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

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Minimum flow mandates on the White River now have it where it really isn't wadable any more. If you want to fish you need a boat

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Even more better! I am old and portly to put it nicely....I much prefer fishing from a boat than wading! Especially in snot covered rock beds in cold moving water...damn that!

Trying to do some research on gear. I think once everything opens back up I’m going to take the Orvis FF101 class, and it’s looks like you get a 15% off deal after you take it. Anyone have any recommendations for a beginner set up I could get from Orvis with the intention of river trout fishing out west?

Took the family out last Friday. Picked a bad spot to start (but at least it wasn't crowded.) Caught a couple of fish at our second spot. The wife waded out too deep and froze herself. Broke my net so now I'm in the market for a new one. My birthday is Wed, so that works out...

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Orvis makes some incredibly good "stuff" but jumping god almighty it costs! In my experience western trout rivers don't require a long cast but lots of casting....especially out of a drift boat (the only way to properly fish the fast flows that are common). Still water fishing and salt water fishing in particular can require LOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGG casting....and a rod can make a world of difference in those circumstances. Not as necessary in a drift boat.....

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Gotcha, I'm not set on Orvis just saw you get a discount after taking the FF101 class.

I was actually looking at the TFO BVK that I had seen mentioned in this thread a bunch, I saw a few people mention it could be found on sale for $150. I'm only seeing $250 so maybe I'll try and wait on a sale, any sites I should be on the lookout for that will have that sale from time to time?

Then also see a lot of Allen reel recommendations in the thread, so was thinking of putting an Allen Alpha III on it. Looks like those are about $150 as well.

If I can find the $150 deal for the rod then I'd be at $300 for the rod/reel.

Id like to use it on the lake by my house for some bass or crapie to practice on with the main purpose for trout fishing. As I've said my main goal is a Yellowstone type trip for trout fishing, but I've also seen some recommendations for Broken Bow in Oklahoma which is somewhat close to me, as well as the Guadalupe river which is even closer. So I may make a trip 2 one or both of those to practice before a Yellowstone trip. So I'm thinking of a 5 or 6 wt (can't decide) 9' set up. Any other input or suggestions is appreciated.

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Gotcha, I'm not set on Orvis just saw you get a discount after taking the FF101 class. I was actually looking at the TFO BVK that I had seen mentioned in this thread a bunch, I saw a few people mention it could be found on sale for $150. I'm only seeing $250 so maybe I'll try and wait on a sale, any sites I should be on the lookout for that will have that sale from time to time? Then also see a lot of Allen reel recommendations in the thread, so was thinking of putting an Allen Alpha III on it. Looks like those are about $150 as well. If I can find the $150 deal for the rod then I'd be at $300 for the rod/reel. Id like to use it on the lake by my house for some bass or crapie to practice on with the main purpose for trout fishing. As I've said my main goal is a Yellowstone type trip for trout fishing, but I've also seen some recommendations for Broken Bow in Oklahoma which is somewhat close to me, as well as the Guadalupe river which is even closer. So I may make a trip 2 one or both of those to practice before a Yellowstone trip. So I'm thinking of a 5 or 6 wt (can't decide) 9' set up. Any other input or suggestions is appreciated.

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I my opinion TFO stuff is very serviceable.....I have never heard anyone really turned off by TFO rods , reels and lines....all very useable from what I have seen.

5 weight 9 footer is usually the starting point for most folks and is great for everything from streamer fishing to fishing indicators to single dries and popping bugs for bream and bass. I think the 5 weight is kind of the utility fly rod in that it'll do it all well....there are better options that will do specific things better but most people who have one fly rod, say on a hike in or airport trip where space is limited, opt for the 5 weight. It is ideal for most western river fishing and with some experience will handle some sizeable trout, redfish, snook, jacks etc in the salt....undersized for some of the large flies used in the salt but there's a lot of them used.

I have a buddy in the hill country of Texas who fishes a river...it may be the Guadalupe or the Brazos...and catches some IMPRESSIVE trout. They are stocked fish of course and I doubt there is any holdover (assuming the water temps in summer get way to high to support trout). I know there is an Orvis shop in New Braunfels, or used to be, and they used to have some guides on the river. It'd be a little different from fishing a fast flowing western river because casting looks like mostly roll casting but you would get the feel for mending line and presenting a natural drift....much more important to catching trout in moving water than casting, in my experience. I don't know for certain but that fishery probably starts sometime in November through probably end of March and I would bet it is mostly nymphing with indicators but I could be wrong and it could be good dry fly fishing at times given the high water temps present....and stockers will ALWAYS hit a streamer but they can be hard to fish in a smaller river.

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I have a buddy in the hill country of Texas who fishes a river...it may be the Guadalupe or the Brazos...and catches some IMPRESSIVE trout. They are stocked fish of course and I doubt there is any holdover (assuming the water temps in summer get way to high to support trout)

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Yeah I'm going to check out the Guadalupe but unfortunately I've missed it this year it sounds like will have to wait until Novemberish.

Anyone have any thoughts on Hardy reels? Haven't really seen anyone recommend them but I saw a shop close to me has a bunch of those on their site.

I am glad this thread is still around

I’ve got the itch to go fishing these days.

Lucky, I’ve got a 17 week old baby so time is slim, might do some lake fishing up here this weekend.

We took a quick trip up to the "High Unitas" to escape the heat last week (Right at 100 Deg here.) The boy caught a nice Cutthroat on the Upper Provo River. Neither he or the fish would stay still long enough to get a decent pic.

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We are going to dauphin island in a few weeks and I’m gonna bring my stuff. What fly to fish and any other tips are appreciated.

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This is way late but maybe it will help someone in the future. If fishing from the beach then clouser or baitfish patterns. Chartreuse, white, pink, red, blue, silver flash are all good colors for beach flies. Generally less is more with clear water with some silver flash for good measure.

Sandflea and crab patterns work well too along the panhandle for reds and pompano. Everything in the Gulf will eat a shrimp too so I keep one or two of those in my box at all times.