Stocker Trout Fishing News

Warm temps had us setting out the kayaks for a go at the Striped Bass at Lake Texoma. Our Texoma Licences were good till 12/31/21 and the Annual COE Permit was good to go till August 2022. Foggy trip up the road from Allen but things cleared and we put in at East Burns Run with the plan to dead drift flukes and shad for the Striped Bass. Water was chilly, wind was not too bad at all, and waves were not an issue. The only issue we had were no Stripers. Not wanting to closeout 2021 on a strikeout headed to Denison Dam to fish the tailrace. Fishing Buddy hooked up with one Striped Bass and yours truly although did not catch a fish, did get some video footage of what was lurking below. What a difference a day makes,… or in this case months. Earlier in the year, we fished Denison Dam and put in the GoFish Cam. There were fish everywhere… this round, saw two fish only – looked like Carp or Buffalo. Here’s to 2022 and more fishing fun and more “Learn to Fish by our Trials and...

Decided to run down the road to the local pond (Bethany Lakes) and see what was biting. Brought the KastKing Zephyr BFS Reel and Ultralight Lures and left the fly rod at home. Plan was to fish Roostertails but switched to a Mepps Inline Spinner since the Trout seemed to be interested in them – specifically, a copper bladed Mepps Inline Spinner. Trout were following the spinner but not striking which was promising given they ignored gold, silver, and black. For fun and games, fished only the copper bladed Mepps Inline Spinner to see how many fish I could catch. Worked the banks of two of the four ponds at Bethany Lakes… “Main Pond” and “Back Pond”. Caught a number of fish – Bass and Bluegill. Check out the video, and do guess how many I caught…? bfsfishing #kastkingzephyr #pondfishing

Planned to fish the Lower Illinois River in Oklahoma by the Power Plant. When we arrived, we noted the river was high and the current was strong. They were generating power, so we went to our backup plan… fishing for trout at a place we never been to before… Marval RV Resort. Since it is further downriver, we hoped the current would be slower and wadeable. It was still flowing fast and wading would be a hazard other than protected areas near the bank. No worries… learned a few things about the area, caught a fish or two as well as one trout by our Fishing Buddy. Check out the video as we fish a new place by trial and error!

Fished Bethany Lakes Friday morning for a chance at the trout. Trout were there actively feeding. Bait seemed to be catching them fished under a float. The winner hands down was a homemade dough bait that one fisherman was using. Yours truly caught three trout fly fishing, caught three Bass as well but his mojo was off losing a lot more trout that stuck the fishing fly. Did notice the trout wanted movement. Did get strikes using a Black Midge, Rainbow Warrior, and a Griffith’s Gnat. As the morning progressed, noticed it was best to recast if no strike after counting to 10 when fishing dry flies. There were a number of Bass near the pier with three caught using a White Producer – fishing fly we bought at Scotty’s One Stop on a trip to the Blue River in Oklahoma. Fun stuff! See our suggested fishing flies at our COAF Field Team Shop .

The Team is on a roll with answering questions about the gear we use. In this round, we listed the kayak fishing gear that we like to use. Included in the list are gloves, rod holders, kayak anchors, and lures. Do check it out – Kayak Fishing Suggestions.

YouTube Shorts video of yours truly cooking the trout we caught this last trip. Decided to season with just Slap Ya Mama Seasoning. Cook ten minutes on high heat each side. When done, use a fork to scrape the meat of the bones. Tasty! Used only one seasoning – Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning available at Walmart Online . Slap Ya Mama’s hot mix of spicy seasonings is sure to set your mouth on fire, delivering an intense blast of delicious cajun.All Natural – This product is natural, MSG-free, and kosher.Versatile and Easy to Use – Can be used as a brush for grilling, smoking or frying. Add cajun flavor to jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, shrimp, and crab. Even add some spice to your Bloody Mary or beer.Authentic Louisiana Flavor – The blend has that true cajun flavor that everyone loves, which Slap Ya Mama is famous for all over the world.From our family to yours: Slap Ya Mama has been crafting high-quality condiments and recipes from the Ville Platte, Louisiana lin...

Here are a few things we like to have when fishing the tailrace at our local reservoir – Texoma lake and its tailrace referred to as Denison Dam. See details at COAF Field Team – Denison Dam Tailrace Fishing . As for the casting float we like to use, this is our favorite one. It is made by Flex Coat and when available you can get them at Walmart Online . This float can launch small baits and lures up to 100 yards away. On top of offering extreme distance, the Launcher has a unique flat top design that gives special lure action on the retrieve. Its splashdown and action attracts fish as it resembles the movement of schooling or feeding bait. The Launcher is guaranteed to expand the use of all lightweight baits and lures without needing special skills to do so. Look for it in a variety of sizes to suit all of your fishing needs. Flex Coat

Checked out the local pond yesterday; noticed the trout were active, feeding on something hatching. Turned out Murphy’s Law of Fishing 101 was in effect… specifically, the one lure, bait, or fishing fly they are biting on is the one you do not have!

Decided to fish Pottsboro Lake in Pottsboro Texas this past Saturday. After a little rain in the morning, made it to the pond just as a cold front rolled in. Cold and windy, did manage three trout. Planned to catch trout using ultralight lures and a BFS Rod/Reel, but trout wanted PowerWorms. Good thing I had the Bubble and Fly Rig handy, just swapped the fishing fly for a PowerWorm. Bite was steady, just kept missing the hookset. Did get a few Bluegill and a Bass on the PowerWorms. Plus got some underwater video of what was lurking in the pond! Do check out the video! Spiderwire 10lbs EZ Braid

Product review of the Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel where yours truly details why he likes the reel noting pros, cons, and tips… more like suggestions for those interested in trying BFS fishing but at a entry price point that is much easier on the wallet compared to other reels! Also, here is the Spiderwire EZ Braid we used for the Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel. Used 10lbs test which has an equivalent 2lbs mono diameter. Also, only put about 120-130 feet on the spool – about 30 turns of the handle. Much easier to undo backlashes and not too concerned about the amount of line as I am targeting stocker size trout. Can easily cast to the Arbor knot attaching the line to the spool. EZ Braid Spderwire See more gear on our COAF Field Team Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/coaffieldteam

Been keeping an eye out on the Zebco Slingshot Spinning Rod and Reel Combo. It is still available for under $10 at Walmart as of today. We have a fondness for this combo because the older version has a handle that keeps the rod afloat even if it falls overboard. And, in our case, we lost two rods while kayaking a few years back. Those rods cost much more than $10 and since funds can be low at times, we jumped on the Zebco Slingshot while grocery shopping at the local Walmart. We bought two more this year even though the rod no longer floats… the new version has a “skeleton handle” so it is no longer as buoyant compared to the older model. No worries, we still like the rods! And, as noted in the title of this post, it is still under $10! “Cool colors. Hot spinning performance. All at a great price. These custom-matched Combos are great for all ages with long-casting Slingshot spinning reels and durable 2-piece Z-Glass rods.” – Walmart See latest price ...

YouTube Shorts Video of underwater action shots of a Trout really liking a Berkley PowerWorm! Ended up catching three trout today but missed a lot more. Fished using the Kastking Zephyr BFS reel and a bubble fly rig but used a PowerWorm instead of a fishing fly. Windy and cold, still had lots of fun!

Question from a Viewer on the Tie-Fast Knot Tyer Tool and how I used it to make a line strike indicator. Made a short video that explains it. May be of interest to others. Click on the picture or go to this link – Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool. The Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool is what we use to make a line strike indicator for fly fishing as well as a variation of a loop to loop connection for our fly line to leader when our fly line does not come with a pre-formed loop. Tie-Fast Knot Tying Tool

YouTube Shorts video of a #TBT to Charlie the Maltese Puppy back then on his first kayaking trip, or maybe swimming trip! He did well after the initial dunking. Once dried, he did not want to leave. Oh well, next time Charlie!

Do check out our Amazon Page where we have collated products we have used in our past fishing trips. We started the page for ease of reference when answering Readers questions. It is still a work in progress as there are a number of items that we have been asked about. Do check back and/or follow the page use the [Follow+] button to get notifications as we post them. COAF Field Team Amazon Page

YouTube Shorts video where I practice casting ultralight lures using a Kastking Zephyr BFS reel lined with 10lbs Spiderwire which has an equivalent diameter to 2lbs monofilament. 1/16oz Roostertail gets one trout to strike! Still educating my thumb. As a workaround while I train my thumb, I will line the reel with about 100 plus feet of braided line. This allows me to cast all line on the spool, and if I do get a backlash, I can quickly untangle the line and get back to casting. This round was a little more tricky to get dialed in due to the windy conditions and the thin diameter of the line which tended to hang up on the arbor knot I used to attach the line to the spool. Do check back, plan to try more BFS fishing for trout in the next few weeks. Dual BFS Fly Rod Suggestions

YouTube Shorts video of Charlie the Maltese Doggy out and about fishing with us in the old jon boat at the local lake!

YouTube Shorts video of yours truly trout fishing using a Kastking Zephyr BFS reel and a Fire Tiger Roostertail, and then a Penn Pursuit spinning reel and a Black Roostertail. Steady but fast retrieve was key!

Back to the local pond for more trout fishing. Cold temps with frost had changed the pattern. Eventually found a lure and a retrieve that worked. Limited out casting to passing schools of trout. Do check out the video to see how I found pattern.

Our local pond – Bethany Lakes, gets its trout stocking tomorrow – December 9, 2021. We have always enjoyed fishing for stocker trout; we even created a website – StockerTroutFishing.com ( http://stockertroutfishing.com/ ), to collate notes and tips from past trips into a central repository. The site has been helpful over the years and partners well with our YouTube Channel – COAF Field Team ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/coaffieldteam ). To kick-off the Texas Trout Stocking Season, we posted a video that describes places we like to fish for the 2021-2022 Season. Specifically, three counties near the DFW Metroplex and then the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. Do check out the video, and do let us know how this Season is going for you… “are you catching a trout or two, or more?” texastroutstocking #texastroutfishing #dfwfishing

Answering the mail concerning one of Oklahoma’s fishing regulations that some may not be aware of… check out the video! Related links: https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/general-fishing-regulations Reference to… “Possess fish in a tailwater without keeping their fish separate, marked with their customer ID number. See Tailwaters section in the “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations.” https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/public-fishing-areas-special-regulations-s-z Reference to… Each angler must keep their fish separate, marked with their name and customer ID number or lifetime license number when fishing in tailwaters, except at Wister,… https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/trout-regulations Reference to…”All trout in possession must be kept on a stringer marked with that angler’s name and customer ID number. All anglers must have their own stringer.”

Day after Thanksgiving decided to fish Denison Dam on the Oklahoma side for a go at the Striped Bass that tend to lurk near the drainage pipe that flows even though they are not generating power or releasing water. Brought medium spinning gear and the pier rods with the Penn Squall 15 reels that worked well on our trip to Galveston earlier in the year. Bite was slow but then picked up later once our fishing partner fund them lurking near the far wall. No Bruisers but still had a great time!

Episode 21 in the “Little Red Book of Fly Fishing” podcast series where I review fly fishing tips…. This week it’s tips 94 through 99! Tip 94: Fish Flies Atypically Tip 95: Shake, Shake, Shake (Your Streamer) Tip 96: Snake Your Way to Success Tip 97: Ditch the Bobber Tip 98: More on Indicators Tip 99: Balloon Going Up Do check back on our next episode in the series where we discuss tips 100 – 105. Tip 100: The Sting Tip 101: Easy on the Grease Tip 102: Accuracy Above All Tip 103: Beware the Wave Tip 104: Spare the Rod Tip 105: Ups and Downs Good Luck and Good Fishing! ifishnews #fishingpodcasts #flyfishingtips See full playlist

Happy Thanksgiving from us to you and yours! No fishing today, been busy with meal preps as well as updates to our website… stockertroutfishing.com Here is to a day of thanks to family, friends, and tasty meal shared with those close to you!

Suggestion from one of the Facebook Fishing Groups that I am a member. Broke my wooden wading stick that I had for years this past Sunday. Planned to get another stick floating in the river to replace it, and then it was suggested to use Walking Sticks also called Trekking Poles. Picked this one up at Academy Sports for $9.99! Liking the lightweight aluminum and the telescoping/collapsible function. Moreover, pulled the rubber tip to screw on the mud guard on and noticed a “cleat” like tip already in place. I think this suggestion will work; plan to use it this Season! More to come!

Hoped to catch one of the Bruiser trout that are stocked for the Trout Derby on the Blue River. Did not catch a Bruiser but still managed three that went 12″ – 14″ in size, making for a nice dinner! After scouting the upriver from Hughes Crossing, went back to Hughes Crossing and fished just upriver of the low water crossing. Tried the same fishing fly and presentation as I did on an earlier trip. Pattern this round… Pat’s Near Deere on dead drift with a twitch now and then as well as a Stop and Go Retrieve. Same applied to a Pat’s Rubber Leg. Fishing an Olive Near Deere and a Guadalupana, trout wanted a fast retrieve with rapid short pulls. While a Pink Near Deere was a no go! Do check out the video!

YouTube Shorts video that shows the retrieve we used when the trout stopped biting. We started with a strike indicator with a Pat’s Near Deere set 3-4 feet from the indicator. Using a dead drift, the trout were readily striking that morning. But, as the day progressed, the trout stopped biting. Trying different retrieves, finally found a Stop and Go Retrieve without a strike indicator worked. Trout wanted movement, striking the fishing fly as it hesitated on the stop. Do check it out, and do check out the full video of the trip, too!

Oops, I did it again… another Winter trout stocking season is soon to be here. Like in past seasons, yours truly modified the schedule posted by TPWD to sort by Stocking Date and the count of trout stockings planned for a location and its estimated trout to be stocked. Makes for ease of reference by allowing Readers to quickly see when the next trout stocking is planned. As changes are unexpected for various reasons like weather, do check for updates, changes, and corrections at TPWD’s website – 2021-2022 TPWD Trout Stocking Schedule . Note: Dates for trout stockings at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFCC) in Athens show 12/1/21, 1/1/22, and 2/2/22. These are placeholders as TPWD’s schedule indicates various stockings instead of a specific date. Before planning a trip do contact Athens TFCC – contact page. See pdf of the sorted schedule… 2021TroutStockingSummary_20211112_rev1

Made it to the Blue River in Oklahoma today. River was stocked October 28 but was not able to fish the river till today. Limited out with three trout per the new daily limits this season. No worries… was a fun time. Pat’s Near Deere worked well, do check back for the full video of the trip. Till then, this YouTube Shorts shows the first trout of the season for yours truly!

Halloween Day last weekend. Was not able to fish the Blue River in Oklahoma but did take the opportunity to practice fishing using the same setup I would use on the Blue River. Fished the local pond – Bethany Lakes in Allen, for whatever would bite. Opted for a tandem-rigged leading Near Deere and trailing Rainbow Warrior. This is the same rig I like to use when fishing for trout, changing out the fishing flies as the fish dictate. Caught a Bass and several Bluegill after switching to a single fishing fly and using a short pull, fast retrieve. Another presentation I like to use on the Blue River when the trout are actively feeding on minnows, nymphs, and other emergent. Do give it a try… especially liking the One Handed Spey setup: Redington Classic Trout 9ft 5wt, Echo Ion 4/5wt reel, and the OPST Commando Head with Lazarline Running Line!

Here is another pattern that has been a producer of trout for us over the years. It is the Rainbow Warrior Midge that we like to fish in tandem with a lead fishing fly like an Olive Wooley Bugger or a Near Deere. Material for this pattern are: Red Dacron Tying Thread Size 16 Hook Bead Head of the color of your choice Pearlscent Tinsel Pink and Ice Dubbing or Sow Bug Dubbing Head Cement or UV Glue Do give it a try next chance you get for trout, and let us know how it worked for you!

Here is a follow-up fishing video that describes five fly fishing presentations that have worked well for us when trout fishing in Oklahoma – specifically, the Blue River, Broken Bow (also known as the Lower Mountain Fork), and Turner Falls. The five fly fishing presentations are: – Upstream – Upstream 45 degrees – Cross Stream – Downstream 45 degrees – Downstream Of note, one must continue to maintain a drag free drift to ensure the fishing fly mimics a natural moving “bug”. PS: Video includes one more presentation that is a variation of several them.

YouTube Shorts video of yours truly showing how I work a Near Deere set four feet under a strike indicator. Working at a slight angle upstream, I drift the Near Deere at the same speed to match the bubbles drifting downriver. This video was taken on the Blue River several seasons ago near the “Island” downriver from Hughes Crossing. Was a fun trip, even limited out! Suggested Fishing Flies – Trout

YouTube Shorts video of a simple fishing fly pattern that has worked well for the COAF Field Team over the years for stocked trout. This is the GRHEN in a Bead Head Variant. GRHEN is short for Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph. It is tied in size 16 in the Quick Tie Demo but cab be tied in other sizes to match the hatch. Additionally, the GRHEN can be fished as a single fly but we tend to fish it as a tandem fly rig with the GRHEN as the trailing fly to a streamer lead fly like a Near Deere or Wooley Bugger. Do give this one a try this Season!

Here is a picture of a Bass that yours truly caught while pond fishing one morning. Decided to bring a fiberglass cane pole that telescopes to over 15 feet and put a length of line on it to fish a Foam Grasshopper. After a few strikes and misses, I was able to catch this nice Bass that went well over 15″… It may have gone 18″ or more. Regardless, it was a fun one to catch that put an awesome bend in the “Tenkara” style rod. Moreover, I released it to get bigger. Maybe it’s really big now because this was caught and released some time ago!

Just over two weeks away from Trout Stocking Season in Oklahoma! In two Fridays, there will be Rainbow Trout swimming in the Blue River. While checking out past videos and blog posts, came across a video that recalled a fly tying session the night before I headed to the Blue several seasons ago. Tied Near Deere in Olive and Orange, and then a pattern I called the PMC Emerger that can be fished wet or dry. Check it out the YouTube Short Video below, and do give it a try on your next trip for Trout!  

Oklahoma daily statewide limit changed from six to three trout recently. For those in Oklahoma, North Texas, or have previously fished for trout in Oklahoma, do you still plan to fish for trout in Oklahoma this stocking season – Nov21′ to Mar’22? Please add comments to expand on your answer. Link to poll.

Running errands to the local grocery store that happens to have a small pond. As luck would have it, had the 5wt Redington Classic Trout rod, Echo Ion reel, and OPST Commando Head in the pickup… wonder who put it there? LOL! Foam Grasshopper did well again with a several Bluegill and a Bass caught and released before I went to the grocery store.

Easy fly tying pattern in the YouTube Shorts format that demos how we tie a simple but effective pattern that works well on Bass, Bluegill, and Trout! Do give it a try this next trout stocking season!

Pond Fly Fishing fun with the foam grasshopper coupled with the One Handed Spey combo – Classic Trout Redington 9′ 5wt, Echo Ion 4/5wt reel, and the OPST Commando Head with Lazar Line running line. Caught Bluegill at first, then the Bass started biting using a fast retrieve! Fun stuff!

YouTube Shorts video of the bass lurking in our local pond, using the DIY GoFish Cam to Phone Rig to get a live feed of the action below.

Another round in the field with the DIY GoFish Cam and Phone Rig that allows us to see the underwater action while fishing. Brought the two piece micro fly rod to work the feeder creek for a Bluegill that we would use as live bait. Caught two little ones but let them go in hopes of a bigger size fish. Then. caught a little Bass before finally catching a Bluegill for live bait. After deploying the rig, soon had Bluegill as well as several Bass check out the live bait. Liking this DIY GoFish Cam to Phone Live Rig. Will say this round was a success! Checkout the video!

YouTube Shorts video that shows a suggestion we learned from fishermen in Missouri or was it Arkansas. No worries… we like it! How to check if your hook is barbless especially in those special regulation areas that require the use of barbless hooks! Give it a try and let us know if it works for you! Suggested Trout Fishing Supplies Fly Fishing Tying Suggestions

In preparation for the approaching Trout Stocking Season, put a video together about three Oklahoma rivers – two that offer year round trout fishing and one seasonal fishery. Do check it out; we also included some key items to be aware of in the the Trout Area Regulations and General Trout Regulations posted by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation online at https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/trout-area-information. May be useful to first timers thinking about fishing this Season! Good Luck and Good Fishing! PS: Added a bonus tip at the end that my be for interest to some!

Finally, I was able to test the DIY GoPro to Phone Rig that would allow me to control my GoPro using my phone as well as allow me to see the live video feed to my phone. Simple rig that used PVC, COAX TV Cable, a metal extension with a GoPro mount to hold the GoPro and another mount to hold the phone. While testing the rig in a bucket the GoPro would stay connected via Wi-Fi as far as 20 feet without the rig. However, in the field, the camera lost the Wi-Fi connection. I needed the DIY GoPro to Phone Rig to stay connected. The rig worked! I could start and stop the recording, turn it off and surprisingly… back on too! I watched the live video feed; no fish but it was a field test more than a fishing trip. And, even stay connected up to 10 plus feet away. I did not have to have the phone touching the cable. Below are links to what I used to build the rig… will host a live stream to detail how I built it.

Been itching to get more underwater camera actions shots. Wanted to try a camera setup that uses the Wi-Fi connection to a mobile phone to get live action shots of what is happening underwater. Understood the Wi-Fi connection is lost soon as the Hero 5 goes underwater. The Go Pro will keep recording but you can no longer control the Go Pro with your phone. Found a workaround that uses cable like in Cable TV cable to maintain connectivity when the Go Pro is underwater. Made a rig and planned to field test is soon as the hand heals but while testing the rig my sinking the camera in a bucket, learned the Wi-Fi connection stayed connected. I did not lose connection until I was 20+ feet away from the bucket. Will have to test this in a pond. But, this is promising! Do check back, plan to try testing the connection with and without the rig to see if the Hero 5 stays connected!

YouTube Shorts video where I went kayak fishing for Striped Bass in the little Heritage Featherlite Kayak one chilly October morning on Lake Texoma. Was a fun time, caught several Striped Bass with the largest going 6 pounds! See full video at https://youtu.be/H0YPsESUENw

YouTube Shorts video of yours truly kayak fishing for Striped Bass on Lake Texoma – large reservoir that borders Texas and Oklahoma. Putting in at Highpoint Marina on the Texas side, I managed to get a strike or two but never landed a fish. Luckily, I had the old Water Wolf Camera – since lost in the waters of Lake Lavon our local lake! Trolling jigs and crankbaits, several fish had struck the lures. And, this short video, you clearly see in the murkiness a nice sized Gar! Check out more videos Kayak Fishing Lake Texoma: YouTube Playlist Full video of the YouTube Shorts: Struck Out at Texoma

Here is another YouTube Shorts TBT video to Beavers Bend and the Lower Mountain Fork River before the flood changed the river to its present state. It was a fun trip where I fished Spillway Creek, the Cold Hold, the Bluffs, and the Evening Hole. But, as luck would have it, I had lots of action, more like missed strikes at Lost Creek. Sure do miss Lost Creek! Check out the full video at More Fun Fishing the Lower Mountain Fork…! Suggested Fishing Flies – Trout

YouTube Shorts video where I place an underwater camera – WaterWolf Camera, under a float with a hook baited with bread. Soon realize… Turtles can steal a bait quickly! This was several years ago when I still had the camera; I lost it while kayak fishing and never recovered it. Since then I have replaced it with a GoFish Cam. It appears the WaterWolf is no longer available… BUMMER! The location was a pond in Murphy, TX that has a good population of Bass and Catfish that tend to be bigger than other ponds we have fished. This round was a bust though… the Turtles managed to steal my bait without getting hooked. Check out the video and note how the Turtle seems to position the bread to where he can easily remove it from the hook! Camera

YouTube Shorts video of a TBT to Beavers Bend State Park before the big flood or was it floods that changed the entire river. Lots of brush and greenery with a few Rainbow and Brown Trout caught and released. See the full video at https://youtu.be/8KePd_ZH-ic In the past, designated Blue and Red zones were used to separate sections of the river. The Blue zone allowed bait fishing, non-barbless hooks, and more liberal daily limits compared to the Red Zone. As of 2021, the rules have changed. Strongly suggest checking out Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s eRegulations for the latest update before fishing the area. See the Lower Mountain Fork section of the eRegulations for more info. ( Trou t Area Information ).

Decided to review the What’s New in 2021 section of the Texas 2021-2022 Season. Had a question concerning one of the new changes to 2021; contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. They replied within the hour. Nice! Reviewed one new change to the trout regulations in Oklahoma. Was uncertain about the Daily Limits for the Lower Mountain Fork. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation clarified for me. Had another on related to the Lower Illinois River. Interesting answer… suggest contacting them directly. To submit questions to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, use the following link: Submi t a Question. To submit question to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, use the following link: Contact Us.

Looks like September 11, 2021 the trout limit will be three instead of six for Oklahoma. Previously, the Oklahoma Statewide limit was six which has some area fishermen conflicted in fishing for trout this upcoming trout stocking season. So far, it appears to be two opposing opinions: Those for the three trout daily limit look forward to an increase opportunity to fish for trout as more will be available to Those against the new daily limit explain the time and expense is not worth it when limited to three trout. That said, we anxiously await for the trout stocking season, and will follow the new rules in effect. See more at ODWC’s Website.

Good Day Everyone! This round we talk about how we prepare for fishing Galveston, TX. Specifically, fishing piers for “whatever bites”! Galveston Fishing Pier 61st Fishing Pier Seawolf Park Pier PS: Was a fun trip this year, and learned more things about the area. See the post-trip video at: Galveston Fishing Pier | Sharks and More! See our article too! https://skyaboveus.com/fishing/FishingGalveston

Fishing updates and related activities from the Team! Had a little ouch that has me slightly out of commission. Should be good to go in a couple of weeks or so. Till then, do check back on our YouTube Channel – COAF Field Team, and this website as we can always talk fishing! In the near future, will go back to working on the DIY Fish Bites Gummy Gum recipe, using the GoFish Cam to get underwater action shots, and the Tenkara rod to catch a fish or two! Also, will keep posting TBT YouTube Shorts to remind us that Trout Stocking Season is just around the corner as well as general fishing tips and suggestions that I find while in my rehabilitation period!

Out and about this weekend in Oklahoma. Decided to fish a small pond is in Moore or possibly Norman… could be on the border, too! Trip started out slow with fish actively feeding on “bugs” on the surface. Also, noticed lots of turtles seemed to show up suspiciously near my fishing fly. I started fishing the pond’s perimeter using a Foam Grasshopper pattern without success. Then, switched to a Guadalupana fished under a strike indicator. The fish were barely nibbling… more like “pecking like a chicken” at my offering. Once I added the indicator, I was able to detect strikes but it still did not mean a hook-up. After multiple missed strikes, I managed to catch a little Bluegill. The remainder of the trip continued to be a strike or a miss but I did catch a few more Bluegill, Sunfish, and a Bass. The pond looks fairly new, so I anticipate more and bigger fish to come. Will keep this one in my back pocket to fish when I am in the area again. Do ch...

Answering the mail to the question, “Why the OPST Commando Head for One-Handed Spey Casting?” The main reason we like the OPST Commando Head is it offers us the ability to fish places where our back cast is clobbered. Like when a tree is behind you and there is no room for an overhead or a side cast. In this case, I demonstrate using a 9′ 5wt Redington Fly Rod lined with a 200 grain OPST Commando Head, 30lbs test Mono Lazar Line, and a Floating Tip. The leader is a knotted tapered leader that runs about 9 feet in length. It’s one that I make as it is much cheaper to tie my own than to buy one. In the video, I show the ease of casting a Roll Cast and a Switch Cast despite the tree behind me! Do check out the video, and let us know why you like the OPST Commando Head! Gear Used Echo Ion Fly Reel 4/5 wt: http://amzn.to/2ql1EhN Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod (9′-4pc-5wt): http://amzn.to/2rENFHu OPST Commando Head (200 grain): http://amzn.to/2zftMuC OPST Lazar ...

Here is the follow-up video showing the underwater footage taken with the GoFish Cam. We used the Micro Fly Rod to catch live bait, then baited the camera rig, and struck out… had multiple strikes including one that broke the line. Compared the picture of the Bass caught last week that went 20″; would say it would have gone the same size, too! Counted fifteen bass in the video; do check our count and let us know if we miscounted! Bass caught last week that went 20 inches! Bass that broke the line yesterday… maybe bigger than last week’s Bass?