Stocker Trout Fishing News

Request from YouTube on how we made the DIY Tanago Rod – one where we made it with a Cork Handle instead of a Wooden Handle. Simple DIY that uses: – Ice Fishing Blank – Wine Cork – Epoxy – Rod Wrap Thread or similar material Ice Rod Blank used was from Janns Netcraft – 31″ Walleye Action Rod.  

Recent report with Pics!   lconn4: Re: Palestine 9/29/18 Stopped and fished in all the places I got bit earlier and caught a couple of more on fluke. Hooked a couple of bowfin that I thought were bass and luckily they pulled off. Make it back to deep hole near bridge and get thumped on swimbait but miss. Throw 10 inch power worm to same spot and let sink to bottom before starting to crawl it back. I'm reeling in slack and not feeling my bait. I'm watching my line and I have the distinct impression that its slowly moving at an angle and towards me. Reel more slack and then go into hyperdrive as my line is definitely moving towards me. By the time I've got all the slack reeled in, my line is under me and I laid into it. I almost get rod jerked out of my hands as fish shoots to other side of kayak and my rod is bent over the gunnel which is almost to the water as I'm leaning out the other side of kayak trying to g...

Posted a new how to article – Bubble Fly Rigs , that details how the COAF Field Team likes to setup Bubble Fly Rigs when they opt to use spinning gear over fly fishing gear. Works for non-fly fisherman as well as fly fisherman, too! Article describes three rigs that have proven effective for the Team! Still working on adding a ‘How We Fish Bubble Fly Rigs” video.  Do check back; hope to post it once the weather clears and our work schedule permits! Bubble Float: https://amzn.to/2Numo5B Torpedo Float: https://amzn.to/2x82Tp1 Ajusta Bubble: https://amzn.to/2Nz1kuC  

May be of interest to some… collated the fly tying videos we demo’d for various patterns where we used the Peak Tying Vise. Really liking the vise; has been the go to vise that we have used since purchasing one several years ago. Peak Tying Vise: https://amzn.to/2NWQjUe    

Rainy Friday, and forecast says 100% chance tomorrow into Sunday. But, the rain does not have us down. Gives us time to catch up on a few things – blogging updates, video edits, and continuing to write the article about the Bubble Fly Rig to answer a Reader’s question on how we fish a Bubble Fly Rig. That said, have completed rigging three fishing poles with different bubble floats. Once the weather clears, will take video to show how we fish them. Hopefully, we answer the question, and maybe others will give it a try this upcoming Trout Stocking Season! Bubble Float: https://amzn.to/2Numo5B Torpedo Float: https://amzn.to/2x82Tp1 Ajusta Bubble: https://amzn.to/2Nz1kuC    

Another variant of the Elk Hair Caddis we tied the other day in a Quick Tie demo. This demo uses the same pattern and material that was already on hand. No need to run to the store to buy material. The one difference is this pattern wraps the wire rib over the dubbing body and the palmer wrapped hackle. In the other demo, we tied the wire rib after the dubbing body but before the hackle. We anticipate this pattern will be more durable than the previous one, but not certain if the fish will prefer one over the other. So, in a “Field Test” (excuse to go fishing more), we plan to fish both patterns, and describe what we observe…. do stay tuned! PS: The other pattern has caught 20+ Sunfish and Bluegill and is still going strong! Also, do stay tuned or the follow-up video on the Bubble Fly Rig.  We hope to answer our Reader’s question and maybe convince others who want to fish with fishing flies but do not have a fly rod or are still learning how to fly fish! Vise use...

Had only a short amount of time to fish after work today. No problems, able to cruise along on the standup longboard, make it to the local pond, and catch a fish or two with the Micro Fly Rod! Fun times… even got to practice casting the variant of the Perry Poke we like using with the 5wt we normally use! Elk Hair Caddis testing continues as well with about twenty fish caught using the pattern detailed by Tightline which calls for wire or tinsel ribbing to go over the dubbing body but under the hackle.  

Decided to give the Standup Longboard workout and Micro Flyrod Fishing another try Sunday afternoon. Was a warm day but a nice one to catch a few Sunfish and Bluegill using the Telescoping Micro Flyrod and the Elk Hair Caddis. We really like the portability of the rod; when collapsed, easily fits in our shirt pocket. Even better, it does not interfere with the “paddling stroke” when standup longboarding. Video snippet has a view of the run that has just the right amount of slope to cruise down in one direction with ease, while allowing for a reasonable “paddle” back “upstream” to the starting point. It’s a workout but not enough to cause yours truly to step off the longboard and walk! Do check out the video and for more on the making your own Micro Flyrod see our article at COAF Micro Flyrod

A simple quilting extension table made with parts from Home Depot, completed in less than an hour, and with minimal material costing ~$20 as of September 2018. Has adjustable legs and readily modified to a number of sewing machines. Do check out the article “ Make a Simple Quilting Extension Table ” for more details. Keep the article handy in case tasked with a “Honey Do” by your significant others who has a passion for quilting equal to your passion for fishing! Article: Make a Simple Quilting Extension Table Glides: https://amzn.to/2Qz3lWc  

Been sidetracked from fishing due to a new hobby – Standup Longboarding! That is, a workout during the work week to get in shape for kayak fishing during the weekend. That said, if you cannot go kayak fishing, what to do… it had to happen sooner than later – Standup Longboarding and Micro Flyrod Fishing! Able to make a quick run to the local pond. Much quicker using  longboard instead of walking plus got a workout in, too!  And… most important, caught a fish! Fun times!  

Fun times… looks like the Elk Hair Caddis that we tied the other day has resulted in controversy – specifically, should the wire rib used be tied over the hackle or should it be tied under it over the dubbed body and then follow with the hackle? Since its up to the fish… going to tie them both ways, and see what happens.  Suspect the rib tied over the hackle will be more durable then tying it over the body, will see what happens.  More a matter of preference; have had the last Ellk Hair Caddis last a season without an issue. Nevertheless, going to tie two Elk Hair Caddis using both patterns; let’s have some fun and use it as an excuse to go fishing! LOL!

Quick update from the Team talks briefly of the recent trip to Texoma for some kayak fishing for Stripers, a little fun with the Ukulele, and the lots of fun with the Standup Longboarding! And then, in preps for answering the mail – request from a Viewer on our YouTube Channel to provide details on how we use a bubble fly rig to fish with fishing flies without a fly rod. Still have a demo to put together for it but for now, made the trip to Cabelas to stock up on bubble floats we use – specifically: Bubble Float: https://amzn.to/2Numo5B Torpedo Float: https://amzn.to/2x82Tp1 Ajusta Bubble: https://amzn.to/2Nz1kuC  

Quick tie of an Elk hair Caddis using material on hand! Size 14 or 16 Dry Fly Hook 7/0 Dacron Tying Thread (Olive because it was handy) Grizzly Hackle Hares Ear Dubbing Copper Wire Ribbing (Gold as well as tinsel works, too) Elk Hair  

Had an awesome time on the water at Lake Texoma this past Saturday. Was a busy day on the lake being Labor Day Weekend, but it was manageable. Tried trolling at first and had a few strikes. Was hoping to locate balls of Shad with the depth finder, and then try to jig a slab and jig rig for a Bruiser or two lurking below the schools. As it turned out, that was not the pattern. Instead, it was chasing schools as Stripers started breaking the surface feeding on bait fish. This required lots of paddling, sight casting, and then more paddling. No worries though… ended the day with five Stripers for Dinner later that evening!  

Fun time this weekend fishing Texoma. Have video to edit still but always ready to post a snippet of the action! Here we go…!

Sidetracked with the day job and now standup longboarding. Had fun using a kayak paddle as a longboarding paddlesitck, then made one using PVC… liked the concept! Decided to buy a Kahuna Creations Paddlestick. Came in Thursday August 30th, took for a quick “test drive”. Works well; really like the “tire tread” that contacts the ground when “paddling” and the adjustable length. Able to change the length to the paddle hold I am using at various times… cruising slow, turns, and steeper slopes. Fun stuff… now may have to buy my own longboard and give back my buddy’s that I “borrowed”. PS: Gear used… Kahuna Creations: https://amzn.to/2ovcUcc Sector Nine Longboard: https://amzn.to/2N5uaT4 Bones Swiss Bearings: https://amzn.to/2C99yoE