Hmac58

Terry, I live in Springfield. I haven't gone to any of the local fly shops yet, just been browsing various forums.

Good morning, I've been bass fishing for 25+ years, decided to pick up fly fishing this summer and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Mostly fishing Taneycomo but will also fish NFoW. I have a couple of 5 wt rods - a Scott that is a loaner and a BPS rod. I'm looking to buy a reel, something that will serve me well for years to come. I've done some searching on my own but haven't seen much in comparisons or what reel is better than another or why. I've seen many good comments about the Lamson Konic, although I'm not opposed to spending more than that. Any recommendations? Thanks

Haha, I will be sure to let him know! hahaha I am familiar with this area and while I haven't fished it before it would probably be a decent area w/o much traffic. Thanks again

Thanks for the replies - I've fished out of a canoe around Cape Fair but I have to paddle quite a ways for some decent shoreline. I'm looking for somewhere with a little less paddling to some decent water. Although the point straight out from the ramp has produced some fish for me a few times. Boat wake does not bother me, I've never come close to flipping - I've even fished around Cow Creek a few years back with some of the largest boats on the lake producing very large wake. I prefer to stay in smaller areas such as around Cape Fair so I'm not exposed to lots of boat traffic and if I can pull into a cove somewhere it seems easier to deal with as well. I will take a look at the map of those areas mentioned, thanks again! I also get out and walk the bank when possible too, but with the water up I'd expect that might be difficult to do.

I'd like to fish this weekend from a canoe and don't want to paddle *too* far from a put in. Could anyone recommend a place on the James arm with some reasonable banks to fish within about 1.5 miles of a put in? I mostly fish rivers but with the water up on TR I'm anxious to give it a go. I grew up bass fishing with my dad but haven't had much opportunity to hit lakes in the last 10 years or so.