Whites And Hybrids On The Fly

[Troutnut69]

Been reading reports on here and waiting for an opportunity to make it down that way to give it a go. Finally got the chance on Wednesday so Joe and I headed South to see what trouble we could get ourselves into. Didn't arrive early enough considering the calm , sunny day on tap but still managed to catch plenty of fish. Only managed two hybrids and might have lost another one , but considering that I was handicapped with the flyrod (not to mention my lack of fishing skills) I didn't think I did too bad.

Caught quite a few small crappie , whites and a few small drum just for an added bonus. I don't think any of the crappie were keepers , or if they were just barely , I let everything go anyway so it didn't matter to me.

I enjoyed it , wish it would have been cloudy for maybe a little better action on the hybrids but you take what you can get. Look forward to giving it another shot next week if all works out.

TR with pics on the blog.....Jeff

http://highplainsflyfisher.blogspot.com/

[mic]

I bet the drum on a fly rod was fun. What flies were you using?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Wow, I've thought about it, but I don't think I could handle the backcast space.

[shaker]

I've thought about it a time or two myself but I'm not that good especially with the rocks behind you. But I would bet that the fly rod would sure clear you some casting room when it gets crowded.

RB

[Troutnut69]

Luckily it wasn't terribly crowded being a Wednesday. The backcast can be an issue for sure , you've got to choose your spots wisely. This is one situation where using a flyrod definitely hinders you opposed to gear fishing. It's not the fly that's the problem , those fish will eat a baitfish fly pattern just the same as a swimming grub , but unless you're a hell of a lot better caster than I am you just can't get anywhere near the distance on your casts.

Mic - for flies I used a baitfish pattern modeled after the Murdich Minnow which utilizes Wapsi palmer chenille for the body. After the action slowed down on that fly I went to a white/gray baitfish jig that I tie suspended under a large thingamabobber for working the current seams in close.

[Justin Spencer]

Jeff do you ever take your pontoon and paddle around, or would that upset your fishing buddy?

[Troutnut69]

Justin - Honestly I havn't spent much time with it chasing warmwater species. I put it on a few local lakes once the carp move up on the flats and use it for them but that's about it. You probably hit the main reason why , if I'm fishing by myself I almost always take Joe , and there's just not room for both of us on the one man pontoon.<br />It's worth a few less fish and a lot of walking just for the company!

[Wayne SW/MO]

How did the float and fly work out? I've had some luck there within roll casting range, but it's rare.

[Troutnut69]

Wayne - A couple of the small whites and all of the crappie came on the float and fly , as well as the smaller wiper. Basically that setup caught 75% of my fish but the Murdich Minnow type pattern took the biggest wiper and several whites as well. There were several spots where the current seam was just a perfect casting distance away from shore and a good drift would get a bite more times than not. I caught several of the whites basically casting and stripping the indicator setup , kind of popping the indicator to impart a rise and some action to the fly.

[shaker]

I looked up the Murdich Minnow man that's a great looking fly and looks easy enough with stuff I almost already have that I can make some of those up. Thanks for the info. I'm even thinking that a smaller version might be a crappie killer if they ever get on the banks up on the lake.

Richard