drew03cmc

I am going to learn the ropes of catfishing on the fly rod. I have, in my opinion, the world's foremost authority on the subject giving advice and pointers. He has posted on here as flyfisheranonymous.

Grass carp can help a little bit, but honestly, get ahold of the MDC.

PC, that is rough man. Who was your former employer? I hope the tug on your line helps you through this mess. Send me a PM, and maybe we can get together to fish here locally between the two of us sometime soon for some bass, gills or what have you. I am in Baldwin, so maybe La Cygne or in Garnett somewhere.

The 0wt line is a light 1wt, meaning it is at the bottom of the grain ratings for 1wt. The 00 wt line is actually about a 48 grain line, and the 000 is lighter yet. You can cast #14 dries, nymphs, etc on any of those without issue, and they can land some hefty fish! Many folks will tell you to use a click pawl reel on these sticks, but IMO, a SMOOTH disc drag reel is indispensible for fishing these rods with 4# and lighter tippet.

When I am fishing rivers, I am thinking of the Wakarusa River here in Kansas (roughfish, bass, crappie, catfish), the Niangua River above Bennett (smallies), Roaring River above Table Rock (bass) and other mid to small size streams or rivers. Most of my favorites are brush filled along the banks and have tree cover overhead necessitating a short rod to avoid snagging in the trees above you.

Tim and Doc Tom are along the same lines of what I am throwing on rivers right now. I just picked up a custom built TFO Finesse glass rod. 6'9" 5/6wt, that I like an Orvis Clearwater WF6F on. I am fishing it with a Pflueger Sal Trout 1554 reel. That rod has some guts to it, while still being a glass stick, offering great feel. I can throw heavy lead eye (Oh, heaven forbid) Clousers in a #6, any bead head bugger I dare to tie, jigs, etc. Here is a link to the stick, and your local TFO dealer should be able to order the production rod. http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/rods/finesse.html#T Now, here is a link to a discussion on this rod. http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/reply/59434#reply-59434

Nope. I use the welded loop, along with a furled leader butt and haven't spooked many fish. My crappy casting has, but the line hasn't.

I like a 2pc. The lighter weight is nice!

If I have one choice, it is a large bluegill. The fish over 9" long fight completely different than the dinks everyone usually catches. A big gill will run for deep water. They may not pull line against a drag or jump, but they are the epitome of never giving up. Also, I would have to say that largemouth in lakes are disappointing. They fight better in streams. Drum are fun, but only because they bulldog. Carp are fun, but not as fun as drum IMO. Green sunfish attack like there is no tomorrow!

The fish that I remember best is this one. This is a 17"+ (3+#) rainbow trout that fell for a little golden jig (1/80). I caught this girl at Lake Shawnee in Topeka, KS on March 7th. It was windier than heck that day, blowing 15-35, with whitecaps crashing into my waist while wading at the dam. I was fishing a 6'9" 2/3wt Mark Fitch Purist bamboo stick with a Dennison Fly-Lite reel. The reel doesn't have a drag to speak of, and when the fish took off, the handle was smacking me in the fingers over and over and over. I fought her for about 5 minutes before she came to net. It is, to this day, the largest trout I have caught.

A TT3F wouldn't load the rod like a WF3F until most of the head is out of the rod. A TT4F would allow the caster to feel the load much, much sooner, and for short casts, that is what's important.

I love TT lines, and would recommend the TT4F on that rod. I fish an Orvis Superfine 1wt, which is a soft, full flex rod and I am using an older TT 2/3 on it with great success. I should also mention that I fish a WF1F and a DT1F on that rod as well. I use different lines for different conditions. TT lines are very light at the tip, so any additional weight you can get out for a short cast will help you feel the rod. Otherwise, use a DT3F or DT4F depending on how you like your rod to load.

I tend to use them, but always have extra. Also, I could sell them if anyone wanted. I tied 3 dozen cap spiders the other night in a couple hours. They are a jig fly that uses ultra chenille for the body and rubber legs tied behind on the inside of the shank just below the head. They are killer for bluegill and bass.

You couldn't be more wrong. They make cars that people want to buy. Their cars just aren't as efficient or reliable as a cheaper alternative (which is actually made in America, with more American parts, Camry). GM and Chrysler have priced themselves out of the market much as Scott has done in the flyrod market. Where do you buy lead free jigheads? When I tie over 500 jigs a year, be they Cap Spiders, marabou or flash jigs, that extra $1.50 for 12 really adds up.

Rooster Tails do as far as I know. I don't know about Panther Martins, but I would imagine they do.

Only people who don't really know what they are talking about. Jigs are not illegal, lead is. Did you read what you posted or did you just post it? Lead shot is illegal too, as are lures that include lead, including spinners, spinnerbaits, bass jigs, crappie jigs, buzzbaits and anything else with lead in it.

Are greenhouse gases not polluting the atmosphere, killing the ozone layer (supposedly)? I believe they are. Driving all automobiles causes pollution. I guess you have wear proof tires too, right? Rubber wears off the tires and thus pollutes, ending up in streams via wastewater systems. Don't tell me your vehicle does not pollute. EVERYONE pollutes.

Please give background on the highlighted part. Would you prefer that we crucify those over the age of 40 because they let the planet get this bad? How about those during the days of industrialization in this country? How about the railroad workers that burn coal and thus put CO2 into the atmosphere? How about YOU for driving your car or truck? Do you see what I am getting at? You can't point the finger at ONE person or ONE thing for any of this. Everyone is responsible for this. Also, "progress" as it is called, is contributing to this pollution mess as tractors and bulldozers knock trees over to make roads wider thus doing two things. A: polluting the air with diesel fumes, B: killing an oxygen producing tree. Will they ever be ostracized publicly for this? Hell no. Drop the political BS, and discuss the thread. This thread is not about some kid flushing mommy's medication, it is about the ban of lead in our waterways. Do I think it is a little much? Yes I do. Will I comply? You bet ya!

Chief, that sounds good to me. I am tired of hitting myself in the head with someone else's sinker.

You seem to have a chip on your shoulder and I can't understand that, but why is this so hard to comprehend? This may have been released during the new administration, but was started YEARS ago, so get your facts right on that. Anyone who follows the conservation channels has seen this coming. You couldn't be more wrong here. PETA wants fishing and hunting banished due to the damage inflicted into the quarry, however, environazis are a different breed altogether. Like I said previously, the effects of lead are miniscule compared to the other things we could worry about controlling. I would rather have to find an alternative to lead than quit fishing. I would bet that everyone on this site feels the same way. All I ask is that the tackle companies find similarly priced materials to keep the prices where they are. I can pick up a dozen 1/80 jigheads for just over $2, but I can't imagine the price of the same size tung or tin heads.

How do you mandate that some company you have no control or influence over, do something? Tungsten is heavier, however, it is the likely candidate. Tin is one of the other options, but it is lighter than lead. I have yet to see a trout sized jighead with the head made of anything other than lead, and until I do, I refuse to use other things. I guarantee the price of the non-lead stuff is at least 30% more expensive for the same quantity, if not fewer. I am all for protecting our environment, but I have to ask why start with lead shot, while still producing vehicles (passenger and light trucks) that get less than 20mpg? Why lead when cities are discharging toxic materials into our rivers and lakes? Why lead when we could be making better decisions regarding bank stabilization and planting native plants to help filter out the agricultural runoff from ending up in our lakes and streams? Why lead?

If I get anything similar again, it will be a pontoon. I just wasn't crazy about being submersed when I am a lackluster aquatic athlete. I can swim, but can't tread water to save my @$$. I would like to grab a pontoon this year if possible!

I use lead head jigs on my fly rod in smaller sizes. Give me a link to non-lead jigheads in 1/80 and 1/124 please.

Looks like a great day! I am envious.

I hear that. I have never fished there, but honestly, Lake Diefenbacher is on the list, along with any number of Lochs in Britain and in Europe. I wouldn't even count Taney as a trout lake, since it is riverine, but that is my opinion. Anyway, I want to say that smallmouth and walleye are native to the Taneycomo area, yet, with Table Rock Dam, they were displaced with the trout stocking.