I was reading a web report on Accotink creek yesterday, which supposedly rates as a "poor” fishery with few positive testimonials. Chalk this morning up as one of the “few.” While I didn’t get any true quality rainbows, I did get five small ones on a wooly bugger. Going on two months since these fish were stocked the creek seams to be holding good numbers of trout for Fairfax County.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Fat Rainbow
I hit accotink creek yesterday in light of the steadily declining bass bite. There comes a point where the colder temparatures causes the water to turn over; oxygen sinks to the bottom; bass find deep holes to ride out the winter; and fly-fishing for bass becomes impractical. Trout will now be my primary quarry until early spring. Yesterday morning’s short session was worth three trout: two small ones, and this fat rainbow that demonstrates the ample forage in accotink creek.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Float Tube Adventure
I ignored the beaver that seamed to be circling me as if I was invading his territory; but when one of my flippers popped off and sank I really began to question the rationale of bobbing for bass in ice-cold water. Propelled disproportionately to the left by my remaining fin, I headed for the closest spot to land my tube. I saw a nice drop off that looked like a good point to probe for bass with the Murray’s Strymph I had on. I managed one accurate cast, albeit an anomoly, when a largemouth smashed my fly, bowed my rod, and completely changed my morning. After an extensive fight I landed the 16 ½”pig.
Bass fishing is different from trout fishing (I know this because I do both as much as I can). Trout fishing brings a sense of calm, relaxation, and appreciation for the habitat; bass fishing is pure adrenaline. Landing a 2lb + bass on a fly rod only magnifies the rush.
Bass fishing is different from trout fishing (I know this because I do both as much as I can). Trout fishing brings a sense of calm, relaxation, and appreciation for the habitat; bass fishing is pure adrenaline. Landing a 2lb + bass on a fly rod only magnifies the rush.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Fall Float Tube Bassin'
Bobbing in 50-degree water is more than a hypothermia risk; with the right waders it is also a great way to catch bass on a fly rod. There is a sense of urgency to make a last stand before winter kills bass fishing, football, and many other reasons to live. This morning started strong with continued bream action on my popper wet fly dropper combo. As action slowed I switched to a clauser. No dice. I then went for my trusty wooly bugger and scored a 12” largemouth suspended off a concrete boat ramp. A small, hard fighting bass is a blast on a fly rod.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
More Kudos to the Pop-n-Drop
When you have a short time to get on fish, you can't beat a bass popper with a wet fly dropped off the hook bend. Conventional bass tactics produced zero bites this morning. After trying my trusty white tube and spinner bait, I put down the spinning rod and went exclusively to my 6wt fly rod. In the next hour I got two small bass and about a dozen bream in between. Hunting big bass will have to wait -- this is too much fun!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Accotink
My second morning on Accotink Creek since the fall trout stocking was worth four rainbows. After fishing this creek after several seasonal stockings I note that the rainbows tend to hold in very specific spots. Since this is my home water, I will not elaborate, but the rainbows usually gravitate to cut banks and holes that satisfy the basic trout needs: cover, current, and food supply. Also, the word is out that the trout are in the creek. The pressure is definitely picking up, and not everyone is playing by the rules. Holes with good numbers of rainbows no longer give up easy bites. The party’s over -- back to bass fishing.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
More Fall Rainbows
The Pentagon is an excruciating hell hole. That's what makes a morning like this so special. I hit Accotink Creek at sunrise and hooked a limit of rainbow trout. I fished a wooly bugger with a wet fly dropper based on a steelhead fishing tip in this month’s edition of Field and Stream. Thank you Field and Stream for the tip; and thank you Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for putting quality rainbows in our local trout stream.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
New York Rainbows Save the Day
We were ready to pack it in and declare victory after catching our one pickerel. We suddenly spotted some trout. After the first cast it was clear the trout were going for the black wooly bugger I had on. I hooked the first rainbow and David started squealing. We managed five trout in about twenty minutes. This was the experience we were hoping for.
Of all the states I have fished in my life it is hard to beat the empire state for freshwater fishing. From largemouth bass to lake trout and muskie, you can catch just about everything in New York.
Of all the states I have fished in my life it is hard to beat the empire state for freshwater fishing. From largemouth bass to lake trout and muskie, you can catch just about everything in New York.
Don't Bite Me!
We are finishing up our family vacation near Lake George, NY. We found a park near by suitable for kid fly fishing. Within the first few casts we hooked a pickerel on a wet fly. This junior member of the pike family sports some pretty nasty chompers: hence the steady apprehension in David’s eyes. Shortly after I snapped this picture our little pickerel started snapping wildly. He was released without incident.
Later in life I will introduce David to pike, and muskie fishing. But first he has to grow big enough to knock one out with an oar. Anyone who has ever put one in the boat knows what I am talking about.
Later in life I will introduce David to pike, and muskie fishing. But first he has to grow big enough to knock one out with an oar. Anyone who has ever put one in the boat knows what I am talking about.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Vemont Panfishin'
We are on the board in New England. We would have preferred trout or smallmouth, but our first scores were perch. We are in Rutland, Vermont and asked locals about a lake suitable for father son fishing. That usually means panfish, and up here panfish usually means perch. Chalk up another species to the wooly bugger.
Walden Pond
We are on vacation in New England to see fall colors, ride trains, and of course: fish. Our first stop with a rod and reel in hand was Concord, Massachusetts. David and I went to Walden Pond (of Henry David Thoreau fame) for assured public access; it was the closest green blotch on the map. It only occurred to me afterwards that Thoreau was a fly fisherman. Finding a spot to fly fish was tough. Much of the bank was closed for restoration and back casting without hooking a tree or a literature enthusiast was challenging.
There are descent numbers of trout, bass, and panfish in Walden Pond. Early on we saw a beautiful rainbow trout rising, but could not get to him. After much searching we found a good spot and got a fly in front of a couple largemouth bass. After about forty minutes of fishing we came up empty, but the “pond” was beautiful and we avoided hooking an English major.
There are descent numbers of trout, bass, and panfish in Walden Pond. Early on we saw a beautiful rainbow trout rising, but could not get to him. After much searching we found a good spot and got a fly in front of a couple largemouth bass. After about forty minutes of fishing we came up empty, but the “pond” was beautiful and we avoided hooking an English major.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Braddock Chunksters
My Mom recently wanted to know what a chunkster is. Since the dictionary has yet to account for words I make up, I thought my answer is worthy of illustration. I have better, bigger bream pics, but this one from yesterday provides a grandson illustration – always a bonus. In the Deep South big bluegills (aka bream) are known as "T-bream", but that is probably not one you want to cover with your mom.
Thanks to Lake Braddock bream, my popper/dropper combo is still producing.
Thanks to Lake Braddock bream, my popper/dropper combo is still producing.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
New Fly Rod
I have a new fly rod off the discount shelf at Walmart. For just under $20 I have a 6/7 weight that really meets my needs for warmwater fly fishing. My 8 weight is a bit heavy handed given the number of panfish I catch in between bass; my 5 weight may be insufficient for a bigin'. I have yet to hook into a bass with my new rod less the two toddler largemouth I caught this morning.
So far the fall transition has me a bit flummoxed. My popper and wet fly dropper combo is no longer producing the non-stop action of earlier months. I mixed in my spinning rod to my approach this morning, but I had no luck on my normally reliable smoke white tube. I suppose the fishing is picking up later in the day but given family responsibilities I only have early weekend mornings to fish. With the later sunrise subtracting fishing time, and the abatement of the summer morning bite, I may be looking at many more mornings like today: two crappie, two baby bass, and one missed (adult) bass bite. Back to the drawing board, but I like my new rod, and did I mention I only paid about $20 for it?
So far the fall transition has me a bit flummoxed. My popper and wet fly dropper combo is no longer producing the non-stop action of earlier months. I mixed in my spinning rod to my approach this morning, but I had no luck on my normally reliable smoke white tube. I suppose the fishing is picking up later in the day but given family responsibilities I only have early weekend mornings to fish. With the later sunrise subtracting fishing time, and the abatement of the summer morning bite, I may be looking at many more mornings like today: two crappie, two baby bass, and one missed (adult) bass bite. Back to the drawing board, but I like my new rod, and did I mention I only paid about $20 for it?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
More Fly Fishing
My spinning and casting rods have not gotten a lot of use lately. I guess I have the warm water fly fishing bug. I hit Lake Braddock in my float tube this morning and threw the same popper/ wet fly dropper rig I had tied on from my last excursion to Lake Braddock. I got one largemouth on the first couple casts -- not a big one but good fun on a fly rod. A good reason to fly fish Lake Braddock is the bream population, which occasionally delivers chunksters upwards of nine inches. I got a couple big bream this morning, a bunch of small ones, and the one bass; I have done better but this was fun. As the fall transition approaches I may have to revert back to traditional bass tactics. But for now, I am happy with my fly rod and my float tube.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Goose Creek
I tried Goose Creek this morning. This is a tributary of the Upper Potomac that has one of the more accessible smallmouth bass fisheries in the area; smallmouth have an almost mythical status with Virginia fly fishermen. I accessed the river at Keep Loudon Beautiful Park just above the VA 7 bridge near Leesburg. This was a gamble as I have good largemouth water in my neighborhood, and this place is about thirty miles away. The distance, later sunrise, and assorted family responsibilities translated into just a couple of hours on the water. I would say I broke even. I did not get any smallmouth, but got on a school of chunky crappie -- great fun on a fly rod. I also hooked one descent largemouth that jumped off. This limited success was found with my standard wooly bugger and popper patterns.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
West Virginia
We had some good clean family fun in West Virginia this weekend. We did a lot of fun stuff of which we will elaborate on the family blog. Our fishing expectations were high because we had reservations Friday night in a cabin on a private trout stream. While the stream was worth several large fallfish, the trout fishing was a bit slow. We checked out of our cabin yesterday morning having failed to land a trout. We headed south for train rides and other family fun.
Enter the Bighorn Trout Ponds. Jennie presented the idea this morning based on a brochure. David and I said we were game. We ate breakfast and checked out of our motel and headed for trophy rainbow trout scrimmage. This place charges by the inch, and harvesting your catch is mandatory. It took us a couple of hours to land three trout which measured a collective 52 inches. This is not real trout fishing. But landing a 20” rainbow on a 4 wt fly rod is good training, and we are having trout for dinner. Where else can you get six pounds of fresh rainbow trout for ten bucks?
Enter the Bighorn Trout Ponds. Jennie presented the idea this morning based on a brochure. David and I said we were game. We ate breakfast and checked out of our motel and headed for trophy rainbow trout scrimmage. This place charges by the inch, and harvesting your catch is mandatory. It took us a couple of hours to land three trout which measured a collective 52 inches. This is not real trout fishing. But landing a 20” rainbow on a 4 wt fly rod is good training, and we are having trout for dinner. Where else can you get six pounds of fresh rainbow trout for ten bucks?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Dad's Smallie
Having struggled alongside Dad on Lake James before, I know how sweet it is to pull a descent smallie out of that lake. Dad got this one on a Carolina rigged green plastic worm. We have an unspoken rule for selecting plastic worm colors. It must be a color that was fashionable in the 1970s (green, brown, pumpkin, etc).
Way to go!
Way to go!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Pesky Bass on the Fly
This one might not look like much but he smashed my popper and fought as hard as a smallmouth. My float tube has gotten me onto some sweet spots on Lake Royal. I got this one at the precise location I scored the 15” bass yesterday. The pattern seems to be bushes overhanging the bank near a main lake drop off. The presentation was a yellow popper stripped from the bank over the drop off. The hardest thing about fly-fishing this way is casting large flies sitting low in the water, but it is still a blast.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Float Tube Bassin'
Now that I have gotten the peace with nature sentiment out of my system in my previously post, I will now focus on what is really important: landing keeper bass. I had a 15" largemouth inhale my popper just about the time I was completely lost in my inflatable serenity. I later got another standard 10” Lake Royal bass. I was happy landing two bass having put in a little over an hour on the water. This was really fun -- must do this again soon.
Bobbing in Lake Royal
This is was the view of Lake Royal this morning from my float tube. I have broken out the tube to get after bass more efficiently with my fly rod. The great thing about fishing this way is that short of parking your recliner on the bank, it is the most comfortable way to fish. What is really nice is getting lost in your surroundings which is much harder to do when gas engines are involved.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Many Thanks to Mr. Duane
Mr. Duane, as David calls him, is solely responsible for getting me into fly fishing. I got talking to him by chance one day on the bus; he told me about a recent trout stocking in our local stream, Accotink Creek. We met up many more times and exchanged fish stories. Duane’s stories and in depth knowledge of fly fishing for trout and salmon prompted me to buy my first fly rod.
Duane is active in the local chapter of Trout Unlimited. He also founded accotink.org, which is committed to the defense of our local watershed. He spends far less time fishing than he does on volunteer work such as stream restoration, and watershed issue advocacy.
This picture shows one of Duane’s better days on the Conewago Creek in Adams County, PA. Thanks Duane, for all the great help over the last couple years. Now go catch some more trout!
Duane is active in the local chapter of Trout Unlimited. He also founded accotink.org, which is committed to the defense of our local watershed. He spends far less time fishing than he does on volunteer work such as stream restoration, and watershed issue advocacy.
This picture shows one of Duane’s better days on the Conewago Creek in Adams County, PA. Thanks Duane, for all the great help over the last couple years. Now go catch some more trout!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Lake Royal Update
This is an example of the undersized bass we have been catching at Lake Royal recently. David and I have fished our neighborhood lake three or four times since we got home from our vacation. We have managed a handful of small bass, and a dozen or so bream per visit. We have been doing a lot of fly fishing with poppers rigged with a wet fly dropper. While we are still due a descent bass, this simple presentation is a lot of fun and produces consistent results.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Ely's Ford II
I took another shot at Ely's Ford this morning. I wanted to take advantage of the low water conditions to wade into spots that were too dangerous when the river was high. Unfortunately, the slow current did not support the bass activity I witnessed in June. I tried to locate fishable structure above the bridge. While I did get on top of some rock bass holding in vegetation in the main channel, I saw no evidence of the smallmouth bass I was targeting. I landed a couple rock bass and headed downstream to the river bend in search of current more suitable for a summer smallmouth pattern. I located large boulders and steady current just beyond the river bend. I changed flies from a slider with a hellgrammite dropper in favor of a wooly bugger. This immediately drew strikes from redbreast sunfish, but failed to lure any smallmouth. I had run out of time when I encountered a trophy smallmouth holding just above an eddy on the river bend. I made a few erratic casts before the fish disappeared into the shadows.
In a couple of hours of wading the Rapidan I only landed four fish (two rock bass, and two sunfish); but the experience was well worth it. The river is incredibly peaceful and beautiful in the morning. The river's width requires long casts that justify the 9' 8 wt rod I was using. I will have to wait another day to score a monster bronzeback on a fly rod, but I still had a great morning. Casting a tight loop into the morning mist on the Rapidan takes you to a place you can’t get to inside the beltway.
In a couple of hours of wading the Rapidan I only landed four fish (two rock bass, and two sunfish); but the experience was well worth it. The river is incredibly peaceful and beautiful in the morning. The river's width requires long casts that justify the 9' 8 wt rod I was using. I will have to wait another day to score a monster bronzeback on a fly rod, but I still had a great morning. Casting a tight loop into the morning mist on the Rapidan takes you to a place you can’t get to inside the beltway.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Thoughts On Fly Fishing
It has been a little over a year since I took up fly fishing. I feel that my background has helped me make the transition. At about age nine I was introduced to bass and walleye fishing while visiting my uncle’s farm in NW Pennsylvania. We moved to North Carolina when I was ten and I have since had many good times with my Dad chasing largemouth bass with a spinning rod. I also gained some insights into trout tromping through streams in Colorado with an ultra light and handful of spinners. When I bought my first fly rod last summer I didn’t feel I was learning a new sport, just a new technique.
One of the problems with fly fishing is that it is too often treated as an elitist pursuit elevated above other, supposedly less dignified, ways to catch fish. I believe that successful fly fishermen understand that fly fishing is an effective technique, but is merely a subset of the broader art of angling.
This sport is about fish, not expensive equipment, status, or anything else. Successful fishermen respond to the patterns of fish, not the latest fad, or marketing campaign. I have learned that fish eat aquatic insects so frequently that mastering fly fishing allows you to consistently catch large numbers of fish. I also remain committed to my spinning and casting rods to deliver big fish, particularly largemouth bass. While even billfish are caught on fly, the most effective techniques for getting bites from big fish usually require a spinning or casting rod. I often fish with a fly rod, a spinning rod, and a casting rod to take advantage of whatever I discover about how the fish are feeding at a given time.
I also believe that knowledge of a given technique will compliment other techniques. For example, bass fishing teaches an angler to vary presentation depth to locate fish and their feeding zone. This lesson is important to fly fishermen who are often obsessed with matching a surface hatch while ignoring the predominance of subsurface feeding. Nymphing, on the other hand, is a solid general angling skill attained from fly fishing. The skill needed to float a pheasant tail, or BH prince in front of a trout in a creek channel can be applied to deadly techniques such as floating a curly tailed grub in a river current to a smallmouth. These are a couple examples of what I hope to gain from learning differing techniques and applying the lessons broadly.
I was in a fly shop a few months ago and watched an aspiring fly fishermen drop about $600 on what he was convinced was needed to get started. I learned with a $30 combo and about $15 worth of flies from Wal-mart.
One of the problems with fly fishing is that it is too often treated as an elitist pursuit elevated above other, supposedly less dignified, ways to catch fish. I believe that successful fly fishermen understand that fly fishing is an effective technique, but is merely a subset of the broader art of angling.
This sport is about fish, not expensive equipment, status, or anything else. Successful fishermen respond to the patterns of fish, not the latest fad, or marketing campaign. I have learned that fish eat aquatic insects so frequently that mastering fly fishing allows you to consistently catch large numbers of fish. I also remain committed to my spinning and casting rods to deliver big fish, particularly largemouth bass. While even billfish are caught on fly, the most effective techniques for getting bites from big fish usually require a spinning or casting rod. I often fish with a fly rod, a spinning rod, and a casting rod to take advantage of whatever I discover about how the fish are feeding at a given time.
I also believe that knowledge of a given technique will compliment other techniques. For example, bass fishing teaches an angler to vary presentation depth to locate fish and their feeding zone. This lesson is important to fly fishermen who are often obsessed with matching a surface hatch while ignoring the predominance of subsurface feeding. Nymphing, on the other hand, is a solid general angling skill attained from fly fishing. The skill needed to float a pheasant tail, or BH prince in front of a trout in a creek channel can be applied to deadly techniques such as floating a curly tailed grub in a river current to a smallmouth. These are a couple examples of what I hope to gain from learning differing techniques and applying the lessons broadly.
I was in a fly shop a few months ago and watched an aspiring fly fishermen drop about $600 on what he was convinced was needed to get started. I learned with a $30 combo and about $15 worth of flies from Wal-mart.
Monday, August 4, 2008
West Texas Panfishin'
David and I went a little redneck while fishing in Amarillo last Thursday. We found a creek arm loaded with green sunfish at Thompson Park. The dry, mid-day heat was only partially mitigated by the panhandle breeze, so we took our shirts off and wore our fly vests like a couple of good ole boys. We had a blast! We lost count after a couple dozen greens. I only got David to leave by asking him if he wanted to go to Wonderland (Amarillo's amusement park).
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
David Scores Again!
David has found success fly fishing in Albuquerque, NM. We fished a place called Tingley Park this morning. David connected with an 11" Rainbow on a 4wt fly rod. Good job bud!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sunset Largemouth
What an awesome day! Maybe I enjoyed work today because I caught a bass this morning. The good vibes must have carried over to tonight because David and I hit Woodglenn at the last minute and scored. The sun was setting and this beautiful largemouth smashed the same popper that elicited this morning’s strike. I have learned that a rapid retrieve with a popper can really turn on the bass bite.
Early Morning Fly Fishing
I started the day off right this morning; snuck out to Lake Royal, scored about a dozen bream and a bass and still made it to work on time. Twenty minutes in I had only a bluegill and a nice sunrise to show for my efforts. Then the bluegill bite came on and I decided that I would make a few final casts near a weed bed to see if I could hook a bass. It worked. While I missed the initial roll on my popper my dropper turned out to be true “insurance fly.”
Monday, July 7, 2008
Lake Mercer
Catching a two-pound bass becomes an emotional event after you have been out done by a four year old. I hit Lake Mercer this morning fresh from David's taunts for having not caught a bass yesterday (reminded repeatedly that he caught one). After a slow start, I got a small bass with the old reliable green plastic worm. I later connected with a two-pounder with my other reliable bass bait, the 3 1/2" white tube, as the clock was winding down. I think I have a new fishing spot.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
David's First Bass
David has arrived early to the world of bass fishing by landing 12" largemouth on a small crankbait less than a month past his fourth birthday. He has also taken to the world of smack talking by force by reminding me that I did not catch a bass today. For every bluegill I pulled in David had to mention that he caught a bass. He also caught a couple bluegill on a fly rod. Way to go bud!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Bluegill Slayers
David and I hit Woodglenn tonight and traumatized a generation of bluegills with our fly rods. While bass are always the ultimate goal, a bluegill on nearly every cast is hard to beat. Once we found the beds we got em’ by the dozen. Good times!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Father Son Fishing
David and I hit Lake Royal yesterday evening. Catching bass is a lot of fun. Catching bass with a fly rod is even more fun. But catching bass on a fly rod with your son is about as good as it gets.
The water in Lake Royal is very stained which can really slow things down, especially when coupled with hot weather. This morning the water was un-fishable after evening rains. But last night I was able to score two bass in short order thanks to my neon yellow slider. I later switched to a spinning rod and David scored a bluegill on the fly rod.
I have learned that one of the simplest ways to consistently catch bass is fly fishing with a large popper or slider. If you tailor your presentations to the conditions, "bass bugs" are as consistent as plastic worms for catching largemouth bass. I drop a wet fly off the hook bend of my popper or slider, which often allows me to catch lots of bream in between bass bites. David’s bream was a product of this approach.
The water in Lake Royal is very stained which can really slow things down, especially when coupled with hot weather. This morning the water was un-fishable after evening rains. But last night I was able to score two bass in short order thanks to my neon yellow slider. I later switched to a spinning rod and David scored a bluegill on the fly rod.
I have learned that one of the simplest ways to consistently catch bass is fly fishing with a large popper or slider. If you tailor your presentations to the conditions, "bass bugs" are as consistent as plastic worms for catching largemouth bass. I drop a wet fly off the hook bend of my popper or slider, which often allows me to catch lots of bream in between bass bites. David’s bream was a product of this approach.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father's Day Rally
Fittingly, I am back. It took until Father's Day morning to recover from my setback on the Rapidan. In keeping with the civil war theme; I have found success in Pennsylvania that has eluded me in Virginia. It is a bit of a stretch to compare catching a few bass in pond at a campground to the defense of Little Round Top, but it is Father's Day. I feel that my promotion of this sport via this blog with a readership pushing four, if you count my brother in law, and the fact that my son's chest is often a billboard for Bass Pro Shops, gives me some license to rejoice in the unremarkable. I got two descent bass (and a few bream) on a 5 wt fly rod. Both bass were keepers, and I have pictures this time to prove it, which is the real accomplishment here. Winning fly: large neon yellow slider.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Ely's Ford
Dad and I hit historic Ely's Ford today. This was the site in which the hapless union forces under Joe Hooker crossed the Rapidan before being routed in the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. Today it was the site for a couple hapless bass fishermen to get in touch with the limits of their gene pool. The day started great; I landed a nice largemouth on chartreuse grub. I released this fine specimen after my father assured me that he had captured “at least three” cell pics of me triumphantly holding my catch. I later checked out the picture only to find an image of my son dressed as Batman. My catch was followed by Dad attempting to set the hook on at least five bites. We now know that there was nothing wrong with Dad's technique. He was missing the tip of his hook, which is never a recipe for a successful hook set. Later in the morning I switched to my fly rod and caught a couple small ones on a chartreuse wooly bugger. I later set the hook on a trophy smallmouth. In keeping with family tradition, this struggle culminated with a broken leader. We saw him jump to spit the fly and he was clearly over 20". Doh!
In summary, we got a keeper largemouth, two smallmouths, a bluegill, a rock bass, and I gave a trophy smallie a sore mouth. I assessed early that bright chartreuse was the right color for today's sunny, stained water conditions. This was the one thing I got right today.
In summary, we got a keeper largemouth, two smallmouths, a bluegill, a rock bass, and I gave a trophy smallie a sore mouth. I assessed early that bright chartreuse was the right color for today's sunny, stained water conditions. This was the one thing I got right today.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Dad Hooks a Big One
Dad is here for David and Zach's birthday. We fished Lake Royal early this morning long enough for Dad to hook one very noteworthy fish. Initially we thought it was an average to large bass, but after several runs that nearly spooled Dad we suspected it was a 10 lb+ catfish. He came up a few times and we saw what looked like a large cat’s dorsal fin. The fight lasted over twenty minutes. Once Dad realized he was about to get spooled he started to put the brakes on and the behemoth popped off. Dad fought the fish skillfully only applying pressure as a last resort. The bait was a white curly tail grub on a jig; a lure that occasionally elicits a catfish strike. Tomorrow is the big day for fishing. We are hitting the Rapidan for smallmouth so long as the weather holds. I pray for clear water and big smallies.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Bass Confusion
This weekend of limited fishing was good for reminding us of the confused identity of the white perch. A member of the bass family, and closely related to the white bass, the white perch shares the perch name with the yellow perch; an unrelated species for which it bears no resemblance. There are other abnormalities in the popular names of North American fish. Our beloved largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass are actually members of the sunfish family. The brook trout is actually a char. The walleye, often referred to as the walleyed pike, is not a member of the pike family but rather the perch family. I believe that this phenomenon results from drunken red necks with fishing poles outnumbering trained biologists. Looks like a purch ta me man!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Big Bass on a Little Fly Rod
My challenges landing quality bass on fly tackle were somewhat alleviated this weekend. Our Memorial Day plans took us to a campsite in Pennsylvania with a fishing pond billed as an overfished, under stocked bluegill hole. Armed with a 4 weight fly rod, I quickly discovered that bass were the dominant predator in this water outside of the tattooed, PBR drinkin' worm dunkers that lined the bank. Avoiding the social pressures of hob nobbing with the Lancaster County RV crowd, I got my fishing fix at sunrise and had the pond to myself. This approach was worth two quality bass: one 17" and one 16". Both took small surface flies: a white foam spider, and a white panfish popper. Landing 2-3 pounders on a 4 wt fly rod was the bass on a fly rod experience I have been after. This was made possible by using a non-tapered 8 lb test spider wire leader.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Braddock Crappie
My quest for a big bass on a fly rod continues. To date 3lb+ bass have alluded me on fly tackle. This morning's short visit to lake Braddock was no different. I had a couple bass strikes on a large neon yellow popper, but either I missed the fish or the fish missed the fly. One 12 1/2" fish did manage a solid strike on my popper. I have always thought that the crappie's status at the top of the panfish class was tarnished by a questionable fighting ability. I learned today that when crappies get past a foot in length they bend an #8 wt fly rod like a bass.
Lake Braddock: come for the bass, stay for the crappie.
Lake Braddock: come for the bass, stay for the crappie.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thoughts on Spring Bass
After spending the entire winter plotting my moves for the impending spring bass explosion, it is finally here. Except that it hasn't really been an explosion, more like a reality check. Spring bass fishing is tough for a couple reasons you forget during the months you expect to struggle. First, the transition period before the spawn is tough to track. The pre-spawn feeding frenzy you see on the Saturday morning shows can come and go before you know it. Suddenly the fish are on their beds; its great sight fishing but they are sluggish. Then comes the post spawn. Once again they can be sluggish. Erratic weather conditions present another complicating factor throughout the season. After a few weeks of intense heat the water column inverts and the bass head for deep water.
There are windows of opportunity to be exploited. But spring bass fishing is still bass fishing. If you want a lot of strikes go for panfish, or stocked trout. If you want to catch one fish that will make your week go for bass. My goal: one solid largemouth bass on a fly rod. My follow on goal is to fix my boat and become a true bass slayer, which is tough to do from the bank.
There are windows of opportunity to be exploited. But spring bass fishing is still bass fishing. If you want a lot of strikes go for panfish, or stocked trout. If you want to catch one fish that will make your week go for bass. My goal: one solid largemouth bass on a fly rod. My follow on goal is to fix my boat and become a true bass slayer, which is tough to do from the bank.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
David's Rainbow
Wow! He's not even four yet and he's pulling fish out of the water like a little pro. We went to Accotink Creek tonight for a quick shot at our favorite stocked trout fishery. David picked out his own lure: a marabou jig spinnerbait. Action was initially slow and we contemplated moving. Suddenly David set the hook on a nice rainbow. His pole bent over, and the fish jumped two or three times before David was able to swing his catch on the bank. David had no assistance on this one. He made a perfect cast, got a solid hook set and landed the fish entirely on his own.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A Big Day For The Olsons
In my last post I addressed my Dad's smallie conquest this morning down in in NC. Tonight the VA wing of the family got in on the action. David caught two bream on a fly rod, and jennie got a small bass (that snuck back in the water before we could get a picture). Just as it looked like I was bringing down the team I managed a fourteen inch largemouth. The winning presentation was a TX rigged white tube. This has become my 'go to' largemouth bait on a spinning rod, even though it is billed as a smallmouth bait. Go figure.
Pop Pop Scores Again!
My Dad has held to his guns on smallmouth fishing. I insist that you fish for them differently than largemouth. Yet Dad remains loyal to the plastic worm even though I am always stearing him towards a tube, a drop shot or some other ESPN annointed smallie tactic. Way to go Dad! This one was 17" and well over three pounds.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Next Generation Fly Fisherman
They grow up fast. David has joined the elite ranks of fly fishermen. Mom called me at work today and said David was "dying to go fishing." I came home on the early bus and grabbed a spinning rod for David and a fly rod for me. Trouble was he wasn't interested in the spinning rod this evening. I pleaded with him to use it to no avail; he had to get a fish on the fly. He has developed an unorthodox, but effective back cast. Within a few minutes he had hooked a nice little bluegill. Way to go buddy!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Still Waiting
I guess last weekend was my opportunity to get a big bass on a fly rod. This morning was my only shot this weekend. I caught a bunch of chunky bluegills, and two small bass. Although this was only bank fishing, I am still unsatisfied.
I really want to score a big bass on a fly rod, but I will have to wait for at least another week. I will retool; lay off the wooly buggers, poppers, and wet flies and buy some clausers and deceivers. I believe that a large streamer pattern may be the ticket for largemouth. The action should be hard for them to resist and they don’t see the patterns often.
I really want to score a big bass on a fly rod, but I will have to wait for at least another week. I will retool; lay off the wooly buggers, poppers, and wet flies and buy some clausers and deceivers. I believe that a large streamer pattern may be the ticket for largemouth. The action should be hard for them to resist and they don’t see the patterns often.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Dad Scores!
Way to go Dad! What a great western NC smallmouth caught eastern NC style: plastic worm pitched into heavy cover. We'll call this Lake James bronzeback at two pounds. Having recently hooked smallmouth and largemouth I can say the smallie fights twice as hard pound for pound. Dad says that electro fishing shows smallmouth in lake James up to twelve pounds. That is world record material; good luck Dad.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Lake Braddock
I hit Lake Braddock the last two mornings. This is an excellent fishery with large bream, crappie, and bass. Yesterday I hooked a bass on a yellow slider that looked to be about three pounds. He popped off in about four inches of water. This morning I had an absolute monster roll on my large black popper. He looked like one of the stripers they pull out of the Chesapeake: absolutely huge! The bluegill action is non-stop on a wet fly. These are real chunkers that fight like palm sized smallmouths. I caught about fifteen bluegill each morning, plus a handful of small bass, and some very chunky crappie. The big one awaits. Great fishery!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Not To Be Outdone
We got back to Virginia, and David wanted to fish at our lake. We managed about a dozen bluegill and a crappie in about forty minutes. There is no place like home. David managed to score a nice gill on a crankbait. Not bad for a three and a half year old.
Boys Weekend Wrap Up
We had a fun weekend even if the fishing challenged us. Lake James is tough to fish, and fishing with a 3 1/2 year old requires short bursts of fishing separated by hours of Spongebob and Power Rangers. David did great. He was patient in the boat and listened to his Dad and Pop-Pop. Unfortunately, the weather socked us in for a while, when we got on the water it was too windy, and Dad's electronics are fried. On Lake James, no trons: no fish. That is unless you can inexplicably pull smallies off the dock with a fly rod.
While the bite was slow, the smallies were fun to catch, and the few bream we got were huge. The bite producing baits this trip were my Dad's TX rigged plastic worm, and his white curly grub. I had one strike on a blue tube, and a yellow popper (off the dock); but the only bait that hooked smallmouth was, of course, the wooly bugger (green, and brown). Good memories; we'll do it again some time next fall.
While the bite was slow, the smallies were fun to catch, and the few bream we got were huge. The bite producing baits this trip were my Dad's TX rigged plastic worm, and his white curly grub. I had one strike on a blue tube, and a yellow popper (off the dock); but the only bait that hooked smallmouth was, of course, the wooly bugger (green, and brown). Good memories; we'll do it again some time next fall.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Another Smallie Off The Dock
Once again, boating a Lake James smallmouth bass eluded us. We docked, once again, windblown and biteless ; I tied a wooly bugger and caught another day saving smallie. I got out the tape on this one: 12"...on a fly rod. Wooh hooh!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Boys Weekend: Day 1
David and I arrived at my Dad's house in western North Carolina yesterday afternoon. We got in a few hours on the lake. We returned to the dock wind blown and biteless. At this point I had tried just about every style of bass bait in my tackle box: jigs, craws, tubes, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits--nothing.
We tied off to the boat dock and I grabbed my fly rod and tied my confidence bait: the wooly bugger. Hooked a 12" smallmouth...great fun on a 6 wt fly rod.
We still have 2 1/2 days to fish. Lake James is a very tough mountain lake; it is cold and deep. But it holds smallmouth, largemouth, walleyes, a few Bodies (local vernacular for hybrid striped bass), and tiger muskies. Even with slower action, fishing with your Dad and your son is always a great time.
We tied off to the boat dock and I grabbed my fly rod and tied my confidence bait: the wooly bugger. Hooked a 12" smallmouth...great fun on a 6 wt fly rod.
We still have 2 1/2 days to fish. Lake James is a very tough mountain lake; it is cold and deep. But it holds smallmouth, largemouth, walleyes, a few Bodies (local vernacular for hybrid striped bass), and tiger muskies. Even with slower action, fishing with your Dad and your son is always a great time.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Accotink Triple
Scoring at least one rainbow, brown and brook trout in the same outing may not be much to some. Landing a triple within the limits of Fairfax County is up there with a no hitter in my book. Well, maybe if the VDGIF hadn't stocked our stream this week it would be like bowling 300; but I will savor this small accomplishment even if the odds are seriously stacked in favor of the angler this week.
As it turns out, the new trout have the same weakness for the wooly bugger as their winter stock brethren. Surprisingly, even the normally stingy brown trout are strung out on streamers lately. I wish them a slow recovery until the bass hit their spring beds.
Final tally: 4 browns, 2 rainbows, and a brookie...in an hour and a half
As it turns out, the new trout have the same weakness for the wooly bugger as their winter stock brethren. Surprisingly, even the normally stingy brown trout are strung out on streamers lately. I wish them a slow recovery until the bass hit their spring beds.
Final tally: 4 browns, 2 rainbows, and a brookie...in an hour and a half
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Love Them Bass Too!
Since I elected to identify myself as a bass fishermen in the name of this blog, whenever I blog about trout I always feel compelled to even the score with a bass entry. This morning I risked the label of the jackass Dad who fished on Easter Sunday. Thanks to some help from a few extra ounces of formula little zachy slept long enough for Dad to score at the neighborhood lake and get home before the family awoke.
I almost folded while sitting on two bluegills. After the Rainbow yesterday this seemed lame. But thanks to help from my handy dandy yellow popper I was able to land a trademark Lake Royal Bass: small, but fly worthy. I had exhausted use of an olive BH wooly bugger, and went for a small popper in a bright color because the water was moderately clear and the sun was out. If it were cloudy I would have gone for a dark popper. Stained water: big popper. It's that simple. Rock On!
I almost folded while sitting on two bluegills. After the Rainbow yesterday this seemed lame. But thanks to help from my handy dandy yellow popper I was able to land a trademark Lake Royal Bass: small, but fly worthy. I had exhausted use of an olive BH wooly bugger, and went for a small popper in a bright color because the water was moderately clear and the sun was out. If it were cloudy I would have gone for a dark popper. Stained water: big popper. It's that simple. Rock On!
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