Link to the jigged wooly bugger in olive: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1855015123/3-pack-of-olive-jigged-wooly-buggers
Link to the jigged wooly bugger in white: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1840815384/3-pack-of-white-jigged-wooly-buggers
I opened my fly box and found the next fly that I wanted to test. It was similar in the contrast but different in the color combination. This fly had a pink head, a white chenille body, a white marabou tail, and grizzly hackle wrapped around the body. While the olive fly came from a Facebook post, this white fly had some deep roots that requires some explaining.
When I graduated from college, I achieved my goal of getting a teaching job. After that, I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted a hobby but I couldn't settle on one. I was leaning towards golf since a lot of my friends were getting into the sport and then something happened that would change my life. I had taken a break from fishing during my college years but it was always something that I enjoyed. I'm a competitive person by nature and I found an outlet for my spirit in fishing.
On one fortuitous day, I went fishing after school. I had a medium light spinning rod and a small grub tail jig. It had a pink head, white body, and white tail. I couldn't cast it very far but it didn't matter because the crappie were on the banks for the spawn. I think I caught 50 fish that day but I could be wrong. This IS a fishing story by the way but regardless, I saw my path laid out for me. Fate and destiny worked together that evening to make sure that a fire for fishing was lit.
The fly that I plucked out of my fly box was an homage to that crappie-catching grub. I've always been partial towards white flies when trout fishing and the white profile seemed like it had potential to me. The pink head looked like it would be an attractor which can mean that it gets the attention of fish. I had never fished with this fly before but I had reason to believe that it was going to be productive. Over the next hour, it proved to be VERY productive.
I fished this fly 3-4 feet under a strike indicator. At Krug Park, there is a fountain on the west side of the lake but on the day that I was there, it wasn't turned on. When the fountain is turned on, I think the moving water helps to attract fish to the moving (and potentially oxygenated) water. I fished the spot anyway because of the structure that it provided. I also believe that there is a transition from shallow to deep which could attract fish as well. I stood near the concrete box that has a diamond plate top and I noticed a pipe running from the box to the fountain. I figured this structure could be an attractor as well.
I'm not sure how many fish I caught, but it was over 10. I fished both sides of the fountain and did better casting to the west side of the fountain. Some takes came towards the middle of the lake and others came closer to the bank/pipe/concrete box. All of the takes were pretty aggressive and difficult to miss. Having a long-handled net was extremely useful so if you ever fish this lake, it would be wise to take one. There are lots of places that are elevated above the lake and the water can be difficult to reach with your hands.
In terms of the fly, aside from its productivity, it was matched by its durability. I never had a hook bend and I never had any of the materials start to detach from the hook either. Since the fly worked so well and proved its sturdiness, I have decided to start selling both the olive jig as well as the white jig in the online store. This jig can be fished on a spinning rod or with a fly rod. It has a weight of 1/80 ounce and is easy to cast on three weight rods and higher. I have never fished with a rod with a lower weight than a three, but it is possible that you could fish it on something smaller. I always fish it with a strike indicator but I have seen folks fish without one and simply strip it in.
What ended up being a bit of a reluctant outing turned into a really fun day. As I got into my truck to head home, I felt my spirit restored a little. The smile on my face was evidence of that. I'm glad that Wendy gave me a nudge out the door and I'm glad that I went fishing for stocker rainbows. Every outing on the water provides me with a memory that I can carry. It helps to relieve my stresses and give me a sense of calm. Problems that I have don't go away but are sometimes put into a better perspective. I need to remember this in the future so I don't have to push myself outdoors but rather welcome it for all of the benefits that nature, and specifically fishing, provides me.
Link to the jigged wooly bugger in olive: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1855015123/3-pack-of-olive-jigged-wooly-buggers
Link to the jigged wooly bugger in white: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1840815384/3-pack-of-white-jigged-wooly-buggers
No comments:
Post a Comment