Scouting some new areas to fish

I've been scouting some new areas to fish around here lately. Went back to the pond that I took the kids to for abit of fishing. I didn't have any luck catching any fish while I was there, but seen some huge carp that I now have to try and catch. I spoke with someone who was there who said they were shocked to see Me fishing there.

Apparently, they emptied that pond a few years ago, and as far as he knew, he said there weren't any fish in there. Well I'm keeping positive that there are seeing as how I seen the carp. After talking to a few other people I've decided to find another place to fish just in case there arent any fish in there.

Last night while Myself, and the gf were hunting for a larger place to live, I noticed a nice sized pond in the area we're looking at. I stopped by there today after dropping her off at work, and it definatly has potential. It's a large pond with water being fed from a river, as well as an area to launch a bellyboat, or pontoon from pretty easily. It was too windy, and cod to try n do any fishing today, but hope to head back tomorrow for abit of fishing there.

been pretty boring around here lately

The weather is still awefully cold, to the point that the fish are still so deep I can't reach em. I've tied quite a few bass bugs lately. In fact I took the kids out this past weekend to do alittle fishing, just to get outta the house, and those bugs I've been tying all winter long are working awesome.

The legs have great action in the water, the colors look alot more brighter then I thought they would on the water, compared to looking at em in the vise, and they float well, n dive deep when popped. Hopefully this summer I can get some good pics of some nice fish, as well as some very happy faces as well.

spring cleanup. organizing fly boxes

Ever notice how when you go through your fly boxes to sort out the good, from the bad, you realize how good your getting at tying flies? For instance, today while going through My vest I found a fly box I haven't used in years. By years, I don't mean one, possibly two years.....I mean like 5, or 6 years.

Well, let Me tell you, it was a shock to see how well I've come along in My

tying. Heck, even the g.f. got a good laugh at some of the flies I had in there, n called good enough to fish.

Well, since then I've gotten alot better. So part of My spring cleaning today was going through My vests, sorting out fly boxes, leaders,

removing old flies from the fly patches, and seeing what gear needed replenished. I've got three boxes ready to go fishing for the upcoming

season, with more flies in the vise, n scheduled for a basses demise.

As of right now, this box here is gonna be My go to box I think. So far it has some clousers, hoppers, wo

olyworms, and few other patterns in it as well.

Then next box I have is a smaller box filled with hoppers, some older deer hair bugs that really don't resemble anything, but catch fish, as well as lots of buggers.

Next is My big box I'll have to keep in the back of My vest. It has all of My deer hair patterns that are too big to go in a fly box, cause they'll get crushed if they're put in there. Since I've taken this picture, I've added quiet a few other patterns to it. A few divers, and alot of surface patterns. I

haven't posted a pic of the divers cause well.....that fly belongs in the first pic (lol). I tied My first one tonight. Not bad overall, but as good as I've gotten lately tying, if it won't sell in a shop, I'm not posting it. So, hopefully in a few weeks I'll post a pic of one, possibly in the lip of a big ol bucketmouth.

I think overall this is gonna be a very productive year for fishing, getting outdoors, and having fun. I have a g.f. who wants to get out, and do alot of outdoor activities, a little buddy who's dying to catch some fish (like Me), and best of all, there are areas for Bass, Trout, and Metalheads not far away from here. Yup....2011 is the year of the fishbum. WATCH OUT FISH....I'M COMING TO CATCH YA.

Tight lines.

Well I got in trouble this weekend.

Myself, and my little buddy 'that's what I call one one of the gf's daughters' went to the fly shop on saturday, and spent a few bucks on some supplies. By a few bucks, I mean I just about wiped out the checking acct, and she wasn't very happy when she seen it. Well, at least me n the little buddy had fun. Bought about 8 different color deer hair patches, a foam body cutter (MUST GET MORE OF THESE), some trimming scissors, a few packages of yellow rubber legs, as well as an orange/yellow/metallic colored legs, and some thread for tying up the deer hair patterns.

I think she had fun while she was there. Other then a trip to a bass pro shop when I lived in Missouri, she had never been in a fly shop before. She had seen what they have to offer on websites, and the things I've brought home, but never went to an actual fly shop and looked around. Well, let's just say she had a blast. The owner of the shop is a really nice older gentleman, and as soon as we walked in he told her to follow him, cause he had something for her. Well, it turned out he has his own candy dispenser (like an old bubble gum machine) so she got to chow down on m&m's while we shopped.

Part of why I got in trouble was having so much fun watching her pick things up, and look so fascinated at it. She sees my tying desk and sees a few necks, some thread, a few tools, and hooks, yet she walked into their tying room, and seen racks of feathers, deer hair, threads, foam, and various other supplies. I love it when kids now adays are so enthused about the out doors. Part of if may be she's never really seen so many things like this before, but it was all so cute. I'd be looking for something, she'd ask if this is what I was looking for, then hand me 4 different varieties n ask 'is this enough?'

So far I haven't had time to do any deer hair patterns yet. Been cutting out alot of beavertail bodies with this new foam cutter. I really like it cause I've been able to cut up to 4 layers thick of 2mm foam, and knock out alot of bodies at once. With all these bass bugs, and hoppers, the water had better start dropping soon. Went down to look at the water the other day, and it was running fast n dirty. So I probably won't get to wet a line for about another 2 weeks at least to let the water clear up.

Well, I'm off to tie some more hoppers, and possibly break into my new stash of deer hair, n see what new bugs I can come up with. Until next time, have a great season, and tight lines.

I SEE WATER!!!!

Finally after alot of rain, and some warmer days we're starting to see some water. It's not by any means fishing water yet. Too murky, and running way too fast to be fishable, but the signs of ice melting, and ducks swimming in water is a great sign that winter is almost past, and the days of fishing are about to begin.

Been tying alot of deer hair bass bugs, and that's great for later in the season....but I gotta start cracking down on divers, and any other sub surface patterns for this summer. Oh, hoppers too. need to tie lots of hoppers, and dragonfly patterns. I need to get an 8wt too. I only got My 4 n 5 wts for trout, so definatly gonna need another 8wt for the summer.

Need to get a gear bag, a new rod, and reel, some furled leaders, and a few more boxes for all the flies that keep popping outta my vise so far. This is gonna be the summer that will be burned in my memory for years to come. This is gonna be the year where I catch lots of fish, and fish alot of new places as well. Until next time, tight lines.

Bass Bugs II

Well, I've been tying alot of bass bugs lately. The problem I've come to find is being I'm either fishing from shore, or wading it's gonna make it hard to keep My bugs on me, without being crushed. I've looked n looked for fly boxes with some depth, and haven't been able to come up with anything as of yet.

So far, My best option is to use a smaller plano type box, fill it with the flies needed, and slip in in the back of My fly vest so I can pull em out when needed. I was looking at the bugger barns, but it don't seem as thought they would be deep enough to keep the flies in it, without em getting crushed.

Think I might have to keep My eyes open for some kind of a box, that I can modify that won't be too bulky to fit in a vest, and still be roomy enough to fit all the flies in without crushing em. So far the 2nd, n 4th pics seem to be the box to go with.

My new addiction.....bass bugs

With all the snow we've gotten around here lately, the only thing to do is work, and tie flies. I've been tying up alot of bass bugs, seeing as how most all the fishing around here is either gonna be bass, or go north n hit the metalheads. I've actually gotten pretty good at tying deer hair bugs lately. Probably cause I have nothing better to do with the weather the way it is.

Last week, Me, and my girlfriend went to walmart to get a few things, and I had to get another plano box to keep all the bugs in. The fly boxes I have now crush the bugs, and then they become useless cause they won't float right. Gotta try n find a new way to store em so I can keep em in My vest when out in the water.