Another Fly for Specks and Reds

I got some #Fish Mask from the #Flymen Fishing company a couple of weeks ago and I've been wondering what to do with them. This morning, I'm sitting at my desk thinking an upcoming trip to Southport and the flies that I wanted, when this came to mind. 

 
First, I learned that the Fish Mask can be easily colored with a #Copic marker system, which opens up all kinds of possibilities. Recognizing red and white as staple color pattern for saltwater species the idea formed.  It's obvious that there's nothing ground breaking in the way that this fly is tied in that is simply another variant of wooly bugger, but the Fish Mask does make it stand out.  

My recipe:

• TMC 9394 or equivalent 4xl Streamer hook, size 2
• #5 Fish Mask
• 5mm Living Eyes (wind)
• White Marabou
• Pearl Krystal Flash
• White Saddle Hackle
• White Estaz
• 210 Denier Flat Waxed Nylon Thread, White

Rio Line Selector App

    If you're having trouble deciding which fly line to purchase for the type of fishing that you're doing, RIO can help you quickly make up your mind. RIO now offers their fly line selector as available as a free app for both IPphone/IPAD and Android.

The app selects the appropriate line based on criteria that you select. At the start of the app, the angler is asked what type of rod that they will using, then additional questions to be answered based on; rod make and model, water type and temp, environment, species, line density, and other details.  The app returns 2 recommendations to choose from.

Additonal features include a dealer locator to find your nearest RIO dealer.  Get your free download at RIO Apps.
  

                                                    

Flies for Summertime Panfish

Now that summertime temps are here, I look for opportunities for quick early morning or late evening trips and there no better way to find great action than by chasing some gills with a fly rod.  It's not difficult to find effective patterns that will provide a panfish angler with plenty of action and most of the popular trout nymphs will give you plenty of chances to tighten a line.

If you ask anyone what you will need to get started, probably the first thing that you will hear is that you need to set up a hopper dropper rig, which consist of floating panfish fly with a smaller weighted nymph secured to the hook bend of the larger fly with a short piece of tippett.  The beauty of this rig is that provides the angler the excitement of an aggressive topwater bite, while also enticing the less aggressive subsurface feeders with an aquatic insect imitation. 

Popping bugs are a popular choice for floating fly, which also serves as a strike indicator for the dropper. My dropper fly usually consist of one of popular trout nymphes such as; Hare's ear, Prince, or pheasant tail nymph.  However, I have been looking around the net for ideas for other patterns to try as a dropper, and I happened across a pattern called the Carrot nymph. This fly is a variation of the traditional orange and partridge soft hackle fly, which has become one of the most overlooked patterns and tying techniques of fly-fishing.  For this reason, the pattern got my attention and I decided to ty a number in size 12 to see what the local bluegills would think of my fly.

After a couple of evenings of feverish catching, I prepared to declare this one a winner  and recommend that you give them a try.  Try this link for instructions on tying the http://www.flyfishohio.com/Carrot_Nymph.htm.

Fishing Amish Country

The participants from the Fayetteville Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program have returned home from their Easter weekend, fishing outing in Pennsylvania.  The trip was organized by Myron Beatty of the Richlands PHWFF program and hosted by Ed Isabelle who graciously provided the meals and lodging of Camp Woodward that served as our base for the weekend.  When not hosting for PHWFF group, Camp Woodward serves as a training camp for young people from ages 7 -17,  who compete in action sports such as; BMX freestyle, skateboarding, cheerleading, and gymnastics attracting campers from all 50 states and more than 35 countries.

The trip began with the group meeting before sunrise on Friday to load gear into the designated carpool vehicles then we were by 6:00am for our 500 mile trek to trout water.  With the customary stop at Bass Pro Shops, this equated to about 10 hours of travel and put us in camp at around 4:00pm.  After settling in, we treated to a great meal at the Elk Creek Café in the town of Millheim, Pennsylvania.  Then back to camp to rest up for fishing the following day.

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After breakfast on Saturday, the group made its way over to the Union County Sportsman Club where we met up with some club members who would act as our guides for day.  From there we headed out to Penns Creek to try our luck. Unfortunately, the water was a little swift for good fishing, and the anticipated hatch of Black grannom caddis had not yet gotten into full swing, so as hard as we tried no fish found our nets that morning.
 
  However, after a very nice lunch that the club provided some of our group tried their hand at fishing from the club pond where they landed several nice trout some of which could have gone as much as five pounds.  Then, we headed back to Penns for a couple hours were there was a caddis hatch in the afternoon, with some Hendricksons mixed in but still no fish were caught.

Back at camp, we took the opportunity to relax and share some conversation and another great meal from Camp Woodward.  In addition, we were treated to some entertainment from a local bluegrass band to top off the day.


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On Sunday, participant Joe Provens started the day off by leading the group through an Easter communion service, then it was off to a stretch of private water on Elk creek.  Again as luck would have it, we were just a little early to have the same flurry of fish catching activity that we enjoyed, last year, but we managed to find a few fish in Elk creek. However, a few guys moved back into Penns were they had a little more activity.  Fishing aside, we all had a great time; learning more about fly-fishing and sharing each other’s company.   On the conclusion of fishing, we again were provided with a meal then it was off to get some rest for the long ride home, the next day.


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