Tenkara Fly

It gets boring tying the same thing over and over. So, I decided that it was time I try to tie myself a Tenkara fly. I've been following a few people through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter that post a few things about Tenkara. The person that most inspired me to tie up a Tenkara style fly was a fellow Blogger Mr. Troutrageous!

Size 14 hook, a feather - I didn't look up what type of feather to use, so, I used a small grizzly hackle, hackle clip, and some thread.

While very simple to tie, this fly looks extremely effective for a number of species. The bluegill and small bass at a few of my local ponds and small creeks would kill this fly, especially, in the evening when the mosquito's hatch. I'll just have to toss this with my 3wt until I decide it's time for a Tenkara rod.

Change Up

Earlier this week, I swapped out the hooks on my tying desk from the big 8/0 hooks I use for musky and pike, for size a size 14. I love to tie a variety of flies. I would go crazy if I had to tie the same pattern 100 times in a row, so, the change was good.

I don't know what you would call these, but it's basically a Copper John with a pheasant tail, with no legs. I left out 2 steps. Much more enjoyable for me to tie than the traditional Copper John, and the people I have tied this for have had equal amount of success.

Pheasant Tail Copper John Clone?

Materials

Size 14 Hook

Pheasant Tail

Medium Copper Wire

Peacock Hearl

Gold Bead (Copper or Gold)

Busy Busy Busy

I've been very busy as of late. My Girlfriend just closed on a townhouse, and I've been helping her move in. I've also, started to SLOWLY move my things over there, as well.

This is a photo of me, and the last fish that I caught, all while rockin' my new awesome Dead Weight Fly trucker hat. I went out for trout, but couldn't find any willing takers.

Rainbow Trout Dinner

Brought home my first stocker rainbow trout.

Gutted it.

Decapitated it.

Garlic stuffed it.

Soy sauce bathed it.

Lemon juice spritzed it.

Tinfoil wrapped it.

Baked it.

Ate it.

DELICIOUS.

Stocker Trout

I've been fairly busy these days. This past Saturday was the Fall trout opener here in Illinois. They stocked the lake down the street from me after they stocked it with a bunch of rainbow trout. The lakes been closed for 2 weeks, and now it's finally open. With the sun going down around 6:30 PM, it's only logical to fish this lake after work during the week, and now that it's stocked with trout, for as long as they last....Bonus!

That bucket has only seen a handful of fish in it's life.

Made it out on a dreary Monday evening just as the sun was starting to set. There were a ton of guys, but I was lucky and was able to get my favorite spot on the lake. I am usually 95% catch and release, but I paid for the inland trout stamp this year, because, I wanted to give these stockers a go in the kitchen. I didn't feel all too bad about it, because, it was either me or someone else taking these trout home. So, why the heck not, right!

Next stop for this rainbow...my dinner plate.

Streamside Furled leader

Right before winter last year, I purchased a furled leader from Streamside Furled Leaders at the Early Show hosted by the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.

Having never heard of furled leaders I was intrigued by this. I purchased one for my 3 wt rod, for when I'm fishing for bluegills.

What a great product! I don't really worry about my leader when I'm fishing for panfish or bass, so, this product was perfect.

The leader attaches with the loop to loop connection, then just tie on a 3 foot (or whatever you like) piece of tippet to the small ring at the end, and you're in business.

I haven't taken it off my 3 wt at all this season, and I'm pretty sure I will leave it on until I'll need a replacement. 

Time is flying!

After reading and entering in The Fiberglass Manifesto's weekend contest, it got me thinking. Wow, time really is flying by. There are quite a things that I had planned in my head to do this summer, but just haven't found the time to do so.

Some of the things that I haven't been able to do this summer, yet.

• I haven't fished or even thought of quite a few of my local lakes.
• Canoe, camp, and fish on the Wisconsin River.
• Camping at Lake Shelbyville.
• Canoe, camp, and fish on the Current River in Missouri.
• Trout fishing in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin.

I set out this year to explore new water, and I have done so. That's the reason I haven't been able to do some of the things I've been so used to doing the past few years. The change in trips has me missing those other places I once fished. Maybe, just maybe, I will find some time to make a day trip to the Driftless area before the season closes.

Love the streams of Southwest Wisconsin.

I guess if I'm in dire need of trip that will bring trout to hand, I can always explore new water in Iowa or Michigan.

Anyone else have some plans that just didn't happen?

I already know that Mark at Northern California Trout is bummed about not being able to make Half Moon Bay State Beach. Hope you're able to make the best of not going, Mark!

Short visit to the big pond

My second visit to the big pond (Lake Michigan) this year.

Had an appointment to be somewhere at 09:30, so, I decided to leave extra early to beat the morning traffic, and to fish 31st harbor. It's a new harbor that has fishing piers, and was nearby where I was supposed to be.

What a beautiful harbor. I was a huge fan of the fishing piers. I didn't need a long net, because, I was practically on the water. I was the only one there, and that kind of threw me off, because, the lake is a popular place to fish....at the other harbors. I didn't mind though. I rather enjoyed the solitude, because, I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to Lake Michigan. No one can witness my follies ha

I started out casting a small berkley swim bait on a small jig, then a small shad colored flicker shad. I was able to hook up with a few small smallmouth bass, and a few small rainbow trout.

Then I decided that I wanted to cover more water, and tied on a silver and blue spoon. After a few casts I had a follow from a HUGE brown trout, I twitched the spoon and he was aggressivley swimming toward it every twitch, but just wouldn't commit. After another cast, he followed, again, but just wouldn't commit. The next few casts and he was no where to be found.

Beautiful day out there. Cannot wait to return to the Lake, because, the perch have started moving in, and I love perch fishing in late May early June.

Winter Sucks

This winter definitely sucks.
The snow keeps falling.
It gets colder and colder.
My cabin fever rises
I am beginning to lose patients.
That groundhog better see it's shadow.
Fin.

I've been tying some small stuff lately. Any advise is appreciated.




Bead head brassie size 14

 

Steelhead Blue Prince Nymph Size 14
 

Olive Prince Nymph size 14

A bunch of size 10 green grublins.

Size 22 zebra midge.

 

Just the beginning...

Over the Summer, I learned that one of the guys at my place of employment just started fly fishing. So, whenever we see each other in the halls (Which is like 2 times a day) we talk about fly fishing...well I talk, and he listens and asks questions.

Well, my enthusiasm and love for the sport of fly fishing and fly tying has rubbed off on him, and over Christmas he purchased his first vise. Got himself a Peak Rotary vise, same as me. I recommend some YouTube videos and even showed him a few things one day.

Just last week he returned a small LL Bean box that I had given him filled with a few flies that I tied. My eyes popped when I opened the box. He had tied some beautiful damsels, and mating damsels (Referred to some as "The Double D"). I was thorouly impressed and told him, but he played it off like it was a simple tie. Sure there are simple ties, but you still have to make them look good, and these looked outstanding!

Share your passions!

I will be sharing all feedback/compliments about his flies with him.

It's safe to say - this is only the beginning of his fly fishing addiction.

Cold Weather Outings

Went out for a quick wade this past Sunday on Poplar Creek. It was about 25 degrees, and there was ice forming in the slack water. 1 hour of wading, fishing, and getting rid of the ice build up on my guides produced a runny nose. I didn't mind that at all, because, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, despite the cold. Then it was off to Cabela's for some more tying material. Ha!

My FSA custom 3 wt on ice.

Skunked Photography

Here are some more pictures from my last few outings.

Late October stocker rainbow trout taken on a royal wolf.

Late October DPR northern pike.

Lake Taneycomo

The GF and I decided to head on down to Branson, Missouri for a mini vacay. While we stopped at Shepperd of the Hills Hatchery. It was quite interesting how they farm these trout to stock into the rivers/lakes. One of the tanks had some absolute pigs! I've never seen trout that were 5+ pounds in my life, and they were quite the sight.

During our 4 day stay I was able to sneak out and do some fishing early in the morning. I wanted to fish Table Rock, but knew the bass would be deep with the hot weather, so, I decided to fish Lake Taneycomo. I didn't bring any of my wading gear, because, I didn't think I was going to need them. I wish I had brought them, because, the water in that lake is flat out freezing! The first day I was able to hook up with a brown trout, but he self released after I removed the hook. Then I had nothing but missed hits using an olive wooley bugger.

I've never witnessed so many people fishing so close to each to each other until I fished Taney. There were guys lined up by one of the outlets of the hatchery taking turns tossing and egg under an indicator for a short 15 foot drift. I don't quite understand how that is enjoyable. They were all catch & release guys, too. Mind boggling to me.

So, this is combat fly fishing...

Wasn't ever able to fish Table Rock. Every time we planned to rent a boat it rained. I definitely will be returning to Lake Taneycomo. The Bull Shoals is on my list for next time, as well.

Some pictures of trout that lived by the quote "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." At one point I had 6 rainbows right next to me.

D'oh!!!

So, as I plan and prepare what I will be bringing with me on my trip to the Current River in Southern Missouri. I cannot help but laugh at myself for the bone head mistake I made 2 years ago....I forgot my reel. Yep, I had every but my reel. Fly rod, flies, tools, camping gear, food, etc...all packed. We had just gotten dropped off by our canoe outfitter and started loading the canoe. I was putting my rod together when all I needed was the last peice...I couldn't believe I made such a mistake.

This is how I felt, except, I didn't say "D'oh!"

The trip was great, but my fishing was less than spectacular. I ended up tying on a long piece of tippet to the tip top and fishing tenkara style (Way before I even knew that was an actual way of fishing.)

Don't make the same mistake I made. Create a checklist or double check your gear before you leave.

Do you have any similar stories?

Surprise, It's Trout!

The past few day's have been an absolute hell. I've been stuck inside sick with some sort of virus that has been kicking my ass. I haven't even had the energy or motivation to tie anything. Just lay around like a potato.

This evening I finally was feeling good, and antsy to get out to my local lake, because, it was so nice out the past few days, and today was just awesome. It felt like it was close to the 70's, and there was hardly any wind. Got out to my local lake and began to cast. Started with a black wooly bugger, and quickly switched to a small bead head I tied. I was curious as to how fast  it would sink. 2 cast and I had a follow from some bluegill, and hooked up with a few.



The Bluegill loved this fly!

Once I was done fooling around with them, I tied on a small ep baitfish pattern I had tied with hopes of hooking up with some bass cruising the shallows. After my first cast and fixing the line that had wrapped itself around my reel, I gave the line a 2 strips and BAM!!! Thought I had a bass until it went airborne, and I saw that it was a rainbow trout. I was very surprised to see that there were some survivor stocker rainbows in the lake.



Surprise, it's Trout!!

My First Trout

I started fly fishing about 4 years ago. Living here in the Chicago suburbs, I primarily fish for bass. It wasn't until this past summer that I hooked into my first trout. 

For the past 4 years I've been doing a 4 day - 40 mile canoe float trip on the Current River in Southern Missouri. The river is full of small mouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, pickerel, needle nose gar, carp, etc. The first 3 years of the trip I was focused on enjoying the beautiful float, camping, and fishing for smallies. (The smallie fishing is amazing here!)

This past July (2012) I decided that it was time, that I finally catch a trout. I mean I am fly fisherman, and trout is usually the fish of choice for most.

I started off using flies I've never used before...such as prince nymphs, hares ears, and elk hair caddis. I probably wasn't using the proper technique with these flies, but I'm sure with practice, and time I will get better. I wasn't attracting anything, and probably scaring all of the fish away with the horror that was me trying to fish these flies. 

So, after playing around with those flies, I decided to go to my old faithful...a wooly bugger. I tied on a white wooly bugger, and the fish started hitting. Large mouth, small mouth, and I finally caught my first rainbow trout! It was very exciting. At first I didn't know what I had hooked in to, as it got closer, I saw that it was a trout. I immediately jumped out of the canoe and landed it. As I held it in my had, I admired the beauty of it's color and markings. They really are beautiful fish.

I ended up catching 3 rainbow's the entire trip, and I also, think I caught a little case of trout fever. (Another blog to follow - The Driftless Area of Wisconsin)

Orvis kindly reposted this picture on their page. Pretty cool of them!

All fish were caught, and happily released.