Fly Tying/Fishing Thread

[Ought Six]

No trout harmed today but good to get out. First time fly fishing for the year.

View attachment 326843

That is an absolutely beautiful run.

 

[westbranch]

That is an absolutely beautiful run.

I don't take enough pics, here are a few other spots from prior years.

 

[perma]

I don’t have pictures but I got my big break this weekend. For some reason, I couldn’t not catch fish this weekend.

I’m in my favorite place in the world in SW Colorado. I decided to make a short fishing trip to some alpine lakes and the great Rio Grande river. I got in late last night and decided that I’d fish until sunset. I got behind some deadfall because there was a slow current under a pine tree. It took two horsefly casts and I caught my first rio grande rainbow.

The next day was lake day. One of the lakes was still inaccessible so we decided to go to a small reservoir off the main road. I tried a prince nymph and lost it on the third cast. I decided to switch to a double bead San Juan worm. I’m telling ya, I couldn’t stop catching fish. I was using a bobber and it took a few casts to get the right depth. I hit my personal best of 11 fish today, 9 rainbow and 2 brownies. It was amazing.

Well when it's sweet, it's sweet. I finally got one of those fishing stories that no one would believe.

We decided to go back to the same reservoir and spend the rest of the morning there. My final count for that trip was 30 on the dot. So far, I'm at 34 fish for the entire year. One in particular was so fat, that he bent my 9.5' rod into the lake. Very heavy rainbow. I got bored and tried to use a caddis fly and elk hair, didnt bite. Switched back to the San Juan and immediately started catching. It was the most obscene thing i've ever witnesed.

Total count between my mother, wife and I over 1.5 days of fishing - 61.

I wouldn't believe me either.

 

[Ought Six]

Well when it's sweet, it's sweet. I finally got one of those fishing stories that no one would believe.

We decided to go back to the same reservoir and spend the rest of the morning there. My final count for that trip was 30 on the dot. So far, I'm at 34 fish for the entire year. One in particular was so fat, that he bent my 9.5' rod into the lake. Very heavy rainbow. I got bored and tried to use a caddis fly and elk hair, didnt bite. Switched back to the San Juan and immediately started catching. It was the most obscene thing i've ever witnesed.

Total count between my mother, wife and I over 1.5 days of fishing - 61.

I wouldn't believe me either.

That’s awesome! Congrats on the great success!

My best “day” (4 hours fishing) is 74, central MT, no SJWs used, but no fish over 16”… maybe the SJW would’ve brought out some bigger fish that day.. still one of the funnest days I’ve ever had. The next day a buddy and I combined for 68 in about a 4.5 hour afternoon with around 20 between 17”-22” on a different river. One of the craziest weekends of fishing and it was mid-March, not hardly a soul on either river.

 

[Hem]

I once fished a tailwater that was maybe 20' across.. it's now posted. Caught 25 trout between 3-5 lbs. My arm was tired from fighting fish. Never happened before, never happened since. ( tired arm)

 

[TrumpkinTheDwarf]

Just finished a couple prototype fly boxes up. I wanted something that felt like an old english shotgun. Figured out a way to fiberglass reinforce walnut so I could get it to be warp free and 3/32" thick without being fragile.

 

[perma]

Just finished a couple prototype fly boxes up. I wanted something that felt like an old english shotgun. Figured out a way to fiberglass reinforce walnut so I could get it to be warp free and 3/32" thick without being fragile.

View attachment 327033
View attachment 327035
View attachment 327036
View attachment 327034

Those are nice. Do you make them to sell?

 

[TrumpkinTheDwarf]

Those are nice. Do you make them to sell?

That is the goal. it's all been experimenting and prototyping to date. This batch is the first that made it to completion. Had to learn how to do bluing, and some very finicky cuts with a bandsaw and router. I wanted to go with stainless steel for the frame, but the raw material cost was exorbitant. these should be pretty weather resistant now. Basically the same as a nice shotgun.

 

[nastynate]

Got some nice fish out of a bucktail/bunny strip jig I tied.

 

[Ought Six]

 

[NR_Hunter]

I don't take enough pics, here are a few other spots from prior years.

View attachment 326893

View attachment 326894

View attachment 326895

View attachment 326896

Idaho?

 

[westbranch]

Iowa?

 

[NR_Hunter]

Ya know I was gonna ask what system but I’m pretty sure I already know

 

[Hem]

My concern is @westbranch dusted off the flyrod rather late in '24.

 

[westbranch]

My concern is @westbranch dusted off the flyrod rather late in '24.

Trust me, I am concerned too!

 

[MTLabrador]

@Hem, my dad’s first fish on the new 6 weight.

 

[Ought Six]

@Hem, my dad’s first fish on the new 6 weight.

View attachment 327939

I’ve heard that river is fishing really well right now!

 

[MTLabrador]

I’ve heard that river is fishing really well right now!

It was a great day. Lots of good fish to be had. Mostly on a pattern I tie and have had great luck with this year, but that one might stay secret.

 

[perma]

Elk hairs and San Juan’s are bringing em in today.

 

[Hem]

@Hem, my dad’s first fish on the new 6 weight.

View attachment 327939

And a dandy fish.
Looks like your Dad is pretty psyched.!!