Showing posts with label flytying. Show all posts
Fly fishing, is it really about catching?
I've been thinking of what to post since the last and this came to me yesterday. Reading comments on a friends instagram picture between him and a bait guy who has the typical opening day hero shot with a "trophy golden rainbow" on his insta. The bait guy was busting on my friend because he was on a 4 day trip and put a picture of one fish up and called it a success. It got me thinking, what makes a trip like that a success. We've all been there, grinding away for hours on the stream and our efforts are fruitless.
I think back to the fall to my trip to the Delaware river, in the weeks leading up to it I was talking about how great of a trip it was gonna be and I was wanting to finally get that toad of the year. A lot of you know the outcome but needless to say, after a 12 hour drift I had one follow to talk about. Zero fish to hand and no hero shot with that big wild brown! Would I ever call that trip unsuccessful? Absoutley not! While I didn't get that fish I was after what I did get was the escape, those few days getting away from the headaches of everyday life. I wasn't worried about the bills that needed paid or what was needing to happen at the farm. It was for those few days I was free, I had a lot of laughs with a good friend and had a great trip despite the fact I didn't have a fish to show for it.
What I'm trying to get at here is the next time your out there and getting your butt kicked, reel up and sit down for 10 or 15 minutes and just take it in and look at what the good lord has in front of you. Think about a day or two earlier, you were probably day dereaming at work of being right where your sitting. Be glad your not day dreaming and then get back to it. I'd be willing to bet you would rather be out there getting beat up fishing than you would be working or dealing with the same old same old.
Tight lines
Evan
Early season smalljaws
"smallmouth bass the gentleman of the warm water species"-Harry MurrayGreetings fellow anglers Dennis here from the OMF fly co. wanting to share a little advice on getting after some early season smalljaws.Now that old man winter has loosened his icy grip on our beloved suskie, its time to get after these smallmouth bass waking up from there winter slumber.With warming waters and the upcoming spawn these bass start to go on a feeding spree. Now is the time more than ever to throwmeat and potatoes to these guys, you really can't go to big from larger clousers, double decievers to large articulated sculpins.These fish are looking for large meals.With that being said the next things to consider is how to fish/hunt for these warm water gentleman. Early in the season from around the end of February to mid March I tend to fish a full sinking line with a short leader to help me get my fly down deeper in the runs and pools. Once things warm up a little more I will switch back to my floating line and tend to hunt the shallows. From Mid March until the end of April when the season closes here in Pa. for the spawn. Once the water starts to warm I will focus my hunt on the the shallows, where the water will be warmer and speed up their metabolism. In these shallows the bass are very aggressive and will take a fly with vengeance. here is were I tend to have the most success. Looking for areas with darker bottoms and in direct sunlight will tend to warm the water a little quicker attract these pre spawn fish.Hopefully these tips will help you bring more bass to your net this season, but also please make sure to handle these fish a carefully as you can because they are getting ready to help bring in the next generation of smallies!tight linesDennis
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