Tom L

Do you think the textured lines are more quiet than the Sharkskin? and which textured series of line have you tried as I noticed there's no bass taper in the textured series?

While fishing, I didn't notice any line noise from neither the SS and the Textured. But while lawn casting, I did notice that the SS was a little noisier.

I also used the Magnum taper on my smallie 6wt rod.

I have both the SA SS and Textured lines. The SS is a 9wt Steelhead Taper and about 1 year old. I got the SS line, because when I bought a new reel it came with a free fly line up to $100 value. So I opted for the most expensive line. I really like the high floatation property of the line. It made roll cast, line pickup, and line control easier. It also helped in detecting subtle takes. The downside was that it was rough on my fingers, both the line fingers and the stripping fingers. Stripping guards are highly recommended when using this line.

I really liked the SS line for the higher floatation, but I didn't like the so rough skin. So, when it was time for a new line for my 6wt smallie rod, I decided to go with the Textured line. I've been using this line since May of this year. It also floated high, but it was much easier on the fingers. But stripping guards are still highly recommended. Heck, now I liked the stripping guards so much I weared them all the time too even while using regular fly line. With the stripping guards on, I could strip the line like there is no tomorrow and not worrying about line burns.

As far as other advertised benefits of the lines such as casting further (I'm not so sure) and more durable (it remains to be seen).

Does it worth the extra bucks? Yes, absolutely.

Thanks guys. I think the real big thanks should be to the sponsors (Jackson Kayak, Paddle & Trial and other) and those individuals that put in times and efforts to make it happened. All I did was fished and had fun. And it was a lot of fun.

I hope next year there will be more participants. The tournament formmat was really simple: 3 fish. I think everybody has a fair chance of winning. You don't have to be a seasoned angler.

What flies did the trick?

I did change a lot of flies, but the 3 biggest fish felt for:

* a white marabou muddler

* a tan marabou muddler

* and my modified meat whistle.

So, keep an eye out for the RiverBassin' Tournament next year.

Have you ever wonder what become of your tree snagged flies?

I'm no expert, but with limited experience in chasing SMB on the Fox. Here are my 2 cents.

Three years ago when I started fishing the Fox river, I started of using a Frog Hair 2x Fluoro tippet with advertised test strength of 10lbs. But I had experienced several breaks off from big fish like you did. I think most of the breaks off were due to my laziness. I didn't check and didn't change the tippet often enough. So, I increased my tippet size to 0x (13.2lbs advertised test strength). Since then I have not had any break off. It has been work well. And I didn't have to check and change the tippet as often.

At the beginning of this year, I found an old spool of Berkley Trilene XT 10lbs in one of my fishing bags. So, I started using it for SMB fishing on the Fox. It has been working wonderfully also. I have not had any break off neither. It is a lot cheaper than the Fluoro leader line. Maybe the Fox river is not a clear river and maybe that is why I could get away with it.

I also like to point out that my entire leader have always been 100% Fluoro. I was just switching the tippets.

This fellow got a pretty good idea and not a bad singer either.

http://vimeo.com/16810712

Nice salmon. Tom was right .

It must be one of those Yemen salmon.

Thank you Shaolin Peter Cain for warning.

Learned something new today.

"If I can't dazzle them with my game, I'll baffle them with my bull." - Peter

Some can and would. But if I can, I wouldn't. Not as young and crazy ........

Please be careful out there. Don't make this mistake......

trim back the palmered hackle on the side of the hook bend,

John - That is a very pretty looking fly. Are the claws made out of pheasant feathers? Have you tried stroking down the palmered hackle instead of triming it?

I'm planning to attend. What tools (shovels, gloves) will I need to bring?

The lake had risen 40 ft. in 30 days when I arrived but the fishing was still pretty good. Yes.....40 ft!

It must be a very deep lake, yet a fly roder still do well in the shallow.

Beautiful land, beautiful music, and bueatiful Bass. Hope you enjoy......

Tim - Very good article. Thanks.

I came across a flly called "HPU Weedless Fly". It looks very interesting, so I tied one up this morning. Here is my first attempt.

Here is the intructions:

I thought this video might cheer some of you up. The best dry fly work I've ever seen.

Very good Phil.

If I may, I'd like to add a technique that I used often. It is called "Low & Slow".

Basically, it is getting down low, slowly crawling/crepping low into a casting position, staying low, and cast from a kneeling position. Pay your homage to the river gods and they will reward you.

Trout fishmen do it all the times. We smallmouth fishmen should practice it too.

Came across this vid. Thought some of you may enjoy it.....

Welcome Blake. Glad to see another fly rodder on here. I too came from steelhead and trout backgrounds. This is my 3rd season chasing summer smallies, since joining the ISA. This place is loaded with good info.

Seen your steelhead and trout posts on other sites. Always enjoyed them.

Black Woolly Bugs are my favorite for steelhead. I'll have to carry some in my smallie fly box. Thanks John & Rob.

Terry,

Try soaking youself in oatmeal bath. You can get it from Walgreens.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/aveeno-active-naturals-soothing-bath-treatment/ID=prod353119-product

That was what I used when I got poison ivy.

I got my piano wire in the mail several days ago. I didn't know what size wire to use for the 3/0, 4/0, 5/0 hooks. So I ordered a size #2 piano wire to start with. After examining the wire, I felt that it was too small for the big hook sizes that I had originally planed for. So for a test drive, I tried on hooks size #2 (Mustad 3407DT). This size# 2 wire probably is good for hook size 2, 1, and 1/0.

The piano wire came in a package like this, 10' length, and costed $7 included S&H.

I cut the wire into 4" pieces and bended them double with fingers.

I measured the wire on the hook and marked the length with a marker.

I bended the wire at the marked point and secured it onto the hook. Placed a drop of Thin ZAP A Gap on the thread and wire to lock it into place.

The rest is pretty much standard tying process.

Here is another fly (a Half & Half) with a piano wire weed guard.

These flies are about 4" long.

The next step is to test them in a local FP lake choked with weeds.

Hi folks. I have been tying some bass bugs and pike/muskie flies using 3/0, 4/0, 5/0 hooks. I have been using 40lbs mono lines as weed guards, but they don't work as well as I like. I know a piano wire can be a good weed gaurd. Just don't know what size works best for these hook sizes.

• Size 0: .009"
  
• Size 1: .010"
  
• Size 2: .011"
  
• Size 3: .012"
  
• Size 4: .013"
  
• Size 5: .014"
  
• Size 6: .016"
  
• Size 7: .018"
  
• Size 8: .020"
  
• Size 9: .022"
  
• Size 10: .024"
  
• Size 11: .026"
  
• Size 12: .029"
  
• Size 12.5: .030"
  
• Size 13: .031"
  
• Size 13.5: .032"
  
• Size 14: .033"
  
• Size 14.5: .034"
  
• Size 15: .035"
  
• Size 15.5: .036"
  
• Size 16: .037"
  
• Size 16.5: .038"
  
• Size 17: .039"
  
• Size 17.5: .040"
  
• Size 18: .041"
  
• Size 18.5: .042"
  
• Size 19: .043"
  
• Size 19.5: .044"
  
• Size 20: .045"
  
• Size 20.5: .046"
  
• Size 21: .047"
  

I am also open to any other alternative wire solutions. Thanks.

Zen ...

Just kidding folks..... Mike, that was really nice work in catching that so quickly. Really, there is a voodoo cast out there, but I have no ideas what it is for. I have to agree with Norm on this one.

I'm not an expert nor a certified caster, but always looking for ways to improve my game. This single handed spey has its application. You don't need a specialized fly fing outfit to do it. So next time when you are out, spend a few minutes practicing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsPg45iNd_U&feature=related

See yall at the blowout.