Fly Fishing

[Jr. Greenthumb]

Hmmmmmmmmm...............

I was raised fishing and hunting since I can ever remember. I heard of fly fishing but never knew what the heck it was or what to do. I've also never really seen anyone doing it other than on the tv. It is one of those things that always interested me but not enough to go spend the money to get in to it. Then, the wife and kids were asking me what I wanted for christmas and what did I say, I fly fishing pole...... WHY? I have no idea but I asked for it.

First thing I did when I opened it was think to myself, SHIT now what do I do. I'm gonna make myself look like a fool trying to learn how to use this damn thing. lol. I played around with it and it looked cool. I had to go out a few days later and pick up some backing and a few other cool gadgets before I could rig it up. Thats another thing I didn't know, under that cool looking plastic line is some stuff that looks like string. That stuff is called backing. It is there to give the fish room to run I take it because the fly line is usually only about 75-90 feet long. I put 100 yards of backing on mine then the 90 feet of fly line. Then, you tie another line to the fly line. It is called the leader, it is like a monofiliment fishing line that starts out at like 30lbs then narrows down to like 6-8lbs. So, now you have 3 lines tied to this flimsey ass 9' long pole with a reel that looks like it will fall apart if you catch anything big.

Interesting to say the least.

It has been unseasonably warm here in my neck of the woods so the first of january I went fishing. Didn't expect to catch anything but dammit I was gonna learn how to throw a flyrod....... Not that day. I couldn't cast that for nothing. I even read a book on how to flyfish and still couldn't figure it out. So, after I totally pissed myself off I decided it was time to get help. I went to the sporting goods store and had the guy in the fly shop show me what to do. I have practiced a few times in the backyard but yet to go fishing again. The weather is dropping now so I probably won't fish around here till spring.

However, I am most likely heading down to Florida tomorrow night or the next morning for a little work I need to do. Going to a place called Carrabelle. It is a little town right dead on the gulf of mexico. Pictures I have seen online are awesome. And what am I taking with me? YEP, my handy dandy new "FLY-POLE...... I am so excited to go I hope everything works out. I have my bags packed, fishing stuff ready, and all the plans made. I just have to make 1 phone call in the morning when I wake up to make sure everything is still a "GO".

ANyhow, This thread is to see if there are any other "Fly" fishers out there. Share your stories. What you fish for, how you catch them, and whatever else fuels your sould about fly fishing. I know some of these guys I have been talking to lately have a real ambition for fly fishing. One guy I have known for years, never knew he was a fly fisherman...... WOW.....

When I learn what to do and actually catch something then I will share it as well. Wish me luck.....



Jr.

[vernonsupreme]

when i used to fish a few years back i did a good bit of fly fishing, tied my own flies for a while too. it is a lot of fun to do. fished for bass, spot, carp, the usual river/pond fish in my area.

[smalltime]

I've been flyfishing for close to 10 years tying my own flies for just as long.

What weight rod is it? Most people have a 5wt. when they first start as it is a good all around rod allowing you to fish for trout and bass while still making pan fish a little fun too.

Over the years depending on where you fish you will need to get other rods that are better situated for the kind of fish you are chasing.
I have the following.
6'6" 2wt. This is my small stream rod. short casts of less the 40'. Mostly used for dry fly fishing to trout.

8'6" 4wt. This is my large stream/ river rod. Again mostly chasing trout. This rod can hand a 20" fish in heavy current.

10' 8wt. This is my Bass fishing/light saltwater gear. This can handle bonefish and other saltwater fish. If I decide to go tarpon fishing I will have to build a new rod.

I have a 7'6" 3wt. blank that I need to order the rest of the components for so I can build it. The blank is flat black. everything on the rod will be black. I might even stain the cork.

Yeah, I'm into it a little.
If you have questions ask and I will see if I can help you out.

smalltime

[Cranky]

reminds me of an advert we had on tv here in the 80's.....(fly fishing by j.r. hartley) lol

how do bro.long time no see;)

cranky

[Jr. Greenthumb]

Wow smalltime....

I'm glad there is someone here I can ask a question or two of.
My rod is a 5/6 and the flyline that came with it was level line which from what I understand is a little bit harder to cast. While I was on my trip we stopped to get a break from driving and stopped at a sporting goods store we happened to see off the highway just inside the Georgia state line a bit. They were clearencing out most of there fly equipment getting ready for the stuff for this year coming up. Most stuff was 50-75% off normal retail. I bought some line 6weight forward that normally sold for like $38.99 for $15 and it came with the backing and a leader. It was a special combo pack thingy ma bobber...... Great deal I though. It was yellow though, my other stuff is green. I don't know if it matters one way or the other but hell for the money and as much as I know what I am doing, I got it.

Now for the trip....... WOW!
I didn't catch anything but did I ever have a blast. I stopped at a river in Georgia that I just could not pass up. I turned around and grabbed the Flyrod. I mean hell, could you pass this up on a roadtrip?
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8633&stc=1&d=1169425239

After I threw my line for about 40 minutes I hit the road again halfway refreshed. I stopped for the night not long after that, maybe 2 hours or soish. I stayed with a cousin. The next day I took off again to the Carabelle Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The water was fairly cold and I didn't have much time but I did get a few casts in. The temp was only like 55 when we got there. But to say I threw my line into the gulf of mexico and stood in the white sand, WOW! I enjoyed myself Emensly.
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8634&stc=1&d=1169425239

I did spend some serious time on the road, 2250 miles in 3 days round trip but I would do it again any day I could. I do believe next time I will change my timing around to make it a 4 day trip but things didn't work out for me to do that this time. I had to be back for other engagements but I still did what I set out to do. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...... Now maby one day I'll have a road trip to CB land......

Cranky, how goes it my friend? It has been a while, I have seen you on MSN a few times but unable to catch ya. I would love to go fishin in your neck of the woods but my car would never make it...... lol.

Vernon, you say used to. Why not anymore?

The picture of the coast there is so awesome I had to use it for the background on my PC....

[smalltime]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. The weight forward line will make casting seem a whole lot easier. I don't understand why they even bother making the stuff anymore.
Not sure if you have done it yet or not, but invest in some tippet material. It will allow you to use your leaders for a longer time. Tippets get tied onto the end of the leader and then are what you tye your flies on to.

It is a really fun hobby. You already said the reason that I enjoy it so much. 40 mins and you felt halfway refreshed. Something about standing in the river and concentrating on the fly allows you to forget about all the bullshit that you deal with on a daily basis. It is just you, the river, the fly and your hope that there is a fish that thinks that fluff and feathers looks like a bug or a minnow and when that happens and you lift the rod and the line tightens...... That is when everything for that one moment is right in life.

Just like life, there are disappoitments along the way. Frustrations that can occur. That fish that throws the hook and gets away right as you reach for it. The times when you feel like you are pulling your fly off of branches more then you are fishing. Those are the times that you need to stop and just watch....

Watching that water will end up showing you more then you realize. Fish that you didn't see will rise and cause a blip on the surface. A fish will move into a patch of light and you will see the shadow on the bottom of the river. It is the time to pack a little bowl and relax. Rivers change and relax when there isnt' a person thrashing line around above the water. They have a different rhythme then the world that we exist in. Water is a symphoney, quick runs and long slow pools. It bends and meanders and drives on with a constant force. The river will show you all of these things. You just need to watch it and learn to read what it is telling you. It will tell you what you need to hear. It will show you where the fish are, you just need to be able to read it and listen to what it says.

Sorry I sometime wax poetic when I'm talking about my passions.

smalltime

[CB]

well said smalltime

5/6 is a good starter weight for sure Jr. learn ya knots and save a heap on tipits like ST says, then smoke and watch the river and cast with grace

best fish'n no doubt is fly fish'n

cool picks of the trip bro

[buzzmobile]

Carrabelle...hmmmmm? Isn't that interesting. That tiny little coastal town is a medium drive away for me. I came across your thread after the fact, Jr. I too love to fly fish. If you are coming down here again send me a PM at the Garden. A little local knowledge is a good thing.;)

The weather was pretty sucky for the past few days. Not exactly the "sunny Florida" of down South. April/May is prime time fishing around here. Holler if you are in the neighborhood again. I'll share more than local knowledge with you.
:D

[Dr.Smitty]

Fly fishing is a very relaxing way to spend a day on the river. :D

[vernonsupreme]

but hell for the money and as much as I know what I am doing, I got it.


haha, as long as you think you got a deal then it's a good one.


I just haven't had much time for the past couple years, I keep saying i'm going to go get my license and try to get out there one weekend but I just never get around to it...life moves quickly in my neck of the woods....

maybe this year, I just bought some waterfront property that I will have for another couple years so that gives me an excuse to actually do it.

now i just need to remember to pick up my rods from my mom's house next time i'm down her way

glad you enjoyed your trip mahn, that part of the country is beautiful.

[Jr. Greenthumb]

Smalltime, I can tell you are very passionate about fly fishing. I only hope I have 1/10 that after a year of trying it. I have been fishing for years with a spinner. I even went out last year and bought my son and I a small jon boat so we can spend time on the lake. It isn't much but I could afford it and it puts my but on the lake with my sone and we are happy there. We don't catch alot but I get to spend time with him that is real and we have fun. I also have the ability to keep him away from the trees which makes my fishing better. lol.....

I guess this year I am going to take that same little out and see how I do on it with a fly rod.

CB, I have looked at the tippets but haven't bought any yet. I bought a few leaders, different weights. One for round here, one for up north if I ever go, and one for the Gulf. lol.....

Buzz...... Long time no chat my friend. I never had the opportunity to ask anyone there but I'm gonna ask you. Why do ya'll wear thick coats when it gets 50 degrees? lol..... It was in it's 50's when I was there and people were wearing thick winter jackets like a blizard was coming. Just messin bro....

But as for florida, I may be heading back again but not sure as to what part, if it consists of a small drive out of my way, well...... We ate at a nice little hole in the wall in panacea, FL. while we was there. I think the beach behind it was beautiful too but we didn't get any pictures there..... I'll tell you what, land is outragious there. a very small lot on the beach, just a lot..... $399,000.

Vernon, I hope you get the chance to get back out man, fishing is something I cherish alot and it is very relaxing. I go out sometimes just to go. Sometimes I don't even throw the line out I just sit there and smoke and relax, I don't even want to be bothered by a fish tugging on my line. It is so peaceful and relaxing (with no young kids... lol) that a trip fishing is very good for a stressful person or job.......

speeking of stress, I gotta go round up kids for bedtime.

[buzzmobile]

Buzz...... Long time no chat my friend. I never had the opportunity to ask anyone there but I'm gonna ask you. Why do ya'll wear thick coats when it gets 50 degrees? lol..... It was in it's 50's when I was there and people were wearing thick winter jackets like a blizard was coming. Just messin bro....

You ain't from around here, I can tell. Everybody here knows it's a state law in Florida that when the temps drop below 50F parkas and winter coats are mandatory. :deal: Sheesh, tourists these days!:rolleyes:

But as for florida, I may be heading back again but not sure as to what part, if it consists of a small drive out of my way, well...... We ate at a nice little hole in the wall in panacea, FL. while we was there. I think the beach behind it was beautiful too but we didn't get any pictures there..... I'll tell you what, land is outragious there. a very small lot on the beach, just a lot..... $399,000.

Wow! You hit all the big cities...Carrabelle, Panacea, Sopchoppy, East Point...:rofl2: :rofl2: Ain't no beaches in Panacea.;) Salt marshes, mud flats, and oyster bars maybe. You were looking at the cheap sites. Try $1.5 mil+ for first tier gulf front lots at a real beach.

:D

[Jr. Greenthumb]

it may not have been panacea. If you leave carabelle heading toward sopchoppy, I forget what road it is to tell you the truth right there. But, when you come to the Y in the road and sopchoppy is to the left you bear right where they are building all them new housing complexes it's down the road there a bit. I most remember the place by the cheap wood paneling they had inside that was coated many times with polyurathane. Just made me giggle when I seen it. Awesome food!

Actually I was born in Ocoee, just outside of Orlando. I was actually born in Orange County Memorial. We laft there when I was 3 I think. I still have family in Ocoee, wintergardens, montpelier, and somewhere else. lol..... I have a buddy from highschool that moved down to the keys and he said it is very hillbilly there. We were raised in Kentucky and he said he feels right at home. I like florida just too far to move..... I gotta get out of this place though. I hate it more and more every year and seeing the coast line made me wanna move there. Just too darn poor to afford that kinda land.

[Jr. Greenthumb]

Alrighty................

I bought a fly tying kit! WOW! It takes a lot of concentration and patients to say the least. I set there the other night for about 4 hours with my beginners book teaching me how to tye some basic knots and a few flies. Very Interesting to say the least. I actually impressed myself if you want to know the truth. I think I did rather well for my first night of tying flies. I went out yesterday and bought a bunch more stuff like foam, feathers, chinelle, hooks, and more crap to mess with. I think it is pretty cool, something different I guess. I just can't wait to catch something on one of them.


Not too bad for my first time huh.........

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8747&stc=1&d=1169916645

[smalltime]

not bad.
Tying is another one of my hobbies.
Kinda goes hand in hand with the ffing.

The thing with fly tying is learning to handle the materials. It is very ackward at first. Next thing is gettin perportions figured out. Things like how much space you need to wrap the material and then still be able to tye off.

Overall, I would say that they look good. Your woolly bugger is really nice and tyed just like you would be told to in a book. From my experience, you will want to make the tail about half as long. It seems like when the tail is long like that fish will pick at it, like when you throw a worm out and you can tell fish are eating it, but they aren't taking the hook. This is what happens with your wooly bugger when the tail is too long.

Your San Juan worms look great, as do the 2 wet flies below them.
your nymphs in the top row look really good. The only one that is having issues is your one on the lower right, but, I would venture that was your first one.

Things to know. Hobby stores, and fabric shops. These are the place to find your peacock feathers and hurl for cheap. If you buy a neck or a cape for dry flies. Inspect it yourself. They are expensive and IMNSHO ordering them is a waste of money. You know the size of flies that you use the most and that is what you want to look for as far as feather sizes go with dry fly capes and necks.

you might look over at www.virtualflybox.com it is a great site for seeing lots of different flies tyed by lots of very good tyers. I think I might even be on there a few times.

Keep up the good work. The more you handle the materails the easier it gets.

smalltime

[Jr. Greenthumb]

Nah the one on the lower right is just one that I was screwin around with. Experimenting. That was the first one I tied without having any instructions or something to look off of. I just starting putting stuff together.

As for the capes, well I went out today for one but never got one. I am also a very avid hunter. I have always thrown all the capes away, I have a few tail feathers around here but no idea where. Probably got thrown away. I got a rabbit today. I kept is tail and some rearend hair to tie with. My brother got 2 and he didn't screw up the front end like I did so he is going to clean up one of his skins for me when he cleans his rabbits. So, I got some rabbitt hair now all I need is a pheasant cape and some deer hair. It is fun and I find myself looking all over the place for feathers and other cool stuff to play with.

I have done a lot more tying just playing around. Most look like crap but I have a few good ones. I tied some bumblebees that I think turned out rather nice. I am also playing around with the foam bug boddies but they are a PITA to tye with. At least till I get the hang of it.

The Wooley Bugger, I made the tail a lot longer than the book told me too, The reason I had was because the jigs I buy have tails that long. I will tie another one and make the tail shorter so I have one of each.

Here are the BumbleBees I tied and a spinoff of it I screwed around with.

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8803&stc=1&d=1170191249

[Mr. Bud]

Tough to live here as an avid fly fisherman... The Silver was caught on a Pink Pollywag; fly I tied...

I have been fly fishing since I was about 8 years old. Started tying my own fly's about the same time.. Now at 40 and with many caught and eaten and caught and released fish under my belt, I still wake up early and excited to hit the river... So many years have past but I still can't wait to get on that 30+ inch Kenia Rainbow.. Very theropudic...

Take care and tight lines to ya...

[gorilla]

VERY cool guys!

They really look like their names. That's so neat! :D

[Jr. Greenthumb]

Nice Catch........

I still haven't landed that first fish on a fly line. I'm still a Virgin! Wow, to say that again. lol!

Those mountains are cool bro. That would be a cool pick as a background image on your desktop.....