soggysocks63

The Tool Uploaded with ImageShack.us The Knot Uploaded with ImageShack.us It takes me as long as any other knot and it's what I'm comfortable with. I will try the duncan loops one day just to compare but, I have confidence in this knot.

I don't have a Cat 4 but they air pressure change really caught me off guard in my belly boat. I thought I let out more then enough air in my boat while I went for lunch. Was rather soft to the touch but, an hour later it had expanded enough to rupture all the seams. I am going to go out and probably buy the cat 4 to replace it now...It was a little cheapy I got when I was a kid so...time for an upgrade. Really keep an eye on it out in the sun though...30 degree weather can really expand air apparently. I'm just going to tie the thing off in the water next time I am on break...

I've considered already starting a guiding business and writing off everything I invest into fly fishing I get the feeling the tax man wouldn't like that though.

Yeah, even your indicator spins even slightly on the surface it's a good habit to lift the rod and feel for resistance. You don't have to rip it out of the water just lift the rod and if you meet resistance then pull up. I have terrible habit of taking indications as hitting bottom and ignoring them. Been really trying to engage my line more on those subtle movements and find myself surprised with what ends up being a take.

I've never tried the eye to eye method myself and lost too many flies using a cinch not to the bend. I started using my nail knot tool to tie nymph rigs. Its quick and I stopped having flies slip off the the point. 6 Wraps and there is enough surface tension to keep from sliding around too much. Its a very clean looking knot too and I will often catch on the top fly. I can post pics if anyone's really interested. It's fast and efficient but, I don't see anyone else using a similar setup ever.

lol good old garlic cheese orange, no trout can resist!

Well I wouldn't say it "needs" to be done. You'll always catch without it. I just can't shake the feeling that maybe the fish of a thousand casts came up to my fly and turned it down because it picked up a bad odor. Always that "what if" feeling? They say scent is a large part of the game so I play into that. When I am the only catching out on a lake though I can't help but feel I am doing something right. But like Junior saying if it makes you feel good do it! Fishing with confidence helps.

Ok, so I add this thread since I don't see anything around on this topic. So from a beginner to other beginners DO IT! It honestly makes a huge impact on your fishing. If your fingers touch that fly it needs to be cleaned!!! I carry a little baggie in my pocket with a handful of soil. I will drop my fly in the bag and pinch and roll the fly from the outside of the bag. It's best to use the soil around the lake/river bed as it should be the most neutral scent in that body of water. I wouldn't use the bed soil if it had the consistency of pudding though. It would be best to find something close on the shoreline. In my mind the abrasion in the soil helps the process.

They were a nice surprise, I was expecting rainbows when I first got out there but ended up with one bull each trip out They have to be the most feisty fish I've caught yet. Feels good to be out exploring the west minus the ticks and angry animals...Going to have to knock Grayling off species list next

I was looking at the bank robber but couldn't justify the cost when the St.Croix Imperial felt quite similar in my hands. A little more weight to it but, a great rod. I've always been a big fan of St.Croix rods though. I am sure it will serve its purpose well, if not just mail it to me and I will give it a good home

So, figured since the bow is blown out and that I can't catch a damn thing in this muck I'd try for a new species. Geared up and headed out west for Bullies!!! First One Second One So the question I gotta ask...Am I doing it right?

I recently tried just swinging SJW on sinking tips. I haven't caught anything on the swing but caught 2 bows and a whitefish during the drift last week so, its definitely improving for me. I feel more comfortable fishing without the strike indicator...One less thing for my line to get caught up on Going to have to try these boatmen perhaps when the weekends over.

lol, I caught myself a little pork roast with fins myself this week. Not as large as that brown but big belly! This whitefish looked like he was about to pop.

Lol...That's where the rest of Pennywises hair went! Thanks for sharing the pics, looks like some place I'd rather be

Oops, Could a moderator move this topic to the "Ask the Pros" Forum...

So I recently been tying my own streamers and the tails are a bit long on them. I remember way back when my dad always removed center hooks from our rapalas and reason was less snags and the a trout will always take a lure from behind anyway. Does anyone hook stingers on the back of their streamers when fishing in the Bow? Also well I am on the topic of tying streamers...Should I attempt bright colours in the Bow? or just keep the colours looking as natural as possible. With pre-spawn season coming up I was thinken some bright patterns might gets some aggressive territorial strikes happening

I honestly thought the wet grass was going to be safer from him then the rough rocks. I did stomp it down and rested him on the bed in 6'' of water. You have my word though, once I have a new proper net, all pics will be in deeper water where I don't even have to worry him smacking into the rocks or rubbing in the grass. It was an exciting moment for sure, was like the 20lbs sturgeon fight all over again I caught while fishing for walleyes. Gotta love that feeling of hearing your drag scream and wondering what the hell just grabbed your hook.

Lol, well I think when I tell the stories this will just have to call it my "First Man Fish" then. From 7'' to 22ish'' I have the spread set now, time to fill it in!

lol, was a crash course on how to actually land a fish with fly rod. No butt section to apply leverage while he peeled line off the reel, just reeling it in felt awkward but, I don't think its as bad of thing to reel against the drag on a fly reel. Then having the fly line at the tip of the rod and not being anywhere close to grabbing the fish...I know its a risk reeling your leader though the guides when is fish is on but, what choice did i have. in the end i managed and gained a sense of pride in confidence for fly fishing

Ok, really...its my second fish, but the first was a 7'' bow(Makes it a fry not a fish right?)...Doesn't make for a great story anyway . This guy would be my first cast using a streamer...Its been almost 2 weeks now and I can't replicate what I did I did run down to the river just after it finished pouring so the water was a bit murky. Might have helped a bit, not sure. 22''-23'' Cork on my road is 7'' so I am approximating Uploaded with ImageShack.us about 10 hours out on the water since then and haven't caught a thing...I hope my luck isn't dried up

I got to catch Billy Bob and Cleatus fishing with bait. Took F&W an hour to arrive. Called them twice after seeing them pull a large trout out on to the shore. Thought for sure they were keeping something. But of course, when he arrived he only managed to bust them for barbed hooks and bait. After they left F&W stayed behind and searched the shoreline for anything. Came over and asked how it went and said he was seeing what they left behind. Found a 19'' bow caught in the weeds and 22'' brown washed up further down stream. The Bow had a hook stuck in a fingers length within its mouth, didn't seem to be deep enough to kill the fish that quickly. The brown didn't seem to have anything too wrong with it. I hope they get busted for the 2 trout we found but, i doubt they can be convicted of it since they were found in the river and not on them.

Lol, those guys are comical. They must have this image of these fish in the water swimming home to there under water fish castles "Honey, I'm home" "Oh Hi Sweety, dinners on the table!" "Your the best Hon, *Nom, Nom, Nom*" "OH SHEET SWEET MOTHER OF A HELL A HOOK!!!"...lol I could go on, but you know where the story is going. Mother nature is one cruel Son of a B*tch a hook through the lip is nothing in comparison to what is out there. They should go protest and make a picket line for the Grizzlies during a salmon run!