Saddle Tails

I ran across a fly tying product that I have never seen before and wanted to pass it along to you.  They are called saddle tails and look like a great way to add some detail and action to a fly.  They are intended for bigger streamers and are unlike anything I have ever seen before.  They come in a couple of sizes and lots of different colors.  As you can see in the picture below, they can be used as tails or as accent pieces running down the side of a streamer.  I have not seen how they perform in the water so maybe they are just good at catching fly tyers and fly fishers...but I doubt that is the case.  If you want to purchase some of your own, just click the link below or give "saddle tails" a Google.  If you end up purchasing some and incorporating them into some flies, I would love to see them!

Link: https://www.nightmaremuskyflies.com/product-page/saddle-tails

Craven's Gonga-My Final Version

I finally landed on my final version of Craven's Gonga.  I realized with my last version was looking too much like the Lunch Money that I tie.  With this in mind, I lost the countershading and went with one solid color.  I decided to go with white and olive versions for now.  I want to give a yellow one a shot but I'm missing a few materials like yellow schlappen.  I'm really happy with how these turned out and I'm excited to see how they behave in the water.  I'm even more excited to see how the fish respond to them. 

These flies were tied on a 1/0 hook and specifically a Gamakatsu B10S.  The tail is marabou, the body is a complex twist of chenille, UV chenille, and schlappen.  The eyes are large, dumbbell eyes and the head is made of Senyo's laser dub.  It will ride point-up which I almost exclusively tie flies with dumbbell eyes.  I THINK that this avoids some snags but that could just be a mental thing.  If you have any questions about this fly, please fire away.  You might also keep an eye out on the Etsy store because these flies will be available for purchase soon.

New Shad Fly

Over the weekend, I had the chance to play around with one of my favorite fly platforms.  I call this platform The Brave but it is basically a zonker with a marabou tail, a rabbit strip body, and a collar.  This fly has served me really well over the years and I tie this in all kinds of colors.  The profile and action of the fly is outstanding and has resulted in some memorable catches that have ranged from big largemouth to 8 pound hybrid stripers.  For the fly pictured above, I attempted to give it a color combination that was shad-like.  I've been studying shad colors and profiles lately as I am really wanting to chase some white bass on Smithville lake this year.  I think this color and size could be really productive but I guess we are going to have to wait and see how the fish respond to its presentation.

 

Song of the Week- Dust in a Baggie - Week 14

 If you follow the website Moldy Chum, you will recognize where the idea comes from.  If you don't follow the site, they have a post every Sunday called "Sunday Toona".  Essentially, the post contains a song of the week.  I liked that idea so much that I decided to start a similar tradition.  I plan on posting a YouTube video every Sunday and this post is the first of many more to follow.

I wouldn't blame you if you wonder how music connects to a fly fishing blog.  Well, the bottom line is that it really doesn't, at least on the surface.  However, if you fish, then you probably listen to music.  Maybe you listen to some tunes in your boat.  Maybe you slip in some earbuds and listen to jams while you fish.  Most of us probably listen to music on the way to go fishing.  So there is a connection between fishing and music, albeit a small connection.

The other reason that I want to start this routine is that I really enjoy music.  I have ZERO musical talent and that might be the reasoning that I appreciate the talents that other musicians have.  I don't like all music though.  I like music that has heart.  I like music that tells a story.  Most of all, I like music that I can relate to on some level.  For those reasons, the music that I share might not be to your liking...and that's ok!  I listen to a lot of music that you won't find on radio stations and that's why I want to share it with others.  

I started this blog cause I wanted to share my experiences with others in the hopes that others might learn and benefit from what I do.  Sharing music that touches my heart, or makes me laugh, or brings a tear to my eye falls in line with the aforementioned ideal.  I hope you dig what I share and I hope you find something that you can connect with.  For the first Song of the Week post, I present to you "Dust in a Baggie" by Billy Strings.

Link to Billy Strings YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7PLUlfQMnPtf4sjZ7N5gXA

New Fly in the Fly Shop: The Shad-Colored Clouser

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1385999421/clouser-minnow-in-shad-colors-bass-fly

That's right!  You can buy your very own shad-colored Clouser minnows as well.  These flies are tied with white bucktail on the bottom, gray bucktail on top, and large dumbbell eyes.  The hook is a Gamakatsu Executive Series B 10 S, size 2 and this hook is SHARP!  This fly is going to look and move like a dying shad which should get the attention of any predatorial fish!

The fly is a streamer and could catch anything that eats shad.  As far as the action of the fly, it rises through the water column when stripped and dives when paused.  A faster retrieve would have a less up and down motion but more flutter and wiggle.  The white bucktail flutters  has a good wiggle to it.  The fly has a long, slender profile like most species of shad.  Whether you are fishing for largemouth, smallmouth, trout, white bass, or any other minnow eater (occasional catfish for example), this fly is going to tempt them.  All flies sold by me are tied by me upon receiving an order. No flies are ever outsourced or purchased from another vendor. 

To purchase some of your own, please click on the link at the top of this post or on the link below!  All proceeds go towards the money that I need to start a fly fishing guide service and more specifically, the purchase of a boat.  All support is greatly appreciated and no matter the size of the order, I treat all customers as the valued individuals that they are!

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1385999421/clouser-minnow-in-shad-colors-bass-fly

The White Bass Box is Coming Together!

For the last couple of weeks, I have been working on building a good fly assortment to go after white bass this year.  I have some Watkin's specials, Clouser minnows, wooly buggers, and my version of a sparkle minnow.  They range from size 6 to size two and you can see that I tried to keep most of my colors in the white and olive range with some having chartreuse and some in gray as well.  I don't see how any of these could miss while chasing white bass but ultimately, this is up to the fish.  I know there will be a learning curve this year.  Learning fish patterns as well as navigating Smithville Lake will be challenging simply because it is new.  However, I am up for the challenge and know that the only way we learn and grow is through trial and error and learning from our experiences.  Come on spring!  I'm almost ready for you!

Step 1 Towards Becoming a Boat Captain- COMPLETE

Yesterday, I took the first actual step towards getting my boat captain's license and becoming a fly fishing guide!  I completed an online registration for getting my TWIC card which I have to possess to get a license and to take the boat captain's test.  From here, there will be a federal background check, I have to provide documentation to prove I am who I claim to be, and I have to be fingerprinted.  It's not a big deal and I haven't actually accomplished much, but this was the first step.  However, as the old proverb goes, the journey of a million miles begins with one step.  This step felt good and was a little progress towards the goal that I want to accomplish!

My First Florida-Strain Largemouth but No Peacocks

As I mentioned yesterday, while fishing in Florida last week, the fish were pretty lethargic.  I figured that if I wanted to catch some fish, a slow, vertical presentation was going to be my best bet.  I paired that idea with the thought that a small, unthreatening imitation might also entice a bight.  I was, partially, correct.

I woke up one morning and Ubered to Tropical Park in Miami, Florida.  It took me some time but eventually I found a group of peacocks and tilapia that were hanging out around some cattails.  I could see them made some good casts to them.  I must have worked these fish for over an hour and didn't get a bite.  I tried blind casting and working different depths but didn't get any hits.  The one, and only bite, that I got in over 4 hours of fishing was almost a missed bite.  I was losing focus and getting a little frustrated.  At the particular moment that I got my bite I believe I was looking for gators and iguanas.  When I finally turned my attention back to my strike indicator, I saw it diving deeper and deeper into the water.  I set the hook and the fight was on.

I was hoping (almost praying) for a peacock to be on the other end.  As the fight neared its end, I saw it was a largemouth.  While I was a little disappointed, I also respected the fact that I had never caught a Florida-strain Largemouth bass.  As the fish neared the bank, I hoped that he wouldn't come unhooked.  I have lost A LOT of memorable fish at the boat or at the bank and it has made a lasting impression on me.  Thankfully, he did NOT come unhooked and I avoided getting skunked.

While I didn't catch many fish on the trip to Florida, I was reminded that sometimes catching fewer fish makes each individual more memorable.  I have had 50 fish days and each one of them blend into one another.  However, I can say without hesitation, that I will remember the tilapia and small bass that I caught on my Florida trip.  For me, fishing is about the experience, the memories, and the stories that you can tell.  It's about competing against nature.  Fishing is about being outdoors, seeing animals like iguanas in this case and being terrified by something that jumped into the water when I almost stepped on it and that creature MIGHT have been an alligator.  Regardless, I have a memory and got to tell my story.  As always, thanks for reading and I'll be back with more fishy content tomorrow!

Fishing in Florida- Force Feeding a Tilapia

So the timing of my trip to Florida, in terms of fishing, was not ideal.  Prior to my arrival, most of Florida had experienced low temperatures that were extremely rare.  It was so cold, some freshwater fish didn't survive the cold snap.  Temperatures were on the rebound when we arrived by the fish that I saw were in shallow water and extremely lethargic.  To say that the situation was frustrating would be an understatement.  I could see largemouth, peackcock bass, snook, tilapia, and other species but they had zero interest in eating.

My only course of action that I saw was to fish as slow as possible with small lures.  I decided to go with a 1/80 ounce jig under a strike indicator.  I would much rather have thrown streamers but the situation dictated a simpler approach...and more boring if I'm being honest.  To make matters even less exciting, I figured that I needed to go with a spinning rod.  It was really hard to sight fish in the shallows with a fly rod setup so a spinning rod made more sense.  I dangled a fly in front of some fish but the fish were not interested at all.  I was about to just give up when I found a tilapia that didn't spook because of my proximity and didn't retreat from my jig offering.  

I slowly inched the jig closer and closer to the fish to see if I could incite a reactionary bite.  It didn't happen but again, the fish didn't flee like so many others had.  As I dangled the jig in front of it's mouth, I saw a small current that was being produced as the fish inhaled water to rush over its gills.  They fly was getting inhaled a little.  With as much patience as I could muster, I slowly moved the jig closer and closer to the fish's mouth.  Finally, the fly went in.  I don't think the fish even noticed it.  I sure noticed though and I set the hook.  The fight was on, for about three seconds, and then I was able to drag the fish to the bank.  I snapped a picture and eased the fish back into the water as fast as I could.  It swam off with enough energy that made me confident that it was going to survive.  

In all, I call this a victory.  Conditions were tough and my strategy that paid off was unconventional, but I avoided the skunk and got to see some species of fish that I don't get to fish for back home.  If you get a chance to chase freshwater fish in Florida, go for it!  Even when conditions are less than ideal, you'll still get to seem some beautiful fish and might even hook into one!

Song of the Week- Week 13- Famous Friends

 If you follow the website Moldy Chum, you will recognize where the idea comes from.  If you don't follow the site, they have a post every Sunday called "Sunday Toona".  Essentially, the post contains a song of the week.  I liked that idea so much that I decided to start a similar tradition.  I plan on posting a YouTube video every Sunday and this post is the first of many more to follow.

I wouldn't blame you if you wonder how music connects to a fly fishing blog.  Well, the bottom line is that it really doesn't, at least on the surface.  However, if you fish, then you probably listen to music.  Maybe you listen to some tunes in your boat.  Maybe you slip in some earbuds and listen to jams while you fish.  Most of us probably listen to music on the way to go fishing.  So there is a connection between fishing and music, albeit a small connection.

The other reason that I want to start this routine is that I really enjoy music.  I have ZERO musical talent and that might be the reasoning that I appreciate the talents that other musicians have.  I don't like all music though.  I like music that has heart.  I like music that tells a story.  Most of all, I like music that I can relate to on some level.  For those reasons, the music that I share might not be to your liking...and that's ok!  I listen to a lot of music that you won't find on radio stations and that's why I want to share it with others.  

I started this blog cause I wanted to share my experiences with others in the hopes that others might learn and benefit from what I do.  Sharing music that touches my heart, or makes me laugh, or brings a tear to my eye falls in line with the aforementioned ideal.  I hope you dig what I share and I hope you find something that you can connect with.  For the first Song of the Week post, I present to you "Famous Friends" by Cris Young and Kane Brown.

Link to Chris Young YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkfj9FmVIPO9KOe3DwPPdBA