DaddyO

I'd do both.

Nice!

Good luck, Njardar. I hope it works out and you get to spend that time with your wife. Keep us posted.

Ha! If she was excited about catching the fish, I'm sure that you'll have more trips with her in the future. You, too, are a lucky man! Today, I sent my wife a link to the Women Fly Fishing on the Orvis website. Next thing I know, she's sending me an email showing me that she just signed up for Trout Unlimited because women can join for FREE right now.

My wife resisted it for a long time. However, she used to play golf with me and we had a blast, until she broke her wrist in a hiking accident. She has a lady friend that fly fishes and so she sprung it on me that she thinks she would like to try it. So, I gave her a little advice on rod weight, waders, boots, layers of clothing, etc.. and then let her pick everything out. I went on these shopping trips with her and it gave us some opportunities to spend more time together talking about the sport. I tried, very hard, to only answer questions, so as not to go overkill on the fishing conversation. We spent some time in the yard learning to cast. We spent time around the kitchen table learning to tie 3 knots. Perfection Loop, Double Surgeons Knot and the Davy Knot. I felt like that would be enough information to allow her to become independent on the river. I tied up some flies, that I knew would catch fish on the Lower Illinois and began filling her own fly box. We put all of her new skills to test on Saturday. The cast started out a little rough but got better as the day progressed. The Knot tying skills were mostly forgotten. Setting the hook and landing the fish was a new experience, for her, and a source of unlimited amusement, for me. I think she yanked the teeth out of a few fish with her "Quick Set" method of setting the hook. Walking around in the water and on land in waders and casting was a little tiring for her. She decided to take a little break and just watch, however, I was able to hookup and land a decent fish and she decided that she'd rested enough. She, finally, landed a nice fish and as the saying goes, "The Tug is the Drug". She is now an addict. She has already asked me when we can go again. Yes, I am a lucky man!

#16 Pheasant Tail and #16 - #18 Zebra Midges in Black/Silver and Black/Copper and #18 Prince Nymph. Nothing consistent. Had to keep changing it up.

I spent the day with my wife today on the river. This was her first attempt at fly fishing. I have to admit, I didn't think she would want to stay out very long. Thankfully, I was wrong. She had a blast, even though she didn't catch a lot of fish. She caught enough to become addicted. On the way back, she was talking about practicing her cast and practicing tying knots so that she could remember them on the river. Here is a pic of her first rainbow. Check out the pink fly rod. Hey, she picked it.

Wait! What??? We're not gonna revolt??? That's it, I'm going home! Never mind, I think I'll go fishing instead.

Just weighing in on this conversation. I haven't read the entire thread so I'm not sure what the entire conversation is about. So, I'll just say this: The 2nd Amendment is not about hunting or the weapons used for sport. The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment is the only Amendment to the Bill of Rights with a stated purpose: "a well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state." The Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense.

If the water is too slow for a drift, create your own. Position yourself down stream of the run you want to fish. Cast upstream and do a slow finger retrieve. If the wind picks up and you have some chop on the water, think about stripping a soft hackle. Good Luck, Tight Lines and Have Fun! Or as Hank would say, "Snap It!"

Pictures?

Stricter gun control laws will not make a difference, in mass killings, Period! a. Criminals don't obey laws. b. Mass murderers will get the guns they want, if they want them. How? See point a. c. If guns are not available, Mass murderers will use some other method, i.e. bombs, poisons, etc.. Look, bad things happen. Is it sad and hurtful when they do? Yes. But the reality is that these events are caused by people not objects. Shame on us for allowing the politicians and media to use these events to forward their own personal agendas.

Nicely done. Good looking family. Thanks for sharing.

That's cool. Thanks for sharing with us.

There isn't a "best place" answer. This is a small tailwater that is stocked on a regular basis. Just pick a spot to access the river, look for water that you think will hold fish and it probably does. Zebra midges #16 and smaller in Black, Red, Brown, Olive or White will all catch fish. You didn't mention if you were fly fishing or spin cast. I'm sure that rooster tails and small crawfish crank baites and rapalas as well as micro jigs will work also. Or, I guess, you can use Power Bait if you want. Easy access points are below the dam on the Power site road. The Watts management area. Marval resort and a few access points below Marval. Good luck and have fun.

Amen! Phil, thanks for sharing!

Brian, If you click on the image to launch it full size in the image viewer, you can click the save button at the bottom of the image. This should display the image as a standard url link. Next, you should be able to right click on the Picture and then select "Save image as..." from the pop-up menu to save the picture to your computer.

Thanks for sharing. Looks like you both enjoyed the trip. My Dad is my favorite fishing buddy. I take him fishing as often as he wants to go and count myself fortunate each and every time. He was with me when I landed my largest trout and I was with him when he landed his largest trout. I have 2 brothers that normally fish with us, but on both of these occasions, it was just me and my Dad fishing together. Great Memories!

I just bought this one for my wife at Bass Pro: http://www.basspro.com/White-River-Fly-Shop-Dogwood-Canyon-Special-Edition-Fly-Fishing-Outfit/product/10216850/ She picked it out. I was gonna try to talk her into something else, but then it occurred to me that "She Picked It." I decided that I don't care what she fishes with as long as she wants to fish with me.

What length and size leader/tippet do you guys use when fishing soft hackles and/or crackle backs?

Way to go! I gotta say it. That is my favorite fly to tie and favorite fly to fish. I'm glad it was productive for you. I like fishing DGames' Game Changer Midge, also. Make sure that you have some of those, also.

Makes me want to get a Kayak.

#14 Scud hook. I like the look of it. I use the heaviest tippet that I can get away with. 5x in cloudy water like it was Saturday. 6x or 7x if the water is clearer and I'm fishing midges.

I posted a recipe somewhere. Let me know if you need it again.

LOL!!! I like that response. I'm gonna go with that.