Fly Tying

More articles from the COAF Field Team. This category is about fly tying. Do check out the articles and let us know if a particular pattern worked for you!



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Field Team Update and Fishing Fly Give Away #neardeere

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Been hosting live sessions on YouTube and Facebook to answer questions from viewers. Added a give away of fishing flies in one session. Might as well do another one… plan to host on our YouTube Channel at COAF FIELD TEAM on Friday, 1/11 at 8pm Central. Details provided in the description of our last session. Come join us… plan to host a random drawing for three Near Deere in Olive, Pink, and White. To enter the random drawing, submit a comment like “Hi”. This will allow us to see your YouTube name and enter it in the drawing. Also, if you are a Subscriber you are automatically entered. Do note that the drawing is limited to those with a US address. We are unable to send to a non-US address. For planning purposes, we will hold the drawing January 11, 2019 at 8PM Central. Do join us then… will keep the session short and sweet – say “howdy” to participants and then go right into the drawing!
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Foam Grasshopper and Back Up Dry Fly Did Well! #flyfishing

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Fished the Lower Pond at Bethany Lakes this evening. Caught a Bluegill, several Bass, and missed several more. Bummer on losing the Foam Grasshopper to a Bass. Was able to switch to a dry fly we use as a strike indicator for those picky trout and caught several Bass! Will definitely tie more Foam Grasshopper and give it another go on the local ponds!   Log Book Entry: 3/14/17 Location: Bethany Lakes – Lower Pond (Allen) Time: 18:00 – 19:00 Weax: Clear, “Sweater”, Calm Rod: Cabelas TLR 4wt – 7’6″ Reel: Ross Flystart 1 – 5wt Flyline Comments: Started with the Foam Grasshopper on 4lbs test. Caught a Bluegill and a Bass and lots of missed hook sets in between. Then, had a nice fish – suspect it was a Bass, go for the Grasshopper but throw the fly shortly after the strike. Soon after a nice sized Bass takes the Grasshopper but the line breaks. Noticed that 4lbs test will break quickly when larger Bass are hooked in the mouth instead of the lips. No more Grasshoppers but was able to use a Ba
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Why We Like One-Handed Spey Casting... #opstcommandohead #speycasting

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Video that shows the fly rod/reels we used, and what led us to using a Switch Rod and a Trout Rod for most of our fly fishing trips now. We learned about spey lines and Switch Rods after injuring a shoulder. Normal overhead and side casts was painful. We were doomed to waiting for the shoulder to heal. Then, we tried a Switch Rod and discovered several casting techniques that allowed the rod hand to stay below the shoulder and felt no pain when casting. Later, we saw a video of a fly fisherman using the OPST Commando Head with only 1/2 of a 9′ 5wt Fly Rod. In the video, he was getting incredible casts with only a “four and a half” foot rod! With that we decided to try the OPST Commando Head on our favorite fly rod… a 9′ 5wt Redington Classic Trout fly rod. This combination provided the same benefits as the Switch Rod but in a more compact package! Subsequently, we primarily use the 6wt Switch Rod and the 5wt Fly Rod for our fly fishing trips. Do check out the video and learn why we lik
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FW: Watched Forum: Fly Fishing : Re: Over lining?

Lots of discussion on this concept on the boards!     RexW: Re: Over lining? Originally Posted By: Jim Ford But I have seen posts claiming that the author overlines all fly rods. Beware of that guy's advice............. I agree with this comment. The person giving that advice may not be fishing the same way you are. There is no "one size fits all" for up lining or down lining a rod. Personal preference, equipment, wind, fishing conditions, casting skill, and fly size can all play a part in the decision of what line size to use with what rod. Here's an example, when the bass are holding close to the bank and fishing from boat, a 20 to 30 foot cast may be all that is needed. Well, a 9 ft rod + 8 ft leader and a 30 foot cast means that only 13 feet of fly line is outside the rod tip. Up lining a size or two to a heavier fly line can help load the rod and make casting large, wind resistan
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Quick Update from the Team. Lots of Happenings... #coaffieldteam

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Been out of pocket lately but have been able to wet a line or two and post about it as well as post a video on our YiuTube Channel on pond hopping with the OPST Commando Head on our mojo rod – the 9′-5wt Fly Rod. Followed up with a second video to demo the Over the Shoulder Cast and how we do so using the same rod and shooting head. Also, made it out several time to the local lake for kayak fishing. Action has not been as good in year’s past but no worries… always good to get some exercise in even when the fish are not biting. We are still working on the Bottom Bouncing Jig video to show how we use this method when kayak fishing. Do stay tuned; will keep editing and preparing it for release… hopefully sooner than later! Here are some quick updates on “happenings” from the Team… After many years of great service, had to retire the old Columbia sandals we like to use for kayaking. Luckily, we had a backup pair at the ready… which was needed, as we also learned how to load three kayaks in
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DIY Inline Spinner for BFS Fishing

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Forgot I had the inline spinner lure making kit. It was gathering dust in the closet. Luckily, I remembered it was there after ordering another Kastking Zephyr BFS Reel… this one has a reel clicker like the Shimano Scorpion 17 Reel. In short order, made two inline spinners using 1/16oz worm weights for the body. Tried them at a couple of ponds and had one Bass strike but did not land it. Need to use a bigger treble hook. Made the modification, now just got a catch a fish… who knows, maybe with the new Kastking Zephyr BFS with reel clicker. Supposed to deliver tomorrow! bfsfishing #baitfinesse #inlinespinner
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First Time Fishing Possum Kingdom

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Decided to go west to Possum Kingdom instead of north to the Blue River this morning to go fishing. Weather forecast noted rain/snow in Oklahoma as well as Denison, so even Waterloo Park Pond was sketchy. Possum Kingdom was questionable with a 40% chance of rain, but luckily the forecast seemed to show less a chance of rain by Saturday morning. Never fished the area before but heard the river by the Highway 16 Bridge was recently stocked with Rainbow Trout. Moreover, the tailrace was looking good for a chance at some Striped Bass. But, Murphy’s Law struck… about halfway to Possum Kingdom, realized the fly box with the Clouser Minnows was left behind! No worries, would concentrate on trout fishing instead. Managed to limit out with five Rainbow Trout. All went for an Olive Near Deere. Also, caught two Striped Bass that went for a Near Deere as well. And, caught several Perch that looked like Longear; one went for a Near Deere, remainder went for a Rainbow Warrior. Key today was the retr
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Bass and Bluegill This Round

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Tested out a new fly pattern – no name for it yet. Caught a Bass and lost a Bass, then switched to damsel flies and caught Bass, Bluegill, and Sunfish.  Will tweak the new fly pattern more, and “test” it out again. Was good to see lots of fish near shore in their beds. Looked like the bigger Bluegill were further out from shore this year. Regardless, makes for some good fly casting practice for distance… Fun stuff!
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Fished a Feeder Creek This Round [1-04-2015]

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Originally published January 4, 2015 Cold temps and short on time; no Trout Reports today. Did get a snippet from Fshng84 who went fishing at the Feeder Creek to Bethany. He reported little Bluegill/Sunfish on Soft Hackle and Tiny Midges. Looked like fun especially on a 3 Weight Fly Rod. Did note that the Tiny Midge used was the same one used on the Blue River when a midge hatch starts up and the Trout start slurping them up just before they break the surface. Video of the Bluegill/Sunfish action
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