnight to dry. I was very careful not to matte down any of the dubbing, or hackle fibers. The Loon Aquel treated fly was prepared just as if I was on the Rapidan: coated with a pencil eraser sized dollop of gel, which was rubbed into the fibers of the fly.
These three flies were then placed into a container of water, and the clock started. After an hour, it was clear that the surface tension of the water was keeping the flies afloat, and no fly was showing any indication of being water logged.
It was at this point I decided to push each fly underwater, to see if the fly could recover to float again. The result of this was surprising.
The control, untreated fly struggled to stay afloat, and sank after every attempt to get it to cling to the surface. This was no surprise as the fly was fully waterlogged, with little air still trapped to increase buoyancy enough to allow surface tension to do it's magic.
What was surprising is what occurred with the Rain-X treated fly. While the untreated fly at least stuttered at the surface, before sinking (seen during multiple attempts to refloat the fly), the Rain-X fly sank like a stone. Clearly, any water shedding properties were gone, and the fly was completely water logged.
I was worried none of the flies would float, until the Loon Aquel treated fly saved the day. Albeit not the highest floating fly at this point, the Loon Aquel fly was able to cling to the water's surface, and thus remain afloat. This was repeated several times with the same result.
After this test, I stopped introducing my dry flies to Rain-X. Just goes to show that not everything you hear at fishing shows is correct.
As anyone who has fished heavy water knows, keeping your fly on the water's surface can make all the difference in getting that selective trout to rise and strike. Regardless of what fly floatant you use (Gink, Aquel, Mucilin, etc), it is likely the same thought has occurred to you while fishing: is there something better?
Recently, I was at a fly fishing show, and someone suggested what they thought was that something better: Rain-X. This, at first, seemed silly, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered about the feasibility. On paper, it sounded as if it would work, and browsing through the internet (a scary notion I know) did not seem to object, so I decided to give it a try...scientifically...or at least as scientifically as my kitchen counter would allow.
For this test, I pitted a non-treated Rusty Parachute against two other, treated flies. One was treated with my current floatant, Loon Aquel, the other with Rain-X. For the Rain-X fly, the fly was suspended for 5+ minutes in a container of Rain-X, before removing, and hung overnight to dry. I was very careful not to matte down any of the dubbing, or hackle fibers. The Loon Aquel treated fly was prepared just as if I was on the Rapidan: coated with a pencil eraser sized dollop of gel, which was rubbed into the fibers of the fly.
The three Rusty Parachute dry flies: (1) untreated, control fly on Left, (2) Loon Aquel treated fly in middle, (3) Rain-X treated fly on right
These three flies were then placed into a container of water, and the clock started. After an hour, it was clear that the surface tension of the water was keeping the flies afloat, and no fly was showing any indication of being water logged.
The three flies initially placed in water
It was at this point I decided to push each fly underwater, to see if the fly could recover to float again. The result of this was surprising.
After an hour, surface tension held all three flies afloat
The control, untreated fly struggled to stay afloat, and sank after every attempt to get it to cling to the surface. This was no surprise as the fly was fully waterlogged, with little air still trapped to increase buoyancy enough to allow surface tension to do it's magic.
What was surprising is what occurred with the Rain-X treated fly. While the untreated fly at least stuttered at the surface, before sinking (seen during multiple attempts to refloat the fly), the Rain-X fly sank like a stone. Clearly, any water shedding properties were gone, and the fly was completely water logged.
I was worried none of the flies would float, until the Loon Aquel treated fly saved the day. Albeit not the highest floating fly at this point, the Loon Aquel fly was able to cling to the water's surface, and thus remain afloat. This was repeated several times with the same result.
Only the Aquel treated fly (far right) could float after being fully submerged
In retrospect, the results of this test were not surprising. Even though I made every attempt to prevent the Rain-X from affecting the dubbing of the fly, after drying it was clear that the dubbing had hardened and compacted, reducing the amount of trapped air, and overall fluff. These are things that are needed to help the fly remain afloat. Once the fly was introduced to water, whatever air pockets remained were filled with water, and the fly had no chance to win the contest. The Aquel, on the other hand, was able to fill the crevasses of the dubbing, post, and hackle, reducing the amount of water the fly could absorb, while keeping enough of the buoyancy of the fly intact, so as not to overcome the strength of the water's surface tension.
After this test, I stopped introducing my dry flies to Rain-X. Just goes to show that not everything you hear at fishing shows is correct.
Hello, and welcome!
Hello Everyone!
A year ago I made the plunge, and tried my hand at fly fishing. What followed was a series of hilarious casts (my false casts were...false), hooks going everywhere but the water, and a sea of bad, good, and confusing information from everywhere and everyone. Somehow, through it all, I figured out how to catch a fish...and then I caught another...followed by a few more. Eventually, I got addicted to the art, challenge, and calamity that is fly fishing.
Where I fish: This blog is going to focus on fly fishing in the Charlottesville, VA area, in some of the best mountain brook trout fishing in the world. But this blog is not just another trout love fest (but brookies are too adorable not to fall in love). In this, I will try to cover fly fishing in mountain streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, and saltwater. Hopefully, as I learn these waters, and the rhythms of the long rod, I can pass that information along to the next, novice angler.
A year ago I made the plunge, and tried my hand at fly fishing. What followed was a series of hilarious casts (my false casts were...false), hooks going everywhere but the water, and a sea of bad, good, and confusing information from everywhere and everyone. Somehow, through it all, I figured out how to catch a fish...and then I caught another...followed by a few more. Eventually, I got addicted to the art, challenge, and calamity that is fly fishing.
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