Rob G

Maybe a step in the right direction but still a long way from being solved.

http://www.commercial-news.com/news/state_news/iepa-agency-cites-energy-company/article_8185a14e-9575-56f0-94f0-924ab78eeca4.htm

Really Really enjoyed that !  Bunches of good stuff that I would like to try.

Thanks for posting 

Simple,  they don't taste as delicious as my favorite walleye : )

On 7/7/2018 at 7:39 AM, rich mc said:

i would suggest liquid fusion from a craft store

+1

Do you get better hook ups with the hook hanging low in the rear ? What is the advantage ?

Is there a hole in the popper body to  thread your line thru in order to tie to the hook directly or is there a loop or hook shank within the popper body?  So many questions, but I really like that black one.  Does that free hook in the rear really swing side to side with that rabbit? 

It's been a little slow around here and I'm always a little curious what I'm missing out on, soooooo

OK, so what's your very favorite topwater fly when you just gotta bring a smallie to the top?  And yea, you can throw in an honorable mention if you  want.  (Pics are always welcome) 

Would it be

a cupped popper like a Boogle Bug?

or a flat faced popper like a Krebs popper or blockhead ?

a Crease fly, a Gurgler, or a stealth bomber?

Dahlberg Diver? Deer hair bug?

dare I say it,,,,,,,,,,,,, a dadgum Jude Bug?

What do you have the most confidence in if you're going to be carrying only one (or two) topwater flies?

Btw, Johnnie G, I forgot to mention that same day I caught 3 fiddlers (what my father used to call small channel cat) with that same Peacock Ice dubbed micro jig on an indicator.   I'm going to try and hit some different water the next day or two and see what other trash fish I can hook up with. Ha

I'll see that state record shortnose and raise you with a recent new state record drum (gee and I can't even catch a small one)

https://chicago.suntimes.com/environment/soon-to-be-illinois-record-fish-freshwater-drum-redear-or-redear-hybrid/

John,

these rope flies are just a hair under 4 inches in length, about the size of a decent shad or shiner.  Again, notice I frequently cut the hooks off since they are basically useless, though I have hooked a rare bass on these when I have left the hook on.  Leaving it on does make it somewhat simpler to store in a foam fly box but on the other hand, when you're removing those fibers from the gar's teeth, it's one more thing you have to be careful of  when he gets to shakin' (which is almost a given)

Yea, I generally use the same rod that I smallie fish with and that's a fairly fast  5 wt.  They can get you into your backing so this is the one time that you want a reel with a decent drag.

Started yesterday with low clear water and I began with a Timothy T. inspiration that I had tied, the Spey Dog fly.  I caught several smaller smallies and finally grabbed a 15 inch which proceeded to destroy my fly so that 1st act was over. 

Meanwhile the gar appeared to be spawning as they were very active and I saw 4 smaller presumably males flanking a larger female in the shallows.  So out came a rope fly that I often will carry with me (just in case) and after landing a couple decent long nose that were about 3.5 ft long, that fly was knotted and with no brush to bring it back to life, that act ended quickly as well.

Later I was able to land a few more smallies and a couple decent ones on my almost 9+ hour walk, the largest 18" came on a 1/100 ounce micro jig tied on a size 12 hook while I was trying to entice a couple large drum to partake.  So I'm still not making headway with those drum, but one of these days...........

Waded a section of a river today where I had never been before and found this in the middle of nowhere.  How it got there at this point on the river, I have no idea but there is no sign of present day humanity anywhere near by and the bluff above is really high.   Is it a kiln?   Btw, my first photos with this new waterproof Fuji xp120 camera as my Canon D10 died on me last week.

On 3/25/2018 at 7:02 PM, Mike G said:

Are we there yet?

I'm only 1/3 thru the new book, but I'll give you a hint, I'm going to need a new highlighter because there are a ton of little gems to be found on almost every page.  Very useful and detailed information with this one.  

1 minute ago, Terry Dodge said:

What's that white stuff?

Stuff that belongs up north with you Kish walkers and not down this way in late March, that's for sure !

yea, we got 7-8" today, it stinks because yesterday was a reasonable 50 deg.   This winter just doesn't want to quit.  I was letting the streams warm up just a touch more before I got out there and then we get this  :  (  

John, that's my new < $30 glass rod.  I haven't purchased a new fiberglass fly rod since I was 12 years old (farm labor money @ $1.30/ hour.  Ha)

I've tied enough black flashback nymphs over this long winter for two lifetimes.

Yesterday

Today

Come on spring, one can only tie so many flies

I just purchased a fiberglass fly rod from Cabela's for $30. I cannot purchase at wholesale a real seat, cork grip, and the guides for that amount, let alone adding on to that a blank of any kind. Crazy.

On 3/14/2018 at 12:47 PM, mannym said:

 

For those who sell, is it a time worthy business?

Speaking from at least 15 years of rod building experience,  NOPE !

I read where Lefty passed away today or yesterday, not sure.  Will sure be missed but the man left behind a ton of good reading material.

Edit: just saw the thread in the Open forum

A nice tribute to Lefty: 

 http://www.flyfisherman.com/news/lefty-kreh/

Sounds like a winner to me.   I own both Holschlag's and Bob Clouser's book on flyfishing for smallmouth so eventually I'll be able to give you a comparison. 

if you think it was  worth a read then I'll definitely get a hold of a copy but in truth,  I'm waiting on your book to come out  :  )  

I always thought "expert" meant, an individual with the same knowledge but from out of town

1 hour ago, John Loebach said:

It is possible or even likely that we have more than one expert in the club. I say settle it with a friendly day of fishing.

Oh this could be delightful, a  true "King of the Kish" contest.   Wagers anyone ?

Oh, so that's my problem, I've been trying to tie that on a size 22.  Duh!

55 degrees and sunny, so I strung up a rod and went to a nearby pond in order to see how a few of the new flies would work.  That stealth bomber is going to kick some booty !  First hard strip, you get a nice gurgle and nice surface disturbance.  Continue stripping hard and it will dive maybe up to a foot  with a little shake, and then the beauty of when you stop stripping, it makes its way back to the top which will often illicit a strike.  Numerous short pops will leave a bubble trail on the surface, so it can offer several enticing looks.  Should be a greenie killer on the ponds and will see some action on the streams as well.

Mike, how did you tie in the foam above?