Official Asylum Fly-fishing Thread
 

Went fishing this morning for about 3 hours. Caught this one on a black woolly bugger. This is my biggest trout ever and surprisingly large for Virginia. Fish was released after photo.
http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k...1/DSC02380.jpg

Re: Official Asylum Fly-fishing Thread
 

Nice fish, Kevin. :tu That is pretty big for Virginia. What part of the state?

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Roanoke area

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Is that a hatchery-supported stream? Looks like maybe a brood. One of the largest I ever caught here in North Carolina was very similar. Thought I had a mud-puppy or something as difficult as it was to get her to run. :D

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Was just talking to Steve this morning about starting a fly fishing thread. Good job.

I will be hunting this weeeknd, but next weekend we have our drift boat rendezvous(open to all boats of course).

And of course some pictures:

http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/42...425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/76...425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/18...425x425Q85.jpg

Not quite the size of yours, but fun none the less.

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Dang, He beat Yak and me to it!

Great looking fish though! I hope to slip out this weekend and catch some of the last of the flood tides for this year. HOWEVER, this weekend is also my 16th awedding anniversary, so fishing may be on the backburner :D!!!

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Had a killer trip. aboutt he best smallie fishing I have found in the area. The river goes at a decent pace as well. We put in behind the store in pineville and floated to the low water bridge by the train tracks. Here are some pics.

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/44...425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/40...425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/66...425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/43...425x425Q85.jpg

The guy in the pictures is a firend that joined me. All the fish were about that size or bigger.

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Sweet!

I sure wish I was fishing right about now...

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Nice fish! Now I'm really hoping it warms up a bit here in pa so I can try to get out next week.

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One of 5 caught 2 weekends ago in central WA state.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/album.php?albumid=54

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Nice 'bow!

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I spent many hours throwing woolly buggers (black and olive) into the White and Norfolk rivers in Arkansas in the 90s. Great rivers and tremendous fishing. Haven't fished there in several years (my Grandfather retired out there for the fishing and passed away 7 years ago) but miss it dearly.

Good catch! Need to break out the flyrod and look for trout in the NC mountains one of these days.

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They are up there!

I spent many says fishing a little north and west of you catching some real nice trout as well as some decent smallies.

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Nice catches! My wife got me a fly rod this past christmas but I haven't used it yet. A buddy of mine told me it is more frustrating that learning to play golf. Is it as difficult as he makes it out to be??

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No it isn't too bad. Find someone to teach you how to cast or watch a youtube video on it (I'm sure they exist...they have videos on everything). Then go fishing....that is where I did a lot of learning. I use a 3x tippet for most things and if the fly is not turning over correctly I adjust my leader. The big first step is learning how to cast. If you can cast your fly accurately, then the rest is easy/frustrating...depending on how picky the fish are. Feel free to ask questions here as it seems we have a handful of flyfisherman.

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Come on back down sometime. I live in NW Ark and fish both Norfolk and the white regularly. In fact a close friend has a cabin next to the Cotter bridge.

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I second lightenings post. As a former golfer.....I find fly fishing much more rewarding. I am a nature nut, so any excuse to get outside. In fact about the only time I golf any more is the check out the creeks or ponds located close to the courses. :)

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I live on a 31 acre lake in my backyard and usually take the boat out for some bass fishing on light spinning tackle or live bait fishing. I have a video that came with the rod but unfortunatley we were misplaced due to a house fire and I haven't watched it yet. I know I will have stupid questions for you going forward but I appreciate the encouragement. This is a pic of the lake.

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Looks like heaven to me. :D Pick up some Bass poppers(top water) and some wooley buggers. Here are some patterns to give you ideas...this is from the Orvis site.
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_d...subcat_id=6521
These will work dual purpose for bass and panfish. There is nothing in the world like hooking a bluegill that doesnt want to be landed.

Check out the Fly Angler Online site. There is a great beginner section there. Tons of great info on patterns and such.

Honestly, you can watch all the videos and read all the books.....but nothing will teach you like being on the water.

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I will and like I said, come spring, I will have tons of questions I'm sure. My biggest question is how do you drink a bourbon and smoke a cigar while fly fishing? If you can't, then i will be willing to sell you my rod and videos for cost.:ss:ss:ss:ss I guess if there is a will there's a way huh?

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There is a lot to learn but pick up a book or take a class or two and get started. Years ago my wife got me a rod/reel for Christmas. I picked up a book, "Flyfishing, First Cast to First Fish" by Joseph Petralia, and spent the winter teaching myself to cast. Once you start actually fishing you'll pick up something new with every outing. Also, if you can find people to fish with you will learn a lot very fast. Experienced or not it's a lot of fun.

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Everything has its place my friend. The ciigar and bourbon are for when you are setting on the bank "resting" the water or observing the water. To be successful you must learn to read the water. Not to different from reading a green. Ha a good bud who could drive 300yd straight and a pin. Get him on the green and everything went to hell. :)

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I agree with the others: it is not that difficult but requires a lot of practice. Putting a ball on the green from 100 yards may not be that difficult, but putting it 3 feet from the hole takes practice. Same with a fly rod: getting the fly in the creek is not that difficult, but putting it in the right place for a natural presentation does take practice.

Try placing on old tire or hula hoop on the ground and start trying to hit it in the center from 10 yards away. Then start backing up. Just watch out for foliage and friends and hornet's nests behind you.

And if all else fails, watch Brad Pitt's double-hitch casts in "A River Runs Through It," then go outside and "be" the Brad. ;)

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Got out today and did a little fishing. They stocked a local stream a few weeks ago. I worked it over with a black woolly bugger for the majority of the time and brought two rainbows in and had a couple others slip off. Not bad for mid-December. Anyone else getting out there?

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Nothing for me for 1.5 months now. Waiting for the steelhead fishing to shape up within the next week or so and I'll get back out. Sure do miss that trout fishing though.

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Been too busy at work for awhile. It's finally slowing down and I caught the flu bug from a co-worker (thanks bud!). Things are starting to slow down and I am feeling better, so maybe I can sneak out this weekend or sometime over the holidays. I am hearing that the reds ar e TURNED ON in the flats right now.

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Took a trip to New Orleans last April and booked one day on the flats to fly fish for redfish with a guide. It was amazing! Sight fishing for those bulldogs is a blast. And they've got some shoulders; like to run and fight.

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Got out today to two different streams. The air temp was in the 50s (it was in the single digits earlier this week). I caught two rainbows at the first one and had a handful of bites at the second one. I caught the rainbows on an beadhead olive hare's ear and had the bites on a black woolly bugger.

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I was able to hit the tailwaters as well. Air temp was 34, water...much colder. Windy with gusts up to 30 made casting a bit of a challenge. Did get the timing figured out and landed about 6. Size 12 Copper John. The Darwin Award was awarded when I went to pull my glove out of my pocket and with it came my keys....bloop. Then I was at a crossroads. The water was waist deep and I could see my keys. I kept trying to motivate myself to reach(shoulder deep) in the frigid water and get the keys. Easier said than done. So I cast a few more times searching for motivation......then it hit me.......an idea, not the fly. I took the my rod apart and fished my keys out that way. No wet, no frozen, and the key fob still worked. Kept fishing with breaks to get feeling in my legs. Overall, it was a great trip. Hadnt been on the water in a few months and really needed the break.

To make it better, I came home to a wife wanting to exchange gifts early. An hour or so later, I am a Columbia short and pants ahead along with a Geirach book and some flies. She's a keeper.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all........tightlines my friends.

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Hit the water this morning. 23 degrees outside......brrrrr. Down jacket and polartech hat and gloves were a necessity. Fish were hitting very well until the wind really picked up. Once the wind picked up, it really made casting tough. Ferrels had ice build up, line had ice build up, waders were frozen, fish were fat......perfection!! If only a few snowflakes had fallen, I might not have come home.

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Guess I am the only one fishing.... :(

This is from a trip to Lake SWEPCO. It is built around a cola plant and the water stays about 80 degrees all winter.The bass is a Florida strain they imported. Nothing quite like a largemouth on a flyrod. This was the smallest we caught(did a lot more fishing than pic taking). I was throwing a Sage XP 9ft 8wt with an intermediate sing tip. The fly was a wiggle minnow which those bass loved. Get tha dude about 3in under water and they couldnt resist it.

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/42...425x425Q85.jpg

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I haven't done much fishing the past couple months, been busy with school and work. Last time I went out I caught seven or 8. My buddy caught about the same but the weird part was that we had three doubles. It seemed like every time one of us would hook up the other would too, best fish was about a 16 inch bow...sorry no pics, next time.

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I haven't done any fly-fishing in awhile. I have been doing some bait casting for muskies. I've had a few follows, but haven't gotten one to bite yet. Then a few weeks ago it was cold enough here for me to experience the SW Virginia ice fishing season. It lasted about 3 days, but I was able to get out on a local pond that has trout and pickerel in it. I caught one pickerel jigging and had 5-6 bites. The best part of that experience was being able to tell who grew up in the north and who grew up in the south (some pretty funny comments easily heard). The northerners would walk right out on the ice and the southerners seemed pretty hesitant. Now I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a bit.

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I wish I was fishing! Trying to let my ribs heal a little before I try a couple of casts...I am definately NOT going out in the boat for a little while though!

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I bought my wife one of those rods that shoots the lure for my wife to fish with. I can ship it too you if you want....she wont mind. :r

Seriously, get better. The ribs can cause alot f trouble down the road if not healed.

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Thanks for the offer, but I don't think I would be able to do that "thing" :ss justice!

I guess for now I'll have to be content browsing thru my spots on Google Earth, looking for more likely spots. I guess if the Military can use Satellite Recon, so can I!

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Nice! Can't wait for trout season to start up. A couple months to go.

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I'm REALLY getting ready to get out and go fishing, the fish tank just ain't cutting it anymore!!!

Come on ribs!!!


http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictur...%20Fishing.jpg

Re: Official Asylum Fly-fishing Thread
 

Well Steve, I was having trouble justifying getting out and fishing with other responsibilities......so I decided to help that. I will be guiding river and creek fishing trips here in NW Arkansas. Got a buddy who does lake trips and he was wanting to add more variety. Now I can write off gear, food,.......a new boat. ;)

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Sweet. Sounds like a good idea!

I just got back from a couple of little freshwater ponds with my daughter. To windy to flycast, and to cold for anything to bite, but a great time spent with her! My priorities have changed since my trip to the Keys last month!

Life is Good, especially being alive!!!


BTW, one day I would love to join you for some fishing.

Re: Official Asylum Fly-fishing Thread
 

Steve, any time you can make it up. I got room and board covered either here or at the lake house. Just take a week off and head NorthWest. :)

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Thanks, I appriciate it. We'll talk a bit later after the ribs and stuff heal up a bit more.

Of course, I'm also under restriction from the wife; NO more out of town fishing expeditions until further notice. Fortunately, I'm not a real good listener in some things :ss

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We re in great shape then Steve.....Rogers, Ar is considered a town. So we are set. Picked up a 9ft 8wt St Croix for Largemouth, Striper, and White bass. Would be good for off shore if I ever make it your way.

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Sounds great, except for the 15 hr drive :ss! We'll see how things go a little later in the year!

Maybe Uncle O will send me a big check :D

Re: Official Asylum Fly-fishing Thread
 

Well with the instbility of work and the economy being ****......I decided to take a risk. A close friend has a crappie guiding service and was wanting someone to do trout and river/stream work. So as of a few weeks ago, I am the moving water guide for JT Crappie Guiding. I fish every weekend anyway and figured why not. I can wrtie off most of the gear and am eyeballing a 16' Lowe v-hull. I called in a favor to a buddy and got on the pro staff for Sage, Redington, and Rio. I will be doing both fly and spincast fishing. Jason is sponsored by BnM Crappie Rods and YUM baits, so I have that end covered. The Pro staff for the fly fishing stuff really helps.....just gotta get to tying some extra flies. Have a look(I am the stud on the right).....

www.jtcrappieguidear.com

The information tells a little about what all is offered. REally looking forward to getting on the water.

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Sweet deal Rat!!!

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Nice!

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Just don't forget about us lowly little guys now that you're "big time" :ss

J/K...

Finally had a chance to look at this (they have started filtering/adding big brother devices at the office). Looks nice. Rates look really nice compared to what I have seen in N. Ga./N.C./Tenn.

I am hoping to hit a couple of little ponds out in the Osceola N.F. this weekend or next (a friend is going so that we can take the canoe. I still can't lift stuff) with my little 2/3 wt. rod looking for some Bluegill or maybe a small black bass. Water may still be a little cool, but I'm just ready to get out somewhere.

Catch'em Up Bud!

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If you guys get a chance, check out Trout Unlimited's On The Rise this week. It is on the White here in Arkansas......home of the world record 40lb brown trout. My buddy John Wilson is doing the guiding.

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I went out to the park today and practice cast for the first time since my accident. Felt pretty good.

My wife and daughter are talking about going to the beach looking for seashells tomorrow. I am good for about 5 minutes of that, so I think I'll take my rod and see what's in the surf.