The fishing and hunting thread

[Meck77]

That's awesome my mind. Hmm...

Am I talking to my mind?

So I'd recommend you pack a couple of these. http://westwaterproducts.com/thingamabobber.html If the fish are biting you'll miss plenty of them but these will approve you ability to recognize the strike.

Fly fishing is like fishing without training wheels. It's a whole other animal especially when you get into barbless flies later. You'll never want to toss a worm a trout again!

Hopefully you have a guide. A good guide is worth the money and just pay close attention. Your first time isn't about landing fish. It's about learning.

If you do manage to get a fish on "Give it line not rod". As soon as feel the hit GET THAT ROD TIP UP!!!!!!!!!! You want a bent rod. If you give it the rod and lower that tip you'll lose the fish for sure.

I'm not sure what the Arkansas looks like right now but I'd imagine it's still a bit cloudy from runoff although snow pack is extremely light this year. I like to throw black or green bedhead wooly buggers in heavier runoff. Work the banks. Trout love the undercuts of the bank . Don't worry about hooking branches. Work the banks! Toss the buggers in and strip the line in! Strip! Strip! Strip the line in like a mad man. When you get a hit you'll laugh your ass off!!!!

Back to the thingabobbers. If you have good clarity toss one of them on with a nymph. Your guide will set you up and should know what to use. The bobber will act much like a regular bobber would. The difference is you can't just sit around with your dick in your hand drunk like you would worm fishing. A trout striking a fly is often very subtle. So subtle you might not even notice. That bobber will increase your chances of even seeing it. If you miss the strike don't worry. Trout will often double back and give you another chance! If you think you have a hit just lift the rod tip up quickly. This will "set the hook". If you miss just be patient and he might give you another chance so don't just rip the line 10 feet away!

Work the foam and deep holes behind rocks. Your guide will explain that. Mending is key while float fishing. Again your guide will teach you that.

Take the time learning how to tie. It's worth it and you will simply land more fish as a result. The process can be frustrating in higher winds but learn it.

If you are real lucky and the conditions are right you'll get to dry fly fish. That is where the real party is. People get pretty damn technical with their fly fishing but just do your best to try and match your dry fly to what you see "hatching" on the water.

I have caught fish that have jumped out of the water to catch my fly before it even lands. It's truly an experience like nothing else. Ask your guide a "hopper dropper". It's a grass hopper on top with a nymph underneath. A bit tricky for a beginner setup but extremely effective. When you really get advanced you can even run three flies at once!

Ok that's enough for your first day. Take some pics and share a couple! Man I'm itching to get on the water now!

Have fun! Learn! If you like to fish and it sounds like you do you'll be hooked for life!



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[oubronco]

I've always wanted to go to Colorado for some fly fishing sounds like a blast

[SouthStndJunkie]

Took Katie fishing for the first time today at a pond down the road.

I think she liked it....she just turned 3, so she is still pretty young to concentrate on something for long.

She kept interest in it for about 30 minutes and we caught a few bluegill.

She wasn't afraid to touch the fish and hold them.

[oubronco]

That's awesome Junkie