BenG

I have had fly fishing setups for years but they were cheap combo types and were not fun to use, so I did not use them much. Last year spin fishing was terrible for me, I think mostly weather related so I researched fly fishing, went to the one more cast, and got some casting insturction and a better quality rod (and then a few more when I found out how fun fishing with good gear was). While I rarely see anyone fly fish around here I almost always use the fly rod. As for Bass Pro the people in the fly shop seem nice and helpful when someone is there but the selection is lacking there is always something missing when I have a tying project. As for cheap rods TFO is a happy medium good rod for $150 with lifetime guarantee that fish like high dollar rods. I will never but a rod in a big box store or pretty much any store. Order on the internet free shipping and lower taxes. The internet places are never out of anything if they are they get it in and ship it to you. Not like making multiple trips to a shop. As for bass pro the people who work there are not that bright. A guy at the rod counter was showing me a G Loomis and wacking it on the concrete floor to show how tough it is. Why would I want to pay $400 for the rod you just beat several times off the floor? A few months ago another clerk did the same thing with a Boyd Duckett rod. Some of the fishing shows are a bit much I do agree. Helicopter trips to the chilean mountains with base camp on a ship $11,000 for a that trip. The flyrod chronicles does a good job using TFO rods and has a tying demo. It would be nice to see some warm water shows.

Just read in paper one more cast is closing end of the month and everything is 40% off

I read in the news paper Will County Forest Preserve is going to open two new waters for fishing one this summer and one the next. A couple years back they opened one in Naperville, Whalon Lake. I went on day two and caught 26 bass and some cats in two hours. I used to get a lot of 15" smallies. Later that year we had a big flood and I think the Dupage was connected to that lake. Fish has declined there over the couple years and I was only able to get a few largemouth with a lot of effort. I think the place is still catch and release. The firt year two guys were keeping fish as they were standing next to catch and release sign. I called DNR and they forewarded it to forsest preserve police. The guys stuck around over an hour and got some tickets. There used to be a lot of patrols there but now I rarely see any. I figure if I was going to advertise a new place this would be the place to do it. This does not seem like a bucket person site like others. These new spots are going to be catch and release as well with trolling motor only and paddle type boats. Both are really good fisheries I have see pictures of people with good fish. Patrols of these places have been increased lately so I would not reccomend fishing there until it is open. I don't know if smallies are in these places. The one site has two lakes next to dupage while the other site has one lake connected to the desplaines and one lake next to it. I figure the lake connected to desplaines has smallies and the other ones have huge largemouth and big cats. I think it is a good fishing opportunity and a good place to watch for poachers the area is filled with them inlcuding the ones that fish the retention pond in my neighborhood. The will county forest preserve has a good response time better then DNR so call if you see poachers.

I had got a bunch of Revo STX when they came out. It is a good reel especially for the price and I was considering some around $400. I liked the reel better than the high dollar ones. Then I had a guide a shimano guy who had the cuarado 200e7. It is $20 less and lighter. I got a few of those. I alternate between the Revo and the cuardo depending on how I feel. I like the cuardo on the cumara rod it feels great and you could hold it all day. I rarely see a tournament angler on throwing a cuarado they are great reels. For spinning I prefer shimano they seem to be made better. I have moved towards cheaper models lately. I was intersted in the stella when it was $500 but never bought it. Now it is $700. A good time to come out with a $700 reel in this economy. That is just too much and I think a spring is a spring and would break in any reel. I had some stradics but now prefer the symetre for a $100 bucks. I had a good few years of fishing using that reel on cumara and crucial rods. Light weight and dependable. I don't own any quantum. KVD is a walking billboard. I do believe in two of his baits the finesse worm and the redeye shad. I always carry those with me. I don't care for his rods and the rest of his lures don't do anything for me.

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I recently started flyfishing and tying flies. I like the bead head wooly bugger and have been losing a lot of them. Most designs call for a chenille body. I found a good sight that specializes in small flies and small wooly bugs and they use a dubbing body which works well on smaller wooly bugs. While staring at my dog a long hair daschund I thought his fur might make a good substitute for store bought dubbing. I made a coulple passes on his back with a brush and got a bag worth of material. I tied a few wooly buggers that looked good. I tried them in my pond but no takers as it was half iced over. I think they will catch fish though.

I tried the technique a few times afeter reading and article in a magazine. I use a long rod. I got the GLOOMIS float and fly rod. I use the rod more for crappie jigging though. I use a braided mainline and tie to a 3 way swivel. Another end goes to flouro leader and the other end gets a small mono loop tied on it. On the loop I clip a weighted float. The magazine said to use a float with a weight on it. I use a bass pro weighted float about 1" to 1.5" diameter. The mono loop that float is clipped to alows you to move the jig with little effort and without disturbing the float. I rarely use the techniqe and never see anyone else using it. I have caught a lot of nice fish, all kinds on small crappie jigs.

I tried to do one in the past but got lazy and stopped. On most trips I keep a hand held counter to track my catch. I got several at bass pro. It is fun if you are fishing with one or more people. The brand I have is a mister crappie you need it for that kind of fishing so you don't keep more then your limit. Me and my wife were in everglades and caught 70 bass I'm. Y hours we would have lost track without the counter. Over the years I noticed fishing spots are consistent as long as water temps are the same as the year prior I keep all the best outings and conditions in my memory. You have to be disciplined to keep a fish log but it would probably helpo

I have started using a piece of mono or flourocarbon line as long as my rod and have been doing just as good as a tapered leader and if it gets bad I can throw it away and get a new one and not have the expense of tapered leader thanks for the tip. I will save tapered leaders for the trout.

I just recently got back into fly fishing. I have had two combos for years but never did well with them. I only caught my first bass over 12" on the fly this year after having a fly rod for 15 years. I had level line and never knew how to cast. In the past couple months I have accquired about 8 rods caught several quality fish and even have been catching trout in streams, thanks to good line and a casting lesson. Since taking up fly fishing it is has been cold. I have been using trout line rio or scientific anglers. I heard warm weather changes line performance what should I do in warm months for line. I also use light rods 1 to 3 wt at times, is there a warm line for these weights. I never had so much fun catching bluegills using these rods. My 3wt line has gotten twisted like an old phone cord is that weather related?

I was wondering what best leader knots are. I have been using blood knots for line to line knots and now since taking up fly fishing splicing leaders. I recently learned double surgeons knot which seems eaiser but weaker. I went trout fishing this weekend and lost a bunck of fish and flies with surgeon knots. I don't know if it was knot or that I was using flourocarbon as last piece of tippet. Any preference on knots?

Try the Murdich minow bug tie in green, a video on you tube, Google murdich minnow a tightness fly shop has ten minute video.