Stocker Trout Fishing News

Cold temps Saturday morning – February 16, 2019! Decided to go a round at Frisco Commons for some recently stocked Rainbow Trout. Trout derby was held last weekend; was not able to make it. Temps were in the low 30s, had to bundle up well… layered clothing did the trick but still forgot the gloves like last weekend when we fished Rowlett. This round, started fishing a Near Deere but switched to a Griffith’s Gnat when we noticed all the feeding activity was happening on the surface. Like in past Seasons, Frisco seems to have a “hatch” of some really tiny bugs. Trout love them to the point they rarely will strike anything else. Luckily, having learned our lesson we keep several sizes of Griffith’s Gnats in the fly box. Most times a size 16 will work but going up one or down one size is always a good idea in case the trout get picky. Fished from 8:30 to 4:30, caught and released five trout. Lost several others while bringing them in, and had a lot more ...

Here is a simple tie for an already simple pattern… it’s a Griffith’s Gnat less the Peacock Herl. Mainly use this one as a trailing fly to a tandem rigged lead streamer like a Wooley Bugger or Near Deere. It’s fished wet but can be fished dry as well. Tends to do well when “bugs” are emerging have hatched but seem to have not made the final push to fly off… instead they sink and become food for hungry trout! Recipe: Size 14-18 dry fly hook Black Dacron Tying Thread Grizzly Hackle – long… at least 2″ or more in length

Had planned to fish Towne Lake in Mckinney but the stocking was postponed due to weather. Things cleared up and made the run to Frisco Commons and fished for trout. Like in years past, something was hatching. Managed to land four and miss several others using a Griffith’s Gnat and a PMC Emerger. See how to tie one at  PMC Emerger  

Fished Bethany Lakes on a quick trip using fly fishing gear to test a new pattern – Near Guad. It’s a combination of the Near Deere and the Guadalupana. Had one Bass look at it, else no takers. Switched to a smaller Guadalupana and caught a Sunfish and a Bluegill, then put on a Griffith’s Gnat and caught several more… fun time!   Log Book Entry: 3/08/17 Location: Bethany Lakes – Feeder Creek (Allen) Time: 18:00 – 18:45 Weax: Clear, “Long Sleeve”, Calm Rod: Redington Classic Trout 5wt – 9′ Reel: Echo Ion 4/5 – 6wt Flyline   Comments: Fished the Back Pond and had one Bass follow the Near Guad. But, it did not take it. Moved to the Feeder Creek and caught a Sunfish and Bluegill on a Guadalupana. Later, changed the fishing fly to a Griffith’s Gnat as there were a number of strikes but no solid hook ups. Caught several more Sunfish and Bluegill with the Griffith’s Gnat. Fished a little after dark and left them biting!   Lan...

Decided to scale down the fishing fly size in preparation for the next round of micro fly fishing. Yesterday’s quick trip with the the Micro Fly Rod had lots of strikes but a size 16 was too much for the little fish to handle. This evening, tied a couple of Griffith’s gnats in size 22. Will see how these work; hopefully in the next day or two!  

Did a little fly tying this evening. Last round we ran out of Griffith’s Gnat; several days ago made a variant of the PMC Emerger that combined the PMC Emerger and the Griffith’s Gnat. We called it the PMC Griffith’s Gnat Emerger or PMC GNE. This evening tied more of the PMC GNE’s and also more Griffith’s Gnats in size 16 and 18. If all goes well, next round we won’t run out of these fishing flies!

Fun time limiting out on trout at Waterloo Park Pond in Denison. Dry Flies were the key this round with the Griffith’s Gnat in size 16 being the “go to” fishing fly. But, as luck would have it, ran out of them. Did manage to get the trout to bite on other dry flies despite losing my mojo at one point!   Log Book Entry: 1/21/17 Time: 12:30 to 16:30 Weax: Overcast, Long-Sleeves, Breezy Rod: Redington Classic Trout 5wt – 9′ Reel: Echo Ion 4/5 – 6wt Flyline   Comments: On arrival noticed the trout were actively feeding on black midges; had several strikes and missed hook sets using the PMC Emerger in Sz 14. But, finally landed one using a Griffith’s Gnat on a Caddis Hook (aka the COAF Griffith’s Gnat). Trout seemed to prefer movement in the fishing fly; either twitches with the rod tip or a slow drag of the rod. COAF Griffith’s Gnat did well until Murphy’s Law showed up and we ran out of the pattern – lost one while opening the fly ...

Short on time today but was able to make a quick trip to Bethany Lakes. Caught a trout on a Griffith’s Gnat, missed a couple more, and then decided that my mojo was off and went for a couple of casts in the Main Pond with the Switch Rod and a Near Deere. Mojo came back with a Bass caught on the fly! PS: Great meeting TFF’s zenmic this evening! #flyfishing with the #switchrod at #bethanylakes this evening. Caught a #trout and a #bass with a #griffithsgnat and a #neardeere A video posted by COAF Field Team (@coaf.field.team) on Jan 2, 2017 at 4:45pm PST Log Book Entry: 1/2/17 Bethany Lakes – Pond C, Main Pond (Allen) Time: 17:30 – 19:00 Weax: Clear, Short Sleeves, Calm Rod: Cabelas TLR Switch Rod 6wt – 11′ Reel: Lamson Liquid 4 – 5wt RIO Switch Chucker Spey Line   Comments: More sight casting to passing schools of trout. Schools were roaming the pond but tending to the NW side of Pond C where someone was chumming with bread. Hatch was in progress b...

Happy New Years! What better way to end the last day of the year then going fishing! Took a little time but did get three trout to stay on the hook at Bethany Lakes this morning. Two went for a PMC Emerger, and one went for a Griffith’s Gnat. Lost the last PMC Emerger to a snag; will have to tie more to refill the fly box. Looking forward to more fun fishing in 2017!

Fished the Griffith’s Gnat on a caddis hook on Monday at Waterloo and was able to get a limit. Fished the same fishing fly at Bethany on Tuesday and limited out too! Monday we tried fly fishing an ultralight spinning gear. After trying different fishing flies, came back to the fishing fly that worked for us last time we fished Waterloo – the COAF Griffith’s Gnat . This time the trout wanted movement in the fishing fly and soon was able to limit out with five trout. For the ultralight spinning gear, we tried Super Dupers and Power Bait. Was able to land two using Power Bait. Did hook but lose two while landing them. Also, had one strike on a Power Worm. Tuesday with the weather being so nice, decided to fish Bethany. Was not sure how the trout were biting as the Cormorant have been feeding on them. However, we lucked out – the trout were biting! For us, sight casting to passing schools of trout and then slowly dragging the fishing fly in the water was triggering s...

Running errands for the significant other… passed by Bethany Lakes and had to bend a fishing rod and wet a line given it was stocked with trout recently. Very cold, did see lots of fish activity and fish being caught. After trying different lures and fishing flies, was able to get three using a Tandem Rig Near Deere and trailing Griffith’s Gnat fished wet. Video in the works but here is a short clip to give Readers an idea how cold it was… breaking ice off the rod guides! #troutfishing at Bethany this afternoon. Caught 3 but it was cold. Had to break ice off the rod guides! #flyfishing #trout A video posted by COAF Field Team (@coaf.field.team) on Dec 18, 2016 at 5:49pm PST

Checked out the derby hosted by the city of Murphy this morning. Saw lots of kids catching fish; us grownups had to wait till after the derby to fish. Warm weather was nice allowing for short sleeves and shorts. But, it looked like the Trout were having issues as a number of them were floating upside down and were dead or dying. Also, noticed schools of Trout cruising parallel to the shoreline and largely ignoring lures and baits. Last time we saw them acting like this, it was two years ago at Frisco Commons Pond. The weather was cold and the Trout seemed disoriented and cruising in schools parallel to the shoreline as well. We were able to get them to strike by working a fishing fly parallel to the shore. Although a school would ignore the fishing fly, every so often one would breakaway and chase and strike the fishing fly. Same held true today at Murphy! This round the Trout went for the Mardi Gras Near Deere. Caught two and lost one. Then, the bite slowed. Started switching fishing ...