re: The Fly Fishing Thread: Questions, pics, discussion all here

Thank you both.

BM I would pick that pack up from him just not really digging the color. Thanks for the pictures though, I think that is the perfect size.

Do not order from a place called Feather Craft. I ordered some fly tieing materials and tools almost 2 months ago. I got part of my order a few weeks later. Had a notice in the box that the rest was back ordered. Still have not received the rest of the order. Their customer service sucks. Noticed today that the company refunded the rest of my order to my credit card with no notification.

Can you describe the water?

I've found them to sometimes be tricky and very weary. Will eat a lot of different bugs it seems - I'm not experienced enough to have a favorite but you can google carp flies to get a general idea of what they like.

I do know that going slow is important

I was not a big fan of Airflo Ridge Bonefish/Redfish taper on that rod. Could have just been crappy casting though. A lot of people use redfish taper lines in the marsh. They load the rod easily.

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Fished the Roaring Fork River in Aspen last week. I'm addicted now, even though I didn't catch anything (my wife did). Now I need to get going down here in New Orleans.

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Sorry didn't see this - love the roaring fork but that whole area around aspen can be tough with all the pressure it receives. I think it's worse on the Frying pan river.


Congrats on your new addiction -it's very rewarding if you give it time. Feel free to ask anything you want

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also if you were going to buy a beginners fly rod set... which one would you get for fishing this river?

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I think anybody's first flyrod should be a 5 wt for freshwater or a 7 wt for saltwater, (both 4 piece pack rod), uploaded one to two line weights, weight forward floating line. I upload all my rods at least one line weight for easier loading (casting distances). If you fish both fresh and light saltwater, a 6 wt uplined with 7-8 wt line is a good compromise.

First time with smallies? They are mean.

Sorry about the salmon. They can definitely be a handful if you get a big chinook on the line. I found I had to tie all my salmon flies in at least 2 or 3x strength hooks or they'd bend them out. Any chance you can go back later this year for steelhead? Having caught many salmon and steelhead i'd place the steelies higher on the bucket list priority.

I'll get it done. I usually time it for when Iowa plays either Michigan State, or Michigan on the road. I'll be on Lake Michigan again this weekend, but Chicago, so all that would be there would be lake trout, and a few salmon this time of year. Not sure about tributaries this time of year that far south.

I get a lot of bass in ponds on flies up here, so that was no big deal. The northern was fun though. The guy I went with fly fished almost exclusively for muskie.

I generally fly fish for trout. Other fish only when I know they can be caught on a fly.

Smallies up here get docile in cool and hot water. Reminds me of smallies down south. Early in the year, on artificial, is when they just crush the bait, and fight the most.