Ryan Kral

Tom, FYI, all three Walleyes(two very tiny ones) were caught on your old standbye tandem setup. I was using a chartreuse/white clouser, and one of your CF Muddlers that you gave to me, also chart./white. We were throwing muskie flies on 10wts for the most part, but our last spot we switched to the 8wts for a last chance smallie. Didnt see any smallies, we thought maybe a fish or two may have been mixed in with all the carp in a good stretch. Ryan

It really wasn't much work. I'd say we were both just out on the water to be out of the house, not really expecting to catch many fish. Next time we will come prepared for all those carp, that Walleye didnt put much bend in the 8wt! Thanks for getting me out of the house. Ryan

I guarantee that would move fish, as is or bigger, but I would definitely try and get a little more length. One guys says pink, one says orange, one only fishes purples or red and blacks, who knows?! I personally dont think it matters so much as just getting it in the right spot at the right time. Although, I prefer the brighter flies because I like seeing my fly on the retrieve in those stained waters. Thats a good looking fly though, I'd fish it! Funny thing is, although I've had plenty of chances with a muskie, my only muskie in the boat came on a chart/white 3" clouser while bass fishing in WI!

Hey Jonn, if you get a chance sometime, try a 450 on that rod. Thats what I did with Mike's Beulah, and its a night and day difference. Never used that Echo, but the Beulah is a very fast. I was told by a couple guides up North to try the SA Wet Tip Express 450 grain, and I did. I couldnt be happier with the way it cast, and it could easily be used in a lake setting as well. It gets down quick, but you can control it on the river because you are stripping those flies quick. Its on sale on Amazon for $41, as of a couple days ago anyways. Ryan

I like that one, pretty much a Beauford fly minus the feathers, which is what I was fishing a lot up north. I love the spun head, pushes so much more water. I spin my heads pretty thin so they dont want to float so much, but would still bob a bit on my short pause between strips which is perfect with the sink tip. I like the colors. I fished orange, chartreuse, yellow, olive, etc. Didnt seem to make a huge difference, they would just strike as a reaction the second the fly hit the water. Now if I could only keep one hooked more than a second! Nice flies, happy huntings! Ryan

Nice one Jonn. I like the use of the peacock hearl, looks good. Ryan

I agree with Tom, if you can afford it. I will say though, that 5 wt Three Forks rod is a moderate action, its a pretty soft rod. I would be careful up sizing that line, especially since some of the Bass Tapers are already a half size heavy, and loaded towards the tip. Just my experience from owning that same rod. Ryan

I would check out the new Temple Fork Outfitters lines. They are very cheap, and supposedly pretty good lines. Practice will give her more distance than any line. Ryan http://www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-8554-tfo-fly-line.aspx

Hey guys, still have my 8wt Ross Flystik rod for sale $80, and I also have a Redington Pursuit 9wt for sale $60. Both are in great shape. Message me or comment if interested.

Oh yeah, throw on anything up to a 20hp outboard and it's a great lake boat, or pond jumper with the trolling motor. It'll also get you places on a river a drift boat never would. Can you tell I'm happy with mine! Ryan

Just a heads up. Chris Willen, a musky fly guide up in the Hayward area is selling his towee rivermaster, with rowing frame and pro trailer. He's getting a new one. Boats in good shape. If anyone's interested, look up his guide service on google, or message me and I'll get a hold of him. No idea how much he's asking, but I bet it's a great deal. This boat opens up a whole lot of fishing opportunities. I've done a few awesome floats since getting mine in May, and plenty of local water to float too.

I'm just trying to figure out why you left Missoula, MT! Just kidding, my parents and sis live in Missoula, so I have a place to visit and fish every year, but its a little easier to make a living here in the Midwest! The rainbow in my profile pic is from the bitteroot on a float a few years ago. Ryan

I've fished these with my BVK 6wt just fine, they don't weigh much. Ryan

Yep, havent seen the new wrap on their site yet. Ryan

I re trimmed the tail too, it was a little big in those photos.

The tail material is the minnow wrap itself, I just shaped it and used CCG Hydro to glue it. Yeah, I'm trying to find that new wrap, sold out everywhere I've seen it.

Hey guys. If any of you haven't had a chance to use the "Game Changer" fly, you're missing out. These are a blast to fish, action is incredible. Use it on a sink tip, or floating, depending on your water. If you are interested in trying one out, I would purchase a couple, kind of a pain to tie, easy, just a little time consuming. Also, these flies are always on backorder, so if you can find them, I would snag a couple. Ryan

Thats awesome, that seat looks real nice! Looks like you did it right! Ryan

Thanks. I was thinking about starting in the Merrill area, I heard it's a good stretch from there. I will have a second car, so we'll be doing the shuttle. After I figure out the details, I'd be happy to include one more if this works out. I'm still trying to get the day off work I need. Ryan

Yeah, I'm aware of them. I really try not to ask guide companies about floating or fishing their home waters unless I have too. I'm sure their nice enough to give me some info, I just don't like it. Ryan

Anybody have any info on a good stretch of the WI to float? I am looking at the Merril or Stevens Point area as a smallie/musky float. Any advice on launches or takeouts would be great. Most of the info I can find is on the lower WI below the dells, which Im not interested in. Thanks, Ryan

Cabelas has the Lamson Konic II in the bargain cave online. Great reel, good price. Just sayin'! Ryan

9.9 if you plan on using it on most of our local lakes, because they are limited. I have yet to get a motor on mine, but the owner of Towee swears by Tohatsu 4 strokes. They are significantly cheaper than others, and they make all of Mercurys smaller outboards, and Nissan outboards. If you are interested in Jet drive, talk to Mike A., but you would be limiting yourself to rivers. I dont have any experience with them yet, and I know guys like their old 2 strokes, but the new 4 strokes are significantly quieter, and guys seem to love them because you dont have some of cold start, or other issues. Also, if you get a 15-20hp, it'll help you get around bigger lakes a little quicker if need be(sudden weather, etc.), and you could use a good trolling motor set up for our local lakes. Heres some info on shaft length. Ryan http://www.onlineoutboards.com/Help.html?Question=Shaft-Length

Cant speak for Tim, cause I've only cast them very little. I know our guide up in Hayward uses these and the Predator rods in 8-10 wt for Musky and smallies, he seemed to like them. Ryan

Right, the bottom yellow one. But the top one just looks like a popper.