Zach Bearden

More than likely what you saw were midges. That is about all the we have down here. Every now and then I might see a Caddisfly or Mayfly. But the midges are usually on the water every day. Plenty of fun to fish with them if you can actually see the midge rofl.

Not really sure as to what that is. I guess we'll see sometime sooner or later. I'm going to go down there are see if I can see any form/sort of improvement. I might try to upload some pictures if I have the time.

Yups, we be the Pirates... Looks like it could be plenty of good water. I personally think it will turn out to be rather slow water though. Especially if they do not make the river narrower.

Dano, Nope, I didn't make it onto the American team this year... I'm going to work my rear off to make it this next year! They're going to the Czech Republic! Czech nymphing is the prefered way to nymph anyways. There is hardly anytime that I really use a true "Czech Nymph". They generally imitate a caddis or maybe a sowbug. Not always the best choice, I don't have much confidence in them but I have them for an emergency. It is indeed much like high sticking. I fish a 30' foot long leader alot of times now. Alot of people don't really consider this fly fishing, I can understand why. 90% of the time I never even use a foot of fly line. We can't use an indicator, so in turn we look for bumps. Troutchaser, a "hotspot" is a flashback, or a bright spot on a regular fly.

Bluefish are some mean 'lil buggers man... Snap a leader in a heartbeat. We went down to Galveston and used 8wts. I used to distance cast so casting 100' is no problem for me. But I found that you never needed to cast more than 60' down there. There were some reds working a shoreline and we would cast to them and get a good solid hit but could never set it on them. When you fish for saltwater fish a good thing to know how to do is a strip strike. Which in all reality is just slamming a bit strip right as you feel the fish and lifting the rod. It will go straight through. Get a hook sharpener too....

I couldn't tell you how many flies I have in my boxes... I find a fly that is productive in all types of water then it goes in the box. I don't generally fish with stuff the is too imitative. The most imitative fly I fish is a woven mayfly nymph. I fish TONS of hot spotted flies. Yeah sure, laugh at all the crazy orange and pink. Plenty of my flies are very basic, almost primitive. There are two things that are almost always in my flies though. Tungsten and Lead Wire. I fish alot of: Serendipitys, they imitate a caddis very well on a TMC 200R. Pheasant Tail Nymphs with and without hotspots. Beaded and no beads. The woven mayfly nymphs with beads. All kinds of colors and sizes. Another top producer is the good ol' hares ear nymph. Rubber legs on 'em too! Czech Nymphs are all over in my boxes! Theres something about that slim body and a hotspot in them that gets those fish. Biot Nymphs are amazing! I don't fish them near enough, but they are some of the top producers in the way I fish. Cant beat that slim body with them legs. Anyways, thats just my general box. I have four that I rotate through. Plenty of my experiments go into hook boxes and have a special place in my pack. If they pass the fish test then I whip up a few more and stuff them in a box. If anybody has a question about a fly I'll post em if you just ask me.

Usually in the winter time water levels are lower and much clearer. There are some exceptions to this but that is generally what happens. Go with a lighter tippet, smaller flies, and a lighter rod if you've got one. You don't want to go to set the hook on a fish and your rod to be too stiff and break your tippet. If you can't get a lighter rod get a shock gum leader by Rio. Of course this isn't set in stone as you could fish a large fly in the winter and still catch plenty of fish. Oh, and you might try a longer leader in ultra clear water. Maybe some Fluorocarbon? Some really good flies are Serendipitys, zebra midges, and try some griffiths gnats when you the fish are on top of the water eating midges. Winter fishing is exciting. There aren't as many people out there, and the fish are always eager to eat a midge or two.

Naw, the beads were all the same.

Just a little fly that I use sometimes. Its a slight relative to a fly called a ------ ---. I use them in white, black, and gray. Really nice little fly. It kinda hard to explain the fly.

Yup, one thing I never liked about split shot is that if you have split shot, two flies, and you indicator.... Thats alot of weight to be chuckin' 50-60 feet. Makes me feel like I'm fishing for steelhead or somethin'

Jeremy, is that under an indicator? Do you just weight your flies accordingly?

This is true. That is why F.I.P.S. Mouche makes competitors seperate their flies by 50cm. (20inches) That way you have a much smaller chance on fouling a fish if they get off the fly they originally hit.

I agree with Murdoc on that....

I agree with Murdoc on that....

Yeah, them guys are pretty darned good at makin' a streamer now aren't they? So no Hopper Dropper for you?

So, I was just wondering what everyone favorite way of fly fishing is! Do you like dry flies? Well, whats your favorite time of year to fish them. Why do you like to fish them? How bout them nymphs? I've heard 80% of a trouts feeding is done below the surface. Whats your favorite fly? Do you like the good ol' hopper dropper? Indicator and split shot? Maybe your the adventurous type and like to fish without an indicator. Tell us all about it!

Okay, so this is a small competition between some of us that we have every year. We have it in the Gravel Parking lot at the dam. Sign up starts at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday the 28th. The cost is 5$ per each fly that you want. That 5$ will buy you a fly and food (chili and such). The fly is a surprise so be ready for anything! I'm pretty sure that this is a Catch & Release Competition and we go on the honors system. If you decide to lie then we let it cook in your head. The Categories are First Fish, Biggest Fish, and Most Fish. We have plaques (spell check?) for the winners of these categories. I'm not too sure what time this will last until this year. Last year I believe it was 2:00 P.M. because that was when they were supposed to begin generating. You can fish anywhere on the river just be sure that you are back in time for the prizes. If you have any other questions feel free to message me or put them on this thread. I will be checking as regularly as I possibly can to see if there are any new replies.

Sadly, there isn't really a site that tells you all the rules. Our club is having some serious troubles with the website so I will start another post with all the rules I can think of and the information. I will also post the results on this post. Hope to see you guys down there.

laker, this contest is just a gathering of friends. We don't do this like a FIPS Mouche competition. We go on the honors system. If somebody isn't truthful we just let it wear down on their minds for a year... Guess thats all that we can do.

Yup! You got the right place. Sign up starts at 8 that morning

AHHHH!!!!!!!!! I was a popsicle out there this morning! The fishing was slow, and I only saw 2 other people fishing all day. I went to the Dam and Marval. It was so cold and so in turn my reaction time got slower. I could barely hook fish. I got about 15 I think was my ending number.

Everybody has to use the same fly. We provide them and you buy them. The one fly is on Sunday, the 28th. Oh yeah, the fly is a secret. So don't be askin' me what it be this year! lol

You can buy as many as you would like. Bring a tape measure as we have a "biggest fish" category. If you catch a fish with another fly it does not count.

Was thinking Sunday morning Marval or river access, Maybe T&M? Tell me if either of you will be down Sunday and I'll fish with you. I don't know what time I will be home on Saturday but maybe i'll be home in time to get a bit in. Turns out I have to head up to Tulsa Saturday morning. I guess I could always go and bug Butch up at D&B lol.

Is anybody going fishing? I will be down there pretty much the whole time. . Just wondering when you guys will be down.