The BilletHead is so happy right now

[BilletHead]

I was needing this little short trip up the road from the house to a neighbors pond. Caught fish! Last week this was completely froze over. And what makes this better is I caught on my new sliders, yes you heard it right BALSA SLIDERS. I really just had intent on throwing them just to see what they were going to do. I tied on the slant headed slightly cupped shad colored one. Flipped it out there a few feet and it landed on its back, crap I thought. Gave it a twitch or two and when the tail of marabou, saddle hackle and flash got wet it rolled over on its belly like it should. Whew I was glad. Then a few false casts to gain line and out it went. So some slight twitches and it slid on top with a slight side to side motion. Then a long quicker strip and down it dove when the nose caught some water. When stopped it wobbled up pretty fast. Then a real long strip and a deeper dive and a bob back to the top. Then quick non pause strips and I would stay under but if any hesitation back to the top quick. I casted a few more times across a shallow flat in the corner of the pond. Then a caught a flash on a pause. Really I thought and went back to testing. I then tied on one with a dome head . Pretty plain Jane body style. Again with marabou, hackle and flash. Threw it out and slight strips it rode high and did a tight walk the dog motion. Again like the first I could get it to dive and dart under water. So then I tied on another. A bit more narrow, slant cupped face and back. Threw it out and gave it a dive. Being less buoyant it dove better, deeper and wobbled back to the top slower. I messed with it a few casts and hooked one! it shook and I lost it. I figured out no one is going to believe me anyway. So I continue casting and stripping slowly but this time it stayed hooked. I did this three more times catching all three and then had another two come unbuttoned. In my excitement I forgot my atv was behind me and on a back cast I heard a tink as the slider hit the basket. Upon inspection I had put a small crack and a dent in the slider. Way to go I thought and I might be able to epoxy the mistake. Tied on a meat whistle and bounced it across the bottom with no hits. Then tries an ASP streamer. Caught one and missed one. Gave it up and came home to give you all a report. Needless to say I am stoked to know these sliders are going to work, work well too I might add. Took some photos. The fish. One weighed two and a quarter lbs.

Then the sliders and ASP streamer.

The dome head, the Slant head slightly cupped head, the slanted more cupped narrow one I caught with and busted and the ASP streamer,

BilletHead

PS fish were in a foot to three foot of water. Slight color to the water (muddy color)could only see six or so inches deep. With good strips sliders went deep enough you could not see them.

[Terrierman]

I bet that crack is no big deal to the fish. I'd be happy too, great post.

[ness]

Heck, I want to eat those beauties!! Nice going.

[Flysmallie]

Nice job Marty!

[fishinwrench]

Good to hear! I'm gonna go check my bluegill hole out tomorrow if I can get done working in time. The extra hour of daylight helps !

[BilletHead]

Thanks guys,

Really did not expect for them to bite like this. Surprises are nice once and a while. Needless to say I have another batch of sliders in the works.

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

Well just had to hit another pond for a short trip. Took the kayak and slipped it in. Threw an ASP streamer and a big brown wooly booger. Caught more bass and some bluegill. The first bluegill of the season was a big one. Nine and a half inches,

BilletHead

[fishinwrench]

Oh man! Nice!

I hit my pond today and it seemed too soon. Nothing moving shallow quite yet.

Saw a lot of spiders but no other bugs flying around. Birds and other critters were scarce too. Kinda odd on such a beautiful day.

Breeze from the East though, so.....

[gramps50]

You did way better than I did today BilletHead, I was like Wrench I didn't see a thing and nothing was biting. Of all the people fishing I only heard one catch a fish and I didn't see it so I don't know how big it was.

I have a 9' 5WT and had made some worm looking flies to mimick a senko. They would not cast worth a crap, I couldn't even roll cast. Granted I new to this fly fishing but I think my rod was to light for the flies I was trying to cast. When I went to a 14 wooly bugger it was much better. I'm thinking I need a 7 or 8WT.

BTW very nice post and pretty fish too.

[bs1827]

Good lookin fish! Love catching those big bluegill.

Gramps, casting some of the chunkier stuff on a 5wt can be tricky. I definitely throw flies that are a bit too big for my 5wt, but it's a lot of chuck-n-duck type casting. If you don't want to get another rod right away and you're primarily interested in throwing streamers you could change out your line to 6wt sinking line. But, fly rods are like golf clubs- you can't expect the same performance from a putter and a 9 iron.

Sorry to highjack the thread! Carry on!