Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Gills Pickles

Gills Pickles

With a few hours Sunday morning and the weather calling for local thunderstorms, the goal was to get in little time on the water.  Upon arrival it was a little eerie with no wind at all and clouds closing in. 




The small pond was like glass, with no signs of feeding or cruising fish.



Starting out with a Dun Foam Butt Caddis the fish came to life, with a steady rise of gills along with a few small bass.

When the rain came at a drizzle I kept fishing.....fish didn't seem to mind. Then lightning lit things up and I headed for the pavilion 



Since a fight with lightning is never a good thing, I sat things out, using the time to re-rig a badly 
beaten setup.  




After the rain stopped the fish decided they had seen enough of the FBC, switching to the X-Gurgler was the hot fly.  That is until the lightning returned and I finally packed it in.  



The rest of the day was not lost to the rain however. It gave time to knock out another of my favorite things....Garlic Dills.  5 quarts canned plus another 1/2 gallon brining in the refrigerator.  Now the painful 3 week wait.  They should be enough to carry the summer. 


Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Tying The Cow Dung Variant

The Cow Dung Variant


The Cow Dung Variant was originally tied out of necessity due to a lack of materials at the time. This version proved effective and has remained in my box ever since. An excellent trout pattern in its own right, it is once of the best panfish wets I have fished. Both alone or as a trailing fly to a  bassbug, 



CDV Recipe

Hook:  #16 Standard Wet
Thread:  Olive-Dun
Tag:  Gold Holographic Mylar
Abdomen: Tying Thread
Hackle:  Furnace
Wing:  Lemon-Barred Wood Duck



Friday, May 11, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Streamwalkers Journey

Streamwalker's Journey

Fishing The Triple Divide

By:  Walt Franklin


As a fan of Walt's blog Rivertop Rambles  I was intrigued when I saw the announcement for this book. While I have enjoyed his style of Piscatorial ramblings I also have an intimate knowledge of many of the waters he haunts as well. This can be a two-edged sword however when an authors thoughts reach print, as like it or not we all see much of the same water through our own shade of glasses. Water in which you have been touched by often seems slightly off when described by another.  So it was, with hesitancy I cracked open the covers of this book. 

My worries proved unfounded however after the first few passages. Walt brings you to the places he loves and completes the setting for you as you read along. His love for the Triple Divide region is obvious and though at times his passion for it may surpass the casual reader, it is never enough to cause one to take pause or put the book down. Quickly he brings you back to that which brought you to these pages. The desire to share his journey along waters he is blessed to frequent, enjoy time on the water with fly rod in hand through his words and get to know the author just little bit better. 

Well written and greatly enjoyed!




Sunday, May 6, 2018

The Whole Kit-and-Caboodle



What started off as one small bass on a Foam-Butt Caddis....


....Soon turned into one Chain Pickerel short of the whole Kit-and-Caboodle.


The bass were on, but wanting nothing to do with anything large. Even an FBC was was proving to be too big.  But after a bit of trial and error, a simple foam spider tied on a #10 Mustad 94832 did the trick. 



Before you knew it, the usual suspects began showing up


Gills and Pumpkinseeds



Even the Crappie joined in



But the bass were aggressively feeding from end-to-end. With some of the bigger fish in a mere 6" of water. 







All thanks to  the little X-Gurgler

Which took such a beating that when the folded head tore loose I trimmed it down to a standard head and it kept  going. 



The X-Gurgler



Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Coloring Spring Gills

Round 2


Same water  24 hours later. They went from pink to a red breast in one day.  

It's in full swing now. 




The morning started with the Blonde FBC.





As soon as direct sun hit the water, the WOG got the call




In less than 24 hours the bulls went mossback in color and from pink to red breasted


Nature is really cool to watch. 

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Spring Gills & New Tube

New Cumberland Float Tube & Spring Gills


With the morning coming on warmer than forecast, and a new tube still waiting in the garage for it's maiden voyage, the decision seemed simple. Go fishing.  I grabbed the CGR 7'6" 7/8 wearing a Martin MG-7 spooled with an Orvis Hydros WF7F Warmwater line and set out for Glenloch.



The lake was clear with lily pads beginning to show, but enough to hold fish yet.  The fish would be on the edges.


The Cumberland was comfortable once adjusted.  The seat, while very nice, takes a bit of adjustment during use to get "just right".


Only drawback was the higher ride in the wind than a traditional Donut or U-boat.  With 15 knots gusting, I was able to get in my workout for the week AND catch fish. 

The Cumberland gets an A+.


It wasn't long before fish came to hand, but most were smaller.

Until I switched to the Gurgling Wog.

(WOG pictured above survived the beating of the Gills, but had to be put down after)


1st big gill of the day on the Wog. Notice how he engulfed the entire fly?...tied on a #4 Gamakatsu Stinger hook!



Only 1/2 dozen bass on the day. Pictured is the largest.

Gills however, were on the beds.  



The biggest bulls were beginning to "color up", with breast a shade of pink and signs of the crimson of full spawn.



May have been the longest fish on the day. The fish was hooked on the outside, as it rolled over the fly during the rise.



But this one was the overall heaviest fish

and again....


Check out the Wog!