Monday, June 25, 2018

Cane & Silk Bow

Cane & Silk Bow


Had a chance to get on some trout water late Sunday with the 7' 3/4wt Cane & Silk.  After a humidity thunderstorm had finished it's work I hit Fishing Creek in Orangeville, PA for a couple hours. 



After losing 2 fish early on I was finally able to bring this 18" bow to the net.  Only fish of the day, in the final 15 minutes, on an apricot/Steelhead Orange McFoamFly egg.



Sunday, June 17, 2018

Gurgling Frogs and Bass on Glass

Gurgling Frogs and Bass on Glass


Saturday brought an afternoon with no wind, and a chance to get out on the water with the float tube again.  SO, I crammed the Cumberland into the back of the car and headed for Glenloch. Aside from one other boat I had the water to myself, which is oddly the norm.  I began as usual with a Foam Butt Caddis, which did Yeoman's work on the gills and 1/2 pounders. But when I tied on the Gurgling Frog, the day changed. 





Foam Butt Caddis gills





The Martin MG-7....You can't beat them....Virtually indestructible.










The Gurgling Frog


First cast brought color




This guy engulfed a Frog



Then the big boys began looking up






They were tight on the bank, and would not let the first twitch after rings go by




The CGR 7/8 & Frog combo got as much workout as my legs did finning through lily pads. 


Sunday, June 10, 2018

CGR, Rain & Wogs


CGR, Rain & Wogs

(This Gill inhaled an entire #2 Wog)


It was a weekend of dodging rain, with only a short time offered for some walk-around-the-pond fishing to be had. 




Nevertheless, once I finally figured out what the soup du jour was to be, things improved.  The Gills were not active in size, but the bass were looking up towards dusk.




They ignored everything I threw at them, except for the Wog. 






 



Friday, June 8, 2018

A Tenkara Hit and Run

A Bit of Tenkara


And a short stop in the Valley




It was a hit-and-run.  No real time to fish, but just driving through the park wouldn't hurt anything.....Right? No sense driving around it just to avoid temptation. ...Right? Drive around Valley Forge without so much as seeing the creek?  Who does that?

Besides.....no time to rig up and don waders anyhow.  

Following the creek as I cut through I see it. A pool. A really nice  pool. Pulling over I sit and watch for a bit. The bank is open, with a foot or two of walking room. No need for waders!  When it hits me.....the Tenkara rod is in the wader bag!  Thunderstorms on the horizon....Need to beat the traffic....but the pool could be fished in 15 minutes. 




What happened next I will not say. But in 20 minutes 4 fish came to hand drifting a Valley Caddis. Three in the 7" range and one nice fish about 12".  All wild jewels. 

The Shurkill Expressway home would be much more tolerable now. 


Thought I would add a few notes of how I rig the Tenkara
(To show that I am an equal opportunity offender. )


The way I fish Tenkara, its more dapping rig than anything.  My rod is 12 foot. I use a 12' section of running line from a Cortland Sylk WF3F line and tie a perfection loop on either end. I add my Lilian loop of 30lb backing on one end, and 4' - 6' of 4lb Fluorocarbon to the other.  Both with simple overhand loops and a handshake connection. This setup allows me to fish classic Tenkara, light indicator/splitshot/nymph or standard dry flies.   I fish it no different than if I were to use a 12' Euro nymphing rod with only 12' of line past the eye.

In this manner I equally offend both the Fly Fishing and Tenkara purists.  :)

Friday, June 1, 2018

Tying The Wild Turkey Emerger

Wild Turkey Emerger


When the Tan Caddis are bringing fish slashing on top, I almost always tie this on first. Drift unweighted in the film or just below. 


WT Emerger

Hook:  #10-14 Caddis Emerger
Thread:  6/0 Olive-dun 
Rib:  Small Gold Wire
Abdomen:  WT Tail
Wing-case:  WT Tail
Legs:  WT Tail
Thorax:  Wood Duck CDC