phaaker

Good morning, I was fishing the Dupage in Hammel Woods and saw an eagle.  After turning the bend I saw it had made a huge nest about 40ft up in tree not far from the bank.  I stopped and didn’t go further as I was almost out of light.  I came back a few days later, eagle was gone but there was a large group of birders on the other side of the river, one shouted that it’s a federal to keep 330ft from the nest, I just moved spots.  Does anyone know about floating this section now as I would be in the 330ft zone?  I found the regulation the border was referring to, I also found it interesting the eagle didn’t seem to mind me alone a few days ago, but was absent with the large group present.

Tie one on guide service. Gordie is a great guy and guide. My dad really enjoys the way he explains things. He is out of the Kohler area.

The legs are from ftd the dubbing is two colors of ice dubbing

My favorite and most productive in a new color scheme others than white over white

Sulking Sculpin by Pat Cohen, but I think it looks like a goby.

All the materials are tied on the tiny flat part of the shank. Here is another I am extremely excited to try. The underbody is foam and it does float. On a sinking line this will drive smallies nuts.

Actually just took it out and caught a very undersized pike on it. It has materials on the back hook, buck tail, flash, sparkle brush and craft fur. The front hook is a craft fur and sparkle brush, craft fur wing and stacked dubbing head. It fly looks the same now as it did before the fish

A big meal for hungry springtime smallmouth or toothy critters

Exactly a play on the Bart-o-minnow but taller and I think a better profile. More side to side and less water displacement.

I have not fished these but have tested them and the are well keeled riding point up.

Freshwater candy!

It is tied on a Trokar ewg worm hook and will be fairly weedless.

Saw a bunch in this style on instagram, gave it a shot and it reminds me a lot of a senko.

The most important factor is the size of the fly and type of presentation not the size of the fish. With smallmouth I think it is unfair to use less than a 6 weight as the fight will put too much stress on the fish. As for flies if you plan on lighter flies under 4.5 inches, I would would go for a 6 weight. I personally use a 7 and 8 weight because I like bigger flies(5-8 inches) and it makes it easier to bomb a cast out. I never have to revive a fish long and seen the fish leave mostly unharmed is more fun for me. I am a. If supporter of made in America and a 7 weight St. Croix Avid might be the best deal in this category.

Better deerhair popper.

Just UV Resin

This is my Defenseless Craw, notice no claws. It is intended to swim not hop. I really need somewhere to try this. Anyone willing to show me a smallie wintering hole can get one of these babies. I think it will be a go to when the weather warms.

First mass tying for me.

A slightly modified version of the earlier hallow point fly. Hopefully I can wet a line to see it's profile in the water.

The warm weather has me thinking about topwater...to add eyes or not?

I prefer hook point down because I usually get a more positive hookup with my strip set; the streams I fish are not too snaggy. I use this fly for trout mostly.

Blue, black or tan foam?

I love big smallmouth streamers, but I don't have a great way of storing those streamers (up to 7"). Anyone use a product they can recommend, I don't want to buy something just because it is advertised for streamers because many of them are not tall enough to not crush the flies profile.

Buck tail, Icelandic sheep, peacock herl, ep sparkle brush and a monster dubbing(laser dub) head with a size 1/0 b10s

The bugger is tied with sea dragon dubbing I found buried recently, but has a laser dub wing to tame the rubber legs down a bit. All the materials are on the top of the hook.