Most common??

[Nick Williams]

Question for y'all.... Here in the Ozarks, what do you think are the most commonly chased species of game fish via the fly rod?? I'm sure some will be obvious, but curious as to what others will think.

[fishinwrench]

A couple years ago I would have said trout, but warm water FFing is gaining a lot of attention.

Probably still trout though.

[Amery]

Trout, smallmouth, white bass, panfish, carp. In that order.

[Nick Williams]

Perhaps I should have worded the question differently. What are the most popular to chase? I agree, I think Rainbows and Browns are at the top of that list... but what else is there??

Amery, you really think carp is on that list? That surprises me, I don't feel like I see that much about Ozark Carp fly fishing.

[jdmidwest]

Anything that will bite a hook can be caught with a fly rod. It has its own special techniques of presentation that can be taylored to many species.

I remember years ago, there was a flyfisher from the Ozarks fishing bass tourneys with one. They are alot of fun with panfish, crappie, bluegill, goggle eye. Carp will give you a run. Catfish love purple streamers. A creek chub will give you a run when times are tuff.

Fly rods were around before spin casting and bait casting. It was the original method of catching fish.

[Amery]

I think there is a ton of attention to carp as of late. I know I will be targeting them some this summer and I've seen guys on the Illinois and the "bella vista flats" hook up on em, on purpose. I guess with all the other options they may go on the back burner but it's way more likely to catch a double digits carp over a trout the same size.

[Feathers and Fins]

Outside the obvious trout, Carp rates way up there. I see more and more people doing it, keep in mind this forum may have lots of "Members" but the vast majority are "Lurkers" that read what others are doing but don't share what they are but sure are doing what they read.

The other fish though not as easily targeted is Stripers. Most people think of them as a surface bite only but a little white fly on sinking line 100ft behind the boat is deadly on them and been catching good numbers for at least 18 years now that I know for sure of. Originated on Lake Skinner in Southern California by Bob Slamal, Its now practiced on many of those lakes and it has also accounted for some very big bass.

[Nick Williams]

Yeah, I've been targeting carp for the last two years, my first one was touching 18lbs and was a blast. I just can't find them often enough!

I guess I didn't think about those "lurkers." It just seems like there is a ton of fly fishing going on lately that isn't for trout, but here in the Ozarks it still seems like it its all focused on trout still. I would say smallies perhaps stripers (around me anyways) are the second and third spots. So I was just curious as to what everyone else thought. I'm starting to think there is more going on, we just don't see it as much.

[jdmidwest]

About the only time I am not flyfishing is when I am in a boat of some sort. And I will flyfish out of a boat.

When walking the bank or wading, I prefer to flyfish most of the time. My flyfishing started early in life about 30 years ago when I was given a fly rod by an uncle. Early years were spent with poppers and Wally world flies, just muddling around. Then I got serious, started tying my own flies and buying more rods and equipment. Now I have many thousands of dollars invested, rods that cost more than all of my spin rods put together, and just lean toward using them when I go fishing.

I have yet to try a ned rig on the fly rod, but I bet it will catch a fish.....

[rFisherk]

I've specialized in fly fishing for bass for decades. I used to guide fly fishermen on KY Lake and owned a patent on a fly/lure called a Desperate Diver. I even fished a few tournaments with a fly rod and my Divers. I've caught largemouths up to 10 pounds with them. Pictured, however, is a smallmouth from Dale Hollow Lake.

Some of my old friends who wouldn't think of anything but trout decades ago have turned to carp to get away from the crowds of "experts" choking every stream.