Getting Started Fly Fishing | Casting Quality Fly Line with a Bamboo Stake...?

-

That time of year when fishing questions start coming in. This one relates to getting started in fly fishing – specifically, our thoughts on budgeting for a fly rod/reel combo.

In this video, the introduction has a past video playing in the background… yours truly is casting a OPST Commando Head and no rod or reel at the local pond. It’s a quality line that makes for some nice casting especially when our back cast is clobbered.

Then, I describe a fly line that I will demo casting using a bamboo stake like the ones used to support tomato plants in a garden.

If a quality fly line can be cast using a stiff bamboo stake, then a good fly rod should easily cast the same fly line.

PS: Our suggestion has remained constant over the years… in general, we like to first purchase a quality fly line, then will buy the fly rod, and then either buy the reel last or repurpose one we already have.

That is, unless we are planning to use the new fly rod/reel combo for larger fish that require a good drag for fighting on the reel, then we will buy the reel before the rod or repurpose a rod we already have.

Comments

Post a Comment

Enter a keyword to search for archived posts.

Popular posts from this blog

Community Lakes Report!

-
No need to reply to this email. Hello, fshng84 has forwarded you a post or group of posts from Texas Fishing Forum Included note: Great report on lures for community lakes in our area! To read this topic, click this link The selected thread posts follow:   06/17/16 | 09:54 PM McKinneyLonghorn: Re: Community Lakes Seems like this post was popular the last two years, so here is my third annual Collin County pond fishing report. As I have said before, I am a pretty big geek who loves spreadsheets and keeping records of things. I keep track of all the fish I catch, so as I did the last two years, I thought I would share my year in bass fishing, covering June 15, 2015 to June 14, 2016. For reference, here are the two previous reports. 2014 2015 This year was once again heavy on the wakebaits. It is not like I don't throw anything else, it is just with the heavy vegetation at many ...
Read more

Is It Ethical To Fish On Spawning Beds?

-
Food for thought as the upcoming spawn ramps up! Lloyd5: Is It Ethical To Fish On Spawning Beds? It is that great time of year for fishermen, spring. Quite probably the absolute very best greatest time of the entire year for fishermen. The water is warming up, the air is warming up, things are turning green, the fish are warming up, and the fish are biting. Great stuff all around. Especially the fish are biting part. This is also the time of year that presents some fishermen with one of the most exciting forms of fishing - spawn beds. It can also be a controversial type of fishing, with some being passionately against it. Here are some of the arguments I've heard (usually over a beer) from the two sides: Against The health and well being of the fishery relies in large part on the reproductive cycle of the fish. The odds of each fry living to be a big fish are incredibly small under the best of circumstances, and interfering with the spawn fish reduces ...
Read more

More Kayak Fishing at Texoma... #kayakfishing

-
Cooler temps this morning but did make the run to Texoma and put in a Spillway Ramp. Had one school pass and was able to catch one Striper. Later, worked a school of shad and was able to catch a Gaspergou. All was quiet, trolling, jigging, and sight casting but no more schools breaking the surface like the other two trips. However, did get one more Striper while casting to point. Still working on the video; will get it out in the next few days. PS: Having the depth finder (Lowrance Hook 3X DSI) made a difference in locating schools of shad! #kayakfishing this morning to #texoma for #stripedbass …first breakfast of champions! #coffee and #nutterbutter cookies …went with pants instead of shorts but still have kayak sandals, cooler temps this morning A post shared by COAF Field Team (@coaf.field.team) on Jul 30, 2017 at 5:02am PDT
Read more

Fly Fishing Tips from the Little Red Book of Fly Fishing | iFishNews Fishing Podcast 27

-
Image
Number 7 in the “Little Red Book of Fly Fishing” podcast series where I review fly fishing tips in preparation for the upcoming Trout Stocking Season. This week it’s fly fishing tips 25 through 28! Tip 25: Woody Hayes Rule of Casting Tip 26: 40 Feet in 4 Seconds Tip 27: Come Closer, Darling Tip 28: When not to Cast (or Even Twitch) Do check it out, and do check back for the next episode for tips 29 – 32! Tip 29: Control Trumps Distance Tip 30: Pinkie Perfection Tip 31: Cast Around Problems Tip 32: Make Friends with the Wind Good Luck and Good Fishing! PS: Check back, plan to post a video on Tip 26 “40 Feet in 4 Seconds”! Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QczofU (Podcast has migrated to the iFishNews Fishing Podcast Series - Click Link )
Read more

Fly Fishing and Pond Hopping...! #flyfishing

-
Image
On the commute, did a little pond hopping the past few days. Was a tough go but did manage to catch a fish or two! First pond was Crowley Park Pond in Richardson. Fished the Redington Pursuit 4wt 8ft Fly Rod and the Ross Flystart2 Reel. Lost the Betts Bream Getter but did make one using Waspi’s Foam Spider Tying Kit! Landed a Bluegill and caught but lost a Bass while bringing it to shore. 4lbs tippet broke but luckily did not lose the fishing fly! Second pond was Plano Downtown Center Pond… not sure about the formal name for it, but this one works for ease of reference. Started fishing the Waspi Betts Bream Getter but without luck. Then, noticed a ball of little fish, actually several of them, moving about in the pond. Thought they were minnows. Turned out to be fingerling catfish. Switched to a PMC Emerger…. smallest fishing fly in the fly box. Had a few follow it but none struck. Next, went with a Corq strike indicator and a Near Deere. Able to catch a Bullhead on the fly! Next ...
Read more

Blue River Catch and Release Information | Questions and Answers | #fishing #flyfishing #blueriver

-
Image
Question from the Texas Fishing Forum that we follow... "Now I have some questions on the Blue River in Oklahoma. I am a bit out of that loop. 1) That parking on the E side of the Catch and Release (off 7) - is that just for parking, and there is still a hike up to the high point of the C-n-R? 2) I think the C-n-R is barbless? Kind of silly if you ask me, but my memory banks are full! 3) Are the stockings good in the C-n-R area? Still a mystery easter egg hunt? Anybody been there lately?" Answering the mail, we provide the following: "1) That parking on the E side of the Catch and Release (off 7) - is that just for parking, and there is still a hike up to the high point of the C-n-R?" The parking on the East side off Hwy 7 is just for parking.  It is designated as a walk-in area only and no camping. Refer to Blue River Map below. It is a 2+ mile hike to the Catch and Release area from the parking area on the East side of Hwy 7. For a shorter hike - about 1.3 miles, ...
Read more

Finding the Pattern Fly Fishing Kroger Park ... #Guadalupana Give Away

-
Image
Was trying to catch fish at Kroger park, specifically, Bass using the Tube Popper Fly that worked well at Stoney Hollow Pond. Switched to a Damsel Fly Variant when it did not work, then switched back to the Tube Popper Fly. No luck there, so went with a Guadalupana… it worked. Do check out the video for tips and an idea on the retrieve we used when working the Guadalupana. Liked the fishing fly but did lose two Bass that threw the hook out after the initial hook set. Decided to tie Guadalupanas to replace the one lost this trip. Then, decided to give away two of them instead of the Near Deere Give Away for this month! This Give Away… We picked a number between 1 and 200! First to guess the number, and with a US mailing address… WINS! This Give Away are two Guadalupana… in Size 8. Size 8 to better hook Bass instead of the size 10 we used. One Guadalupana has its hackle tied Palmer style. The other Guadalupana has hackles tied Dry Fly style. One guess per day… just post in the comments o...
Read more

Pond Fishing Practice for the Blue River | Near Deere, Rainbow Warrior, and OPST Commando Head

-
Image
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!
Read more

No Fishing But Still Can Do Fishing Related Things! #switchrod #paracord

-
Image
2017 has the Team back at their day jobs. That said, if you can’t go fishing, you can still do fishing related things. In our case, opted to respool the Echo Ion 8/10 reel with a Rio’s Skagit Max Short spey line and Gripshooter shooting line. Add a floating and a sinking Versileader, and we are ready to try it out next chance we get. Afterwards, did a little paracord handiwork and made a cord lanyard for the headset/microphone that we use with our digital recorder (Zume H1). Looks good and does not tangle with fly line like before! All for now, have a happy mid-week “Hump Day” and hope to be out again this weekend!   No #fishing today. But, new #rio line came in for the 6wt #switchrod from #cabelas …now just gotta put it on the #echo ion reel. A photo posted by COAF Field Team (@coaf.field.team) on Jan 3, 2017 at 5:48pm PST   Fixed the tangled cord issue with #paracord …works well with the headset and #zume H1 recorder! Hope to field test while #fishi...
Read more

Lake Lavon Fishing - Kayaking and Juglining Gets Kayak PB! #kayakfishing #juglining #catfish

-
Image
Fun time juglining and kayak fishing Lake Lavon Saturday. Even caught a personal best Blue Catfish from a kayak… went 30 plus inches! Did catch a bigger one several years ago on Lake Lavon but that was in a jon boat and with a fishing buddy. This one was caught and landed by yours truly! Lots of fun… had to make a run to shore to land it. Lots of winds and waves and no net; did not want to risk losing it trying to land it in the kayak. Longer than normal video… includes details on the kayak jug lines used and setting up the first group of three jug lines. In keeping with the COAF Field Team’s motto… “Learn to fish by our trials and errors”
Read more