Fishing Through Life

What's With The Backpacks?

2026-06-28T15:57:59.404-04:00

I watch a lot of fly fishing videos on the net, and almost all the fly fishermen fish using backpack straps on their backs. I haven't asked any of the guys what's in the backpacks. I will ask that question next time I am finished watching one of their videos. They never show you what they're carrying in the packs, so I am going to speculate what is stashed in them. First off, I would assume a change of clothes for that unexpected slip, resulting in getting soaking wet. Everyone has to eat while fishing your favorite stream, so a snack, a large lunch, and an afternoon snack would be great. If they cook the lunch, then a small burner cooktop would be needed. An array of fly boxes, consisting of dries, nymphs, steamers, terrestrials, wet flies, and eggs, would be needed. If you are fliming the trip, your camera, batteries, chargers, tri-pods, and other accessories that you would need to film the entire trip. The net is strapped to the backpack from the top, with an arm strap and a holster for an extra fly rod in the tube. The reel is already in the pack. Now I may have gone to the extreme here, but I would guess all the items I have mentioned could be stored in one of these packs. Some are quite large, and I notice most of the fisherman never remove them from their back while fishing. A snack or lunch break would be a good time to remove the pack and use it as a pillow for a short nap after lunch. When I find out what all these guys are carrying in their packs, I will share. In the meantime, I will continue to fish the tailrace and even the lake with my lanyard chest pack and a few snacks. Now that is fishing light for an older fly fisherman!!

Family Time 2026

2026-06-14T14:49:34.219-04:00

Cathey and I spent this past week in Greystone Farms, fishing, hiking, and enjoying time with our daughter Jenny and our son Jason at his house. We wish Jenny's husband, B.T. could have joined us but his work schedule wouldn't permit him to come. We had a three‑day get‑together and Jenny and the kids ended up landing more fish than they had ever caught on the lake, using fly rods and spinning gear. The lake was high and the water a little off‑color from all the rain, but it didn’t slow down the bass or bluegill bite. What made the trip even better was the time together — sharing meals, laughter on the back porch, and catching up on everything the grandkids have been doing since we were all together last year. Their lives are changing so fast. Even little Hallie, the youngest, will be four in August, and it seems like yesterday she was just a baby. Moments like these remind us how quickly time slips by, and how grateful we are to spend it with family who matters the most.

All the fish were landed using ultra light combos and micro lights combos, which matched the fish the kids were landing. At times they just knew they had a fish on bigger than what they actully caught, which added to the fun of fishing for this size bass and bluegill. It was a shame the spawn was over for this cycle but still the gills could be caught in deeper water using the crystal buggers. All the bass were landed using a 4" mister twister worm.

When Does a Pond Become a Lake

2026-05-25T16:32:23.463-04:00

When does a pond become a small lake? If you had asked me that question when I was a young boy fishing with my younger brother on our two-acre pond, I would have told you it was a lake. According to Google, a typical body of water is considered a lake at 10 acres or more. So, the 15-acre lake in Greystone Farms, where my son’s house is located, is indeed a lake.

The lake sits in a deep ravine surrounded by a couple of subdivisions to the west and east. It is spring-fed, which helps the water level remain fairly consistent throughout the year. No boats or swimming are allowed on the lake, and the only individuals permitted to fish there are the residents who live in the neighborhood. It is an excellent bank-fishing lake for spinning gear, casting reels, live bait fishermen, and, of course, fly rods.

I can count on one hand the number of fly fishermen who fish there regularly. My son and I, a couple of other guys, and one lady who is probably better than all of us—and that is saying a lot. Of course, she has been fishing the lake for years.

Fishing this lake brings back many memories of when my younger brother and I would walk the banks of our little pond using cane poles rigged with long lines the same length as the pole, usually 8 or 9 feet long. We would cast a hook rigged with a grasshopper or redworm close to the edge, fishing for anything cruising the banks looking for an easy meal. Sometimes we would wade the shallow water just to make a longer cast. Bluegill and small bass were usually the catch of the day, with an occasional shellcracker mixed in. Those memories make me wish I could go back and relive those days again, when time seemed to pass more slowly.

There is something special about fishing a small lake like Greystone Frams with a light fly rod. You don’t need a boat, expensive electronics, or heavy tackle to enjoy this 15-acre lake. My son’s house is less than a minute from the shoreline, and there are no time restrictions. Whether it is a quick 20-minute trip or an hour-long outing, the lake provides a relaxing escape and a chance to relieve the stress of the day. In fact, some of the best bass and bluegill action happens right from the bank late or early using simple flies and lightweight rods.

Using 2-, 3-, or 4-weight fly rods turns even modest fish into memorable battles. A hand-sized bluegill feels like a trophy, and a one-pound bass on a light rod can test both your nerves and your drag system. Small lakes are ideal places to slow down and experiment with flies that may have sat in your fly box for years but, for some reason, were never used.

This lake is heavily fished with traditional tackle and, as mentioned earlier, by a few fly fishermen as well. Since no boats are allowed, all the pressure comes from the bank, making the fish extremely spooky. Late afternoons and early mornings are the times I prefer to fish. I still use many of the same techniques I learned while fishing our pond years ago. Casting parallel to the banks is often far more productive than making long casts into the deeper parts of the lake. Fish cruise the shoreline early and late in the day, feeding on anything close to the bank. I use only small flies and tiny buggers instead of large patterns.

I have found my third home waters fishing the lake at Greystone Farms. I am close to the water, close to the fish, and every strike feels personal like the species that I have landed there using my 2/3 fly rods.

A Mix!!

2026-04-16T16:00:00.000-04:00

Reporting in on Saturday's Walker Lake trip and Tuesday's Smith Lake trip, fishing with my son Jason, both days were filled with wind and more wind. I thought March was supposed to be our windy month, but somehow March and April got reversed when you factor in the wind fishing at Walker and Smith Lake. Water temperatures on both lakes are well below 70 degrees but rising, making it ideal to fish surface poppers at daylight, which is the best time to land numbers of quality fish. 5:30 to 9:00 AM is the prime time, giving Jason and me roughly 3 hours to hit the active sweet spots in that time slot. You can continue to fish after 9, but you really have work for the hits. So we packed it in around 9 oclock. When Jason is home, he always wants to work in as many trips as he can fishing Smith Lake.

Guys, catfish on a 7 1/2 ft. 2 wt is a fight--fishing with a size 12 pheasant tail nymph--now I know the pheasant tail will catch anytbing!

Nice size bull taken on the Doozy, size 12 which I tied back in the winter. I landed two more this size using what was left of the fly, as it came apart, because of poor fly tying. I hope to improve with my fly tying in the winter months. Rest assure I will tie more of the Doozy!

My largest largemouth, to date taken on Walker this trip using a size eight betts popper. Wal Mart carries this brand popper. They are average poppers, which will last mid way through the bluegill spawn. They don't deserve a rating of a 10, but a 7 is more in their range, but they will get hits!!

Jason landed numerous spotted bass in the 12 to 15 inch mark Wedneday fishing the, Boogle Bug size 6 olive, which is his favorite color to fish at daylight. Unbelievable fight using his Hardy Streamflex 9ft. 5 wt.

I'm not saying this becasue he is my son but I haven't seen anyone that can master his skill-set at false casting and delivering an oversize 6 Boogle Bug so light that it resembles a small bug touching the water. With him, the presentation is what get the takes. Two fun days on the water for sure!

Forgot to mention the Shellcracker was landed by me along with a few smaller bass using my 3 wt. I was testing nook areas for the bluegill, which was not active on this day.

Meal Time!!

2026-03-31T20:46:00.001-04:00

Spring is my favorite time of year to fly fish. The fish are far more active, the early spawn is getting closer, and they’re in a protective frenzy around their beds. During this time of year, they’ll strike almost anything that comes near their beds. You can expect a vigorous fight from both bluegill and bass. After feeding heavily through late fall and winter, these fish are in top shape and ready to put a serious bend in any fly rod.

Today my 2/3‑weight fly rods got quite a workout as I fished Walker County Lake. I landed numerous small bluegill along with some quality bull gills. None of these fish were spawning yet, but they were holding about ten feet off the banks. It was the same script as last year — steady action with hits spaced about ten to 15 minutes apart. In other words, patience was the key to putting together a good catch today.

Tiny poppers and small buggers were the bluegills’ choice of fake food this morning. My season always starts at Walker County Lake and finishes up on Smith Lake in the fall. Today was the start of my twenty first season fishing this great lake. I never tire fishing its waters

Little Fish Keep You Focused

2026-03-16T19:44:00.001-04:00

As stated in the title of this post, little fish can be a motivating factor to keep casting even on slow fishing days. That was the case yesterday, when I made my first trip of the year to Walker Lake. Water temp was a cool 60 degrees and no wind and overcast skies, which is near perfect conditions for fly fishing: but it was not to be. I am glad I was fishing with 7 1/2 ft. 2 wt. becasue even these little guys seem big on the 2wt. I landed bunches of these little gills during my 3 hour trip, which was fun and great practice to land the big bulls I will encourter in the next 3 weeks.

The Caddis fly that I had tied a few weeks back was the main fly the little gills would inhaled, which please me becasue now I know some of the flies I have tied have value. The water was super clear and the least movemnet of the boat would spook the fish, so I changed my tippet size to an 6X --2lb test to get a lighter presentation of the caddis. This was my first time to use a tippet this light: I was impressed

After tying the flies last week I decided to apply some Stay Dry floatant on the few I was going to fish with. I was amazed at thow well it worked. I was able to fish the last couple of hours without appling anymore. The has to be the best floatant I have ever used!

It was Spring Break this week for our grandchildren and Cathey and I were glad we got to spend the weekend with our Daughter and her two girls. Our two grandsons were on deep sea fishing trip with their Dad and Grandpaw. Our youngest grandchild, Little Hallie got to land her first fish, using redworms, she was really excited!!

Fishing Small Lures is a Winner!!

2026-02-15T20:01:00.001-05:00

As most of you know, I fish three different places where we live: Walker County Lake, Smith Lake, and the Sipsey Tailrace. All three are within 25 minutes of our house, and all three are heavily fished. In other words, they are pressured waters. I learned years ago that if I wanted to be successful fishing pressured waters—especially the areas you call your home waters—I couldn’t fish the way everyone else was fishing.

When we called Tupelo, Mississippi home back in the mid-70s and early ’80s, I fished with baitcasting and spinning reels. I would always carry two to three combos with me—both baitcasting and spinning gear—and I consistently landed more fish using the spinning gear. Both setups were medium to medium-heavy. Landing a standard 12- to 14-inch bass wasn’t much of a fight on either combo, but the spinning gear was always the winner.

Then came my first experience using ultralight combos in the spring of 1977. Back then, nobody really used light tackle on the four lakes my fishing buddy and I fished. True, you could purchase light tackle, but it wasn’t promoted like it is today. I started with a 6½-foot Eagle Claw ultralight action rod and a small to medium Garcia spincast reel spooled with 6-pound test monofilament.

I still remember that trip because we had company coming for dinner that night—and I was late. The reason? I had the best fishing trip I had ever experienced. In one afternoon, I landed between 40 and 50 bass in the 11- to 14-inch range using my Garcia combo. It was mid-afternoon, overcast, and there was no wind. That one trip changed the way I fish to this day.

Ralph, my fishing buddy during our years in Tupelo, caught fish too—but not nearly the numbers I landed. In fact, I felt so bad about the success I was having that I gave up the front seat in the boat to him. On our next trip the following week, guess who had the same combo I was fishing with? We still talk about that trip and all the others we made together.

Over the next couple of years, I really got into ultralight fishing. The day we left Mississippi for Jasper, I owned five ultralight combos. Two of those were microlight rods in lengths of 7½ feet and 8 feet. Those two are the only ones I still have from the original five. Since then, I’ve added a couple of 7-foot Spinmatic ultralight rods to go along with my microlights.

Today, I mainly use the micro light rods when Cathey and I fish for the huge bluegills on Smith Lake in July and August. My grandchildren use the 7-foot ultralights when they’re fishing the 15-acre lake in Greystone Farms, where Jason has a house. He lives there four to five times a year, and the rest of the time he’s in Sacramento working for Kaiser Health. Cathey and I house-sit for him while he’s away.

So how did I land all those bass that day with the Garcia combo? I was fishing a small 4-inch bleeding shiner curly-tail worm rigged on a 1/0 hook. I rigged the worm so it would have a slight bend, which caused it to swim with circular motion. I worked the worm slowly with short jerks—there was no mistaking a strike. I attached a barrel swivel to the eye of the hook to prevent line twist, which is a must when fishing this worm using a finesse presentation. I still land bass today on Jason’s lake using this method—and so do the grandkids. It’s a little unconventional, but believe me, it works.

That little 4-inch worm is not the only lure that produces results with ultralight combos. Remember, you’re presenting lures to the fish that the fish don’t see very often. Tiny crankbaits, rattle traps, 1/32- to 1/8-ounce jig heads rigged with Z-Shad grubs—or any grub that resembles a baitfish—can all be fished effectively on a 7-foot ultralight. The microlights spooled with 2 to 4lb. test line are also very effective when fishing tungsten-bead Woolly Buggers slowly. . The lighter the line the more distance you get with each cast. I’ve landed huge bluegills fishing Woolly Buggers with both the microlights and fly rods.

The rule I have followed ever since that epic day in 1977 is this:

When fishing clear, pressured water—go smaller.

When fishing cold water—go smaller.

Even in the springtime, stay with smaller lures.

You will be rewarded.

Staying Busy During the Cold Weather

2026-01-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share some of the projects I’ve been working on during the cold month of January. As many of you know, one of my hobbies is woodworking, and during the winter months I spend a lot of time in my wood shop. Too cold to fish this time of the yearfor me, especially when the temps are in the mid 50's or lower during the day. I remember being on the water during those cold temp days when I was younger but not anymore. That is why my fishing season begins now the last week in March.

Cathey wanted a small bench for our back porch, which I made using scrap pine. I seldom throw away lumber that I think I can use one day for a project such as this bench. I needed a larger shelf to store some of my fishing items. Everything you see on the shelf had been taking up space in the bottom of my boat. The hat rack was a must!

I've been doing a lot of fly tying lately. These are the better ones I am willling to share. I am not worried about a traditional color, but just in the experiment stage now. The colors are a little far-fetched, and probably doesn't relate to a particular bug or insect. I have learned one thing since I started tying: is the videos on line make it look so easy, but for me it has been a fun challenge, not frustrating. It will be interesting in the Spring to see which one of these beauties will attract a take. I will be trying some of these patterns on the tailrace as soon the temps warm.

What to Get The Fly Fisherman Who Has Everything

2025-12-18T11:58:00.001-05:00

Fly fishermen, like most anglers, are always searching for the perfect gear—whether it’s the rod, reel, flies, line, leader, tippet, waders, or boots. The list could go on, but you get the idea. Over the years, I’ve told my family not to buy me fishing equipment for Christmas or any other holiday, since I already have everything I’ll ever need for the rest of my fishing days.

That said, after watching a video from one of the fly fishing channels I follow, I realized there’s one item every fly fisherman should add to their arsenal for the coming season: You can never have too much of this stuff*****Check out the video below.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Bad, Fair, and Better

2025-12-09T17:23:00.001-05:00

Bad, Fair, and Better is how I am going to evaluate my fly-tying classes. I have spent the last couple of days experimenting with different wooly bugger patterns that are fairly easy to tie. I have found the best way for me to learn how to tie a decent fly is to watch the video of the fly I am trying to duplicate. I didn’t realize how many fly-tying videos are available on the internet, serving as the perfect instructor.

These flies were some of the first I finished and were mainly an exercise in learning how to use the tools, which resulted in some really bad wooly buggers.

You can see with these two wooly buggers I was improving some.

These are better, but I still need to improve, and the only way to do that is to keep practicing!

Why I Like Fishing With a 2 Wt. Fly Rod

2025-11-03T14:12:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, I have always been drawn to light fishing tackle, whether it's my 7½-foot micro-lite rods or my 2-weight, 7½-foot Redington fly rod. There’s something special about a 2-weight fly rod. Is it the lightness, the delicacy, the sensitivity, or the simple fact that no other fly rod can provide such a connection with the fish when fighting it? This rod isn’t designed for power or distance; rather, it reminds me that fly fishing isn’t about domination. It’s about truly experiencing the fight, especially when a fish overpowers the rod, challenging me to land it.

Simply put, I enjoy the challenge. Will I win the fight today, or will the fish? You don't need to catch a monster fish to appreciate this fly rod; even landing a small brook trout, rainbow or a small bluegill brings a thrill. I learned a long time ago that it's not about the size or quantity of the fish but about the experience of the moment.

A 2-weight rod excels in small creeks, lakes, and ponds. Just a gentle flick of the wrist can send a tiny dry fly or tiny popper under a low-hanging limb where a hungry fish awaits your offering.

If you’ve never tried a 2-weight rod, I encourage you to take one to your favorite stream, pond, or small lake and rediscover the quiet side of fly fishing—the side that made me thankful I had a Dad that taught me to fly fish in our five acre pond when I was a young child.

P.S. The image above was taken on Walker Lake last Spring. Five months away before I wet the fly again on Walker Lake or Smith Lake, in the meantime, I will be preparing for another great fishing season!

I Am Still Here

2025-10-28T11:21:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone, I just wanted to check in. Cathey and I have been supervising a renovation project at our son's house, which started in late September. Unfortunately, this has really disrupted my fall fishing plans. However, as the saying goes, you'll do anything for your children.

Jason works in California and doesn't get home often, but when he does, he tries to fish as much as he can. So, the renovation project was something he didn't want to handle himself. Being retired allows Cathey and me to follow a flexible schedule, so we were glad to help him out.

I hope to go on a couple of fishing trips before the weather gets too cold for me to cast a popper at those spotted bass on Smith. I'm looking forward to learning how to tie some flies for the upcoming spring and sharing them with you all soon.

The Fall Popper-Action is Close On Smith Lake

2025-09-12T16:49:00.002-04:00

Jeff and I made an early morning trip to Smith Lake this past Thursday to test the top action for the bass and some giant bluegill. We were surprised to get some action even with the surface temps still near 80 degrees. The cool nights have started to cool the water somewhat, but not to the point where the hits are more like spring or late fall, as of yet.

Sorry for the vertical video, my camera was not set a 0 when filming this video.

The first hit of the morning was this 16" plus spotted bass soft-hitting Jeff's double-barrel popper. The fish put a bend in Jeff's 5wt. rod. Landing these fish never gets old. Even an 11 or 12" can give you a thrill on the fly rod.

The big bluegill were locked in on the size six black boogle bug popper. I had a feeling they thought it was a black grasshopper or bug. Don't count on them hitting the same colored popper on the next trip: it could be a different color or even a different style popper. I was using my 9ft. 4 wt. Streamflex, which was a blast landing this size bluegill. The side maneuvering using their wide bodies for resistance makes you think you are fighting a spotted bass. The top action will only get better as the water temps start to cool during this month and on into October. Fishing surface poppers in the fall is second only to the Spring action on beautiful Smith Lake!

Fly Reel Review+Catfish On The Fly

2025-08-26T18:13:00.002-04:00

Has anyone noticed the price of fly reels? Most of you know that I fish with the G-Loomis free spool reels, which cost between $150.00 and $ 200.00. That is the most I have paid for a fly reel and probably will never pay more than that price. In fact, at my age, I don't intend to buy another fly reel ever.

With that said, the three main components that entail fly fishing for me are the fly rod, fly reel, and fly line. The least expensive of the three for me would be my fly reel. One can spend big bucks on a fly reel, but in reality, all it will do is keep your line spooled and provide a decent drag to fight a large fish. In fact, the click and paw fly reels don't have drag. Both my Battenkill reels are the click-and-pawl version, which I like especially when fishing for trout on the tailrace and bluegill on the lake. But what if you want an inexpensive, small arbor reel that features a smooth dial drag setting?

Enter the Avid fly reel by Maxcatch; at 50 bucks, this reel is a bargain for fly fishermen who don't want to hear the click, click sound of the paw and click version reel. My son Jason purchased this reel at the beginning of this year, and he and I have been using it. I use it sometimes when he is out of state working, and he uses it when he fishes with me when he is home. The reel is super light and measures 2 3/4 inches in diameter with the width of the spool 1 1/4". He has paired it with his Redington 2 wt. 7 1/2 ft. fly rod. To experience the ultimate in light-action fly fishing, this combo will deliver. In fact, I like the combo so well that I have started using it over my click and paw Battenkill combo.

To get a more detial description of this reel check out their website at Maxcatch Fly Fishing. I thought I would never like a colored fly reel, but after seeing this one up close I was sold.

I fished the combo one evening last week on Walker County Lake, knowing that the spawn was over for the year, I was there mainly to cast this 2-weight. As usual, nothing was happening on top, so I fished subsurface using my stand-by Krystal Booger. It didn't fail, as it caught the attention of some active catfish that put the 2wt. to the test.

I haven't a clue what these catfish thought this fly was, but I didn't care, hey I was landing fish using one of the lightest fly rod combos I've ever fished with!!

50th.

2025-08-17T08:20:00.002-04:00

Well, "as Ronald Reagan used to say," Cathey and I have reached a significant milestone in our lives: our 50th wedding anniversary this Sunday. We look back on that day with fond memories, but we also understand that many of the individuals who attended our wedding are no longer with us. This is why we feel so blessed at this stage in our lives.We celebrated the day early during the last weekend of June at Jason's house in Greystone Farms, with Jenny and her family in attendance. Starting school for the grandchildren and Jason's work schedule didn't align with August 17th, it didn't bother us; we were just glad to be with family on this special occasion.

Everyone enjoyed the food, and of course, the fishing!

The desserts, after everyone had stuffed themselves with barbecue ribs from Jim and Nick's, was a Lemon Icebox cake with stuffed cupcakes and huge chocolate chip cookies.

The kids love going to Uncle JJ's, which is what they call him. They look forward to spending time fishing on the lake every year.

Cathey and I are lucky parents and grandparents!!

The Spawn is Still On!!

2025-08-02T15:28:00.000-04:00

Cathey and I have become quite a team when it comes to fishing with Micro Light combos. One of the combos is 7 1/2- and the other is an 8-foot rod. We used both micro-lights this past week while fishing on Smith Lake during the last bluegill spawning cycle of July. There may be another spawn in August if the lake level does not drop too quickly. I hope we get to fish that cycle as well.

I've been using both micro combos for over 30 years. When I purchased the rods, they had a half-dollar-size front guide, which I removed and replaced with a quarter-size guide, resulting in increased casting speed and distance. At the time I purchased the rods and reels, I didn't realize I was fishing with a 3/4-weight fly rod. Thirty years ago, I was into baitcasting reels and spinning reels, fishing for bass. The reason I purchased the micro-light rods and reels was to use them to fish for the super-sized bluegills I kept catching with my bait-casting and spinning reels combos. Little did I know at the time that these micro light combos would become a massive part of my fishing experience for the rest of my fishing days.

Cathey would rather use the 8-foot micro-light instead of the fly rod. She isn't into fly fishing because of the line management and casting. I'm good with that, because she is landing fish!

We caught these bluegill early last Tuesday morning. We were using crickets with the hook tipped with a red crappie nibblet. Fishing with crickets is Cathey's favorite way to fish Smith Lake. One thing I haven't been able to do is get her to bait her hook and remove the fish from the hook; I'm still working on that. We always look forward to the spawn on Smith. I fillet all the bluegill I land on Smith, and we freeze them to eat in the winter months.

We landed this group of gills on Thursday morning early. The fight this size bluegill exerts is unbelievable, using a micro-light rod. As I said, it's like fishing and landing bluegill using a fly rod. We landed all these fish in water 10 to 12 ft. deep. One never finds this size bluegill in shallow-water fishing at Smith Lake. The reason is the clarity of the water. We never use corks. We are tight-lining and waiting for that light hit. They never slam the bait. Slowly raise and drop the bait, working it back to the boat; most of the time, they hit the cricket on the fall. Loads of fun, especially fishing with your wife!!

Guys, I wanted to share this image of our youngest grandson, who landed this monster carp in one of the small ponds in the subdivision where they live. Cash is really into fishing. He turned eleven on July 10th and got a spinning combo from his parents for his birthday. What a way to break in the combo. He had the reel spooled with 8lb test line, and fought the carp for a while before he finally got to whole the fish. Congrats, Cash, you're on your way to becoming a great fisherman!!

**Giving Fly Tying a Try*

2025-07-11T16:14:00.001-04:00

I’ve started my beginner lessons in fly tying, using YouTube as my instructor. In my last post on June 6, I began thinking about tying some wooly buggers first. As I progressed, I also tried my hand at tying pheasant tails and caddis flies. These three flies are the top patterns I use 90% of the time when fishing in the lake or tailrace for trout. While using these flies over the years, I've often wondered how a differently colored hackle on the caddis would affect the bite of bluegill or trout. Similarly, I have considered whether using a different-colored body for the pheasant tail, instead of the traditional brown, would make a difference. The same questions apply to the wooly bugger. This curiosity is one of the main reasons why I want to tie my own flies.

According to the YouTube channel I’ve been following, here are the essentials I need to get started with tying basic flies. All the materials, tools, and vice shown in the accompanying image were purchased from Amazon. The vice was the most expensive item. I was advised to invest in a quality vice, which will be beneficial during the learning process. This vice is quite heavy, weighing 2.25 lbs.

Thus begins another venture in my fly fishing adventure. I will be posting some of my flies in upcoming posts, but I should warn you that they may not be the ordinary colors I mentioned at the beginning. I INTEND TO EXPERIMENT!

The Tungsten Bead Krystal Bugger

2025-06-04T16:25:00.005-04:00

In the second week of April, I published a post discussing this small 1/16 oz. bugger while fishing for bluegill on a windy morning at Walker County Lake. However, I didn't share how I discovered this fly. Many of you probably have a place where flies go to rest, unused until they are rediscovered. For me, that place is a set of small plastic drawers in my fly fishing closet. I found this particular fly at my son's house, tucked away in a small plastic container with other flies that seemed destined for the "fly graveyard." It was the only bugger fly pattern among them—a chartreuse beadhead with an olive green body in size 8. That morning, the bite had slowed with the previous flies I was using, so after lunch, I decided to try something different subsurface, and the bugger was my choice. At the time, I didn't have a name for it, so I simply referred to it as "the bugger." After fishing with the fly that afternoon and successfully landing numerous larger bluegill that were not spawning, I realized I had found a winner. That night, I began searching the web for a beadhead bugger and discovered the name "The Tungsten Bead Krystal Bugger." Since discovering this little gem early last summer it has caused me to have a different opinion concerning small wooly buggers. It's funny how flies that seem useless can turn into some of the best options when nothing is happening on the surface. I have a feeling the trout on the Sipsey will be interested!

This bluegill nailed the black krystal near the bank and believe me there is no mistaking the hit. I don't believe this fish was in the spawning mode, because it hit the fly in water at a depth of 6 ft. Notice the colorful tail fins. The last image was a big gill taken fishing Walker County Lake in April where that morning I wasn't having any luck fishing surface poppers so I tied on the bugger and got results. This is one killer fly not only for bass and bluegill but it is sold to fish for trout out west, I purchased the fly from Yellow Dog Flies in Montana.

This quality male spotted bass hit the black bugger during gusty wind conditions while fishing the levee on Smith Lake with my son last week during a morning trip. I was actually fishing for larger bluegill when this 18" plus male spotted bass inhale the fly. I landed the bass using my 9 ft. 3wt, which was the highlight of the trip for me.

I've found that the best leader setup to fish this fly is a 7 1/2-foot furled leader paired with at least 2 to 2 1/2 feet of 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet. This combination increases the sink rate and improves overall presentation. This fly will become one of my main flies to fish when the surface bite slow. Next Thurday will be my next trip to Smith to fish for the spotted bass and big gills, so that morning I have decided to fish only this fly for most of the trip and see what kind of results it will produce---stay tuned!

Explaining The Slow Bite, After 10AM

2025-05-22T22:41:00.001-04:00

While fly fishing this past Tuesday in Ryan Creek on Smith Lake, I noticed the bite slowed after 10 o'clock. I also saw that the fish still interested in my poppers were extremely scattered. In other words, I was fishing a lot of dead water, which is water with basically no fish, with the exception of a few tiny bluegills in the shallows.

That trip on Tuesday caused me to share my own assumptions about why the bite slows during midday compared to daylight hours and why the bass and bluegill that were aggressive in the early morning hours change their feeding patterns in midday through mid-afternoon.

I am going to limit my reasoning solely to the bass and bluegill species that I fish for in my home waters, Smith Lake and Walker County Lake.

If you have followed my blog over the years, you know that my favorite time to fish is at daylight. Simply put, that is when the fish are the most active! Why is this? Because fish like bass, bluegill, or even trout often hunt best in low light, when their prey is less able to see them. Insects and small baitfish are more active or more vulnerable at dawn and dusk, making them an easy meal for a hungry bass or trout, and they are less visible to birds and surface predators during these times. Daylight and evening hours often bring cooler water temperatures, ideal for many species, especially in warm months. Cloudy or overcast skies subdue sunlight, mimicking dawn/dusk conditions, and will extend active feeding times. Cloud cover can also signal an incoming weather system, which often triggers a feeding frenzy before pressure drops. That is why I pay close attention to the barometric reading before and during the times I am on the water.

If you fish long enough, as I have, you will notice the active feeding time during daylight hours lasts two to three hours, depending on cloud cover. The bite slows from 9 AM until midday because the high sun makes the fish more visible to predators, so they often retreat to cover or deeper water. The insects and baitfish may also retreat or hide during the heat of the day, reducing available food.

Take heart, there are ways you can still land fish during the slow midday bite. First, I slow everything down, starting with my casting and boat movement, and develop more patience. The fish haven't developed lock-jaw at this time of day, but you must entice them to take your offering. Remember that the fish will not attack your popper as aggressively as daylight hours, so letting the fly sit motionlessly for at least 30 seconds or more will sometimes get a take if the fly is in a shaded area or near cover. I have noticed many times during a slow bite period that the fish will slap, swirl, and sip the bug. The slap, swirl, and sip routine is the time I change to a smaller popper in the form of a size 12 caddis, bogglebullet size 10, or the Orvis bream bug size 12. With these poppers, you are trying to create a quite stealthy presentation. I use my 9ft. 3 and 4-weight rods rigged with a 6X tippet instead of the normal 5X or 4X tippet used with my 5wt. or 6wt. fly rods with these flies. Most of the time, one of these three poppers will produce a take. Remember the amount of water you are covering with no fish in it. So when you encounter a fish to hit your offering during this period, make a great cast, present the fly as life-like as possible, and have the patience to let the fly sit until the water rings have disappeared. The slow bite can be rewarding and discouraging, but remember to stay positive and think every cast will produce a take!! LET'S GO FISHING!!!

Tuesday's Popper Action On Smith Lake

2025-05-07T15:54:00.003-04:00

Tuesday was supposed to be a slow bite on Smith because two generators ran all morning, but the spotted bass and giant bluegill didn't get the report. The Mountain Laurels are in full bloom on the lake!

One of my former bloggers, Jay Eubanks, joined me for the early morning trip. It was good to fish with him again after a 6-year lapse.

This spotted bass inhaled an olive boogle bug popper size 6 with little surface action. The bass had me thinking it was a bluegill that sucked the popper under.

The big bluegill were hitting the olive popper as well. My only regret was not bringing my cooler to ice-down the six I could have dressed. Thanks to Jay for joining me on the trip. He and I will be making more Tuesday trips when his work schedule will allow him the time to go.

I am down to one fly fishing buddy now, Jeff, who fishes with me on Thursday. My Tuesday guy quit fishing, can you believe that? Nobody quits fishing after fishing most of your life. As I said before I can count on one hand the indivduals who fly fish in Jasper.

Back For More Bluegills+A Late Update

2025-04-14T21:13:00.003-04:00

Early Thursday morning was cool, with winds gusting around 20 mph. However, that didn’t stop me from heading back to Walker County Lake to catch more bluegills before the influx of live bait fishermen took over during the upcoming spawn. The cool nights, with temperatures in the 30s and low 40s, had kept the fish from beginning their spawning activities.

I started fishing at 6:30 AM, dressed in a light jacket and armed with my 2 and 3-wt. fly rods. If you haven't tried landing bluegill using light fly rods, you are missing some fantastic action fly fishing.

The water temperature was a cool 64 degrees, indicating that the fishing might be slow. In fact, I didn't land my first keeper until 8:30 AM—that's how slow it was! At this time of year, it's important not to assume what the fish will bite, and Thursday morning proved no exception.

This nice keeper was caught sub-surface, setting the tone for the trip. No fish were hitting surface poppers at all due to the windy conditions. Surface poppers work well on calm, cloudy days, but not when the wind is a factor.

The fish were hitting a tungsten crystal beadhead bugger weighing 1/16 of an ounce in water that was 5 to 6 feet deep. I had used this fly last year during the early spawn at Farmstead Lake, where my son Jason has a house. The strike is unmistakable, meaning the fish is trying to eat the fly for a meal.

The end result of the trip in the cooler was 10 nice bluegills for a nice meal. Ten bluegills will produce 20 fillets paired with hush puppies, cole slaw, and a touch of tarter sauce, oh, almost forgot a cold beverage such as tea or a cold Coors.

Tip of the day: Consider switching to a heavier fly line if you anticipate encountering windy conditions on your fly fishing trip. I was using a 4 wt. line on my 3 wt. fly rod, and it really improved my casting for the morning.

Guys I had to share this 2 1/2 lb. plus largemouth that nailed my betts yellow bug this morning while fishing Walker Lake for the spawning bluegill. It was quite a fight landing this fish with my 2 wt. 7 1/2 ft. I wish I had video footage of the aerial jumps this bass made trying to dislogde the popper from its mouth. This fish made my morning along with the dozen big bull bluegill I kept.

Two Mornings of Bluegill Madness

2025-04-06T12:04:00.006-04:00

I always look forward to the spring of the year because that's when I get to fish for one of my favorite species: the bluegill. This past week, I spent my time exploring Walker County Lake for early bluegills, searching for potential spawning areas. I usually start fishing the lake in the last week of March when the water temperatures begin to warm up, encouraging the fish to become active.

Wednesday and Thursday were the best days to fish this week due to the warm temperatures in the high 70s. The water temperatures on both days were close to 78 degrees, with overcast skies, which is excellent for surface action. The only downside was the wind, which at times made it impossible to make a decent cast. Because of this, I left the lake both days as soon as it began white-capping, which was around 10 AM. I started each day at 6 AM, giving me roughly 3.5 hours to explore.

On Wednesday morning, both of my 7.5-foot fly rod combos were rigged with size 10 surface poppers. I prefer these very small poppers for early spring fishing because they spook the fish less in the clear water and make a lighter landing on the surface than larger poppers.

I managed to land numbers of bluegill this size using a size 10 Boogle Bug and a Betts popper, which produced consistent action all morning. However,the bite was’t fast and furious; I had to work for every hit. Don’t expect the bluegill to be near the shore this early in the season; almost all the fish I landed were caught about 10 to 12 feet from the bank in deeper water. The key to getting a bite was to let the popper sit motionless for a few seconds and then barely move it to capture their attention. I also tried a tiny beadhead Wooly Bugger in the deep water, but it didn’t produce any interest.

On my way home Wednesday morning, I was really fired up for Thrusday's trip because I knew I would have the same poppers tied on my 2 and 3-weight fly rods. I arrived again at 6 AM, and by the time I got my Pelican boat in the water and trolled to my starting spot, it was 6:15 AM. I began with the same routine as the previous day, casting both the Boogle Bug and the Betts popper.

After about 20 minutes, I noticed that the fish weren’t coming to the surface to hit either popper. It was time to experiment, so I tried the beadhead Wooly Bugger and the black gnat, but neither produced any results. As the morning went on and I fished different areas of the lake with no bluegill landed, I remembered a few years ago when I faced a similar situation. At that time, tying on a blue size 10 Boogle Bullet had saved my trip, so I decided to give it a shot. I had one left in my fly box, so I tied it on my 2-weight rod.

It proved to be the winner of the morning showing a few of the two day catch. What amazed me was how the fish were hitting it. They would swirl at the popper and gently nudge it. The hits were so soft that I had to watch the popper closely to ensure I had a fish on. This popper is designed to go underwater when moved, which made it enticing to fish that weren’t interested in surface action, as they would perceive it as wounded and inhale it.

The two morning trips brought my total to 32 that I dressed for future meals. I did notice during both trips that these bluegill are not the monsters I use to catch in this lake. I think fishing pressure is taking a toll on the lake. In other words, all the bluegill that spawn in this lake this year won’t be here next year. The live bait fishermen will likely catch all that are on the beds between now and the end of the spawning cycle. This is one reason I always fish the lake early; the other reason is that the fertilizing cycle will begin at the end of this month.

Looking back on these two days, I feel like I got my season off to a good start. In the coming weeks, I will be posting about my trips to Smith Lake, where I’ll be fishing for spotted bass and, yes, those huge bluegills there!

Another Year Another Season

2025-03-15T17:03:00.003-04:00

My fishing season this year started this past Wednesday. According to my official Accu weather amp, Tuesday and Wednesday would be the key days to toss some flies to see if I can could attract some bluegill and red-eyed bass to eat. I am a big believer in weather conditions that affect whether a fish will feed or get lockjaw on any given day. Some of the factors I note when planning a fishing trip are the barometer reading, wind direction, cloud cover, water temperature, and freshwater after heavy rain. I look for a dropping barometer reading, especially when rain or a storm is approaching. I've landed more fish on days when the wind was from the west or south, which can bring stable weather and warmer water, which will, in turn, cause the fish to be more active, especially in the daylight or late evening hours of the day. I like to fish on cloudy days because the fish will hoover around cover to feed without worrying about being attacked by birds of prey or animals. The water temperature is what I watch most when fishing in early spring and late fall. The magic spawning number for bass is 50 to 60 degrees. Bluegill and crappie typically begin spawning when water temperatures reach the mid-60s Fahrenheit, with the peak spawning occurring slightly warmer, around 68 to 70 degrees.

My Tuesday trip was not that productive this past week because the water temperature was still below 56 degrees, which is too cold for any top-water action.

I did land a few small bluegills and one quality gill, fishing with small poppers and letting the poppers sit motionless and wait for the ripples to disappear. In other words, patience was the key to getting a take. I spent most of the morning maneuvering around other boats, fishing in some areas where I usually land fish. I knew the morning would be slow, but I was on the water doing something I enjoyed.

Small Arbor Fly Reeds Verses Large Arbor Fly Reels

2025-02-16T13:51:00.001-05:00

I have always been detail-oriented regarding the design of fishing reels and rods. Once I started fly fishing, attention to detail and design became even more critical than with baitcasting equipment. Fly fishing transformed into a finesse style for me, capturing my interest years ago. Now, I focus more on the fly rod and reel than any other component of fly fishing.

I've discussed the characteristics I appreciate in a fly rod in a previous post, so in this post, I would like to explore the advantages of large arbor and small arbor fly reels. Many fly fishermen will say that the reel is secondary to the fly rod; however, others argue that the reel should be comparable in price to the rod being used. For instance, if you're using a fly rod priced at $500 or more, then the reel could be in that same price range. In reality, a $100 reel could perform just as well. Often, reel choices are made when you purchase your fly rod. The following text is my assessment of the small and large arbor fly reels.

A small arbor reel is lighter and more compact, which can better balance lighter fly rods, providing a more comfortable feel during casting and retrieving. There are no strict rules for pairing a small arbor reel with a light fly rod, or a large arbor reel with a 5/6 weight fly rod. Small reel combinations, such as with a 2/3 weight and 7 to 7.5-foot fly rod, are ideal for small streams and confined areas in small and larger lakes. You'll experience a slower line retrieval rate with a smaller reel, which can give you better control when playing a fish. Additionally, a small arbor reel doesn't require long casts. The most line I have on all my fly reels is 90 feet without any backing, as I'm targeting species that don't require long runs.

I have five of these Glooomis Fly Reels that are small arbor with a 3 1/4 " diameter. They are light and balance well on all the fly rods I fish. I like the free-spool action on these reels, which enables me to take up a tremendous amount of line while fighting a fish. Notice the backing on this reel, which I have never used. I bought the reel on eBay.

In some situations, a larger arbor reel is necessary, especially when fishing larger rivers or for faster fish that require a more significant amount of line. A large arbor reel provides faster line retrieval and less line memory. While both reels have advantages, I prefer small arbor reels for the reasons I mentioned in this post.

I suspect that most fly fishermen never utilize the backing or all the fly line on their large arbor reels when fishing for trout, bass, or even striped bass. This statement is likely true for those of us who also use small arbor reels. Ultimately, all that line is there just to fill the spool on the fly reels! So, which fly reel do you choose when fishing your favorite river, stream, or lake?

My 2008 Summer Fly Fishing Classes

2025-01-28T16:55:00.000-05:00

I remember when I truly connected with fly fishing. It was the summer of 2008, right after I retired in August. Let me explain what I mean by "connected," which takes me back to my childhood when I learned to use the fly rod my dad used to catch bass and bluegill in the pond on our property. This is where I learned how to cast, fight, and land a fish; fast forward to 2008, when I found myself reconnecting with fly fishing, which became my favorite way to fish from that point on.

My first setup was a Walmart Eagle Claw large arbor reel and rod combo, a 5/6 weight 8 feet long. I was new to understanding factors like rod weight, fly line, leader, tippet, medium-action versus fast-action rods, different sizes of arbor reels, and a host of other factors. Honestly, I just wanted a fly rod to catch some bluegill.

It wasn't until I started fishing with a gentleman older than me that summer that I began to learn about the mechanics of fly fishing. I attended classes all summer on Smith Lake and into the fall with Ivan, soaking up everything I could learn about the sport. I had spent the last 20 years on Smith Lake catching spotted bass using baitcasting and spinning reels with a couple of bass fishing buddies I had connected with after moving to Jasper from Tupelo. Unfortunately, coaches tend to move around a lot, and one of my friends relocated during the summer, leaving me with only one buddy to fish with on weekends. Fortunately, Ivan, my retired fly fishing companion, fished with me for a couple of days during the week, which was much better fishing conditions than on a weekend.

It didn't take long for me to realize that Ivan had much better equipment than my Walmart combo. He used two setups: a Redington Trout Special 4 wt. medium action and an 8 1/2 ft. Temple Fork fast action 5/6 wt. His 4 wt. was for topwater action, while he used the Temple Fork for streamers and wooly buggers. Occasionally, he would fish with a 3 wt during the bluegill spawn, but most of our trips involved him using the 4 and 5 wt. fly rods.

I remember my first outing with him at dawn on Smith Lake, fishing in nooks that had a lot of overhanging foliage close to the water's surface. I was fishing from the front of the boat while he fished from the back. He landed twice as many fish as I did that morning by placing his popper just a foot away from the bank under the foliage. He was a master at low-side casting from both his left and right shoulder. The low left shoulder cast was the one he used all the time when we fished together. He was also skilled at the roll cast, which he employed when casting from his right shoulder. Meanwhile, I frequently got snagged in the foliage, trying to get my fly underneath the tree limbs with a right shoulder low cast. Thus, my initial learning sessions focused on placing flies under the overhanging branches, mastering the roll cast, and executing low-side shoulder casts. While I was proficient with the traditional overhead cast for distance, these other casting techniques helped me land more fish that first season with Ivan.

By the end of the season, I had sold my Walmart combo and purchased a Redington 4 wt. medium action rod, a 5 wt. Redington fast action 9 ft. rod, and as a bonus, I used my retirement savings to purchase a 3 wt. 9 ft. Greys Streamflex, fly rod. Of all the things I learned that summer, the casting tips are ones I still use to this day. During that time, I also spent many hours watching fly fishing videos to absorb as much knowledge as possible. I am still learning on every trip I make now, and I'm grateful for that summer of 2008 spent fishing with my best fly-fishing buddy ever, Ivan.