Fishing Megathread: Looking For Big Girls Who swallow

[markstanco 12610]

Good point. But not really I would have pushed the winner in the lake because I hate to lose.

[Chewbacca 7785]

Killed it on the Gunnison today. Lost count of how many 18" fish we caught today. Fuck, I love that river.

[Johnny Sack 8397]

On 5/18/2022 at 6:32 PM, tequila said:

Any recs for a guide/outfitter in Jackson, WY?  I want to take my two boys (11 & 9) on a half day trip so the can try fly fishing.  They’re both great with a spinning rod, but fly will be a new thing for them.  Would prefer to wade/walk versus float.  TIA.

I've used WorldCast Anglers and love them.  They have a stable of guides that are excellent.

[tx 3 putt 77421]

@Lat22 or @Pescado_Rojo or anyone else ….. any recs for Baffin Bay guides ?

it’ll be 3 or 4 of us 

[Lat22 4017]

I haven’t fished with them since Aubrey died, but I bet they’re pretty good. They launch out of Riviera. Actually, since it’s Putt asking, they launch out of Loyola Beach. Putt knows that part of the world pretty good. 

[Mac8111 2116]

[mention=171]Lat22[/mention] or [mention=251]Pescado_Rojo[/mention] or anyone else ….. any recs for Baffin Bay guides ?
it’ll be 3 or 4 of us 

I have someone for you. Will fish hard. I’ll message you his info.


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[tx 3 putt 77421]

23 minutes ago, Lat22 said:

I haven’t fished with them since Aubrey died, but I bet they’re pretty good. They launch out of Riviera. Actually, since it’s Putt asking, they launch out of Loyola Beach. Putt knows that part of the world pretty good. 

I just fell into a dove lease dow there. My brother wants to go and look at it, figured why not set up a fishing trip 

[justhookit 4191]

675 pound bluefin tuna caught by a friend of mine last week out of Port A at the floaters.

 

[Pescado_Rojo 19428]

18 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

@Lat22 or @Pescado_Rojo or anyone else ….. any recs for Baffin Bay guides ?

it’ll be 3 or 4 of us 

Man, I don't know shit about Baffin guides. Sounds like others came through for you, though. 

[Dry Elbows 142]

18 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

@Lat22 or @Pescado_Rojo or anyone else ….. any recs for Baffin Bay guides ?

it’ll be 3 or 4 of us 

Where you wanting to leave out of?  You looking to wade or drift?  Lures or biat?

[tx 3 putt 77421]

14 minutes ago, Dry Elbows said:

Where you wanting to leave out of?  You looking to wade or drift?  Lures or biat?

Loyola beach would be great. Drift, don’t care about the bait 

[Zwylde 812]

The wind gave us a few open windows (not many) over the last week and a half.  With how bad April and May have been so far, its nice to just get out on the water.  Had a few decent pulls for the efforts.  All on live shrimp in W Galveston Bay.

 

[Zwylde 812]

7 hours ago, justhookit said:

675 pound bluefin tuna caught by a friend of mine last week out of Port A at the floaters.

 

The brought in a couple of those pigs to Pelican Rest Marina in Galveston last week as well.  Not mine, taken from the Facebooks.

 

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 5/18/2022 at 11:35 PM, Chewbacca said:

On 5/18/2022 at 8:42 PM, texastough said:

It usually happens mid June so I imagine this weekend is early.

Is been really hot and dry this spring. They are expecting it early, just don't know how early.

sorry was banned missed your original email...you'll be too early, but better before the hatch than right after. damn i miss those fish.

[Chewbacca 7785]

2 hours ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

sorry was banned missed your original email...you'll be too early, but better before the hatch than right after. damn i miss those fish.

Yeah, last weekend was the only time we could fit it in, so that's what we did.  Drove in a fucking blizzard all the way from Fraser to Glenwood.  Snow let up until just outside Carbondale and then kept snowing all the way to where we were staying in Crawford.  Didn't snow at the Pleasure Park, but it was cold and the water was really high as they were flushing out one of the dams upstream (flows were over 1000 cfs).

All that said, we had a great day.  Didn't throw any dries (I only saw one fish surface all day), but San Juan worms and stonefly nymphs did the trick.  We had a great guide float us down and he had us on fish all day long.  I just love that river.  By far my favorite river in CO.

[BearSchlong 8114]

By myself, at the Sabine jetty. First time since my dad died in March. Hungry reds and trout.

Thank you for the last 45 years of fishing, old man. And for leaving me a nice boat.

I've seen you catch at least 1,000 fish at this exact spot. I shall carry on.

[Braff Zacklin 13662]

Well said, Schlong. Condolences.

May your memories of fishing together never fade.

[hookemATL 11890]

All yous fly fisherman:

Im going to be in Banff National Park in a few weeks and will be bringing my fly rod. I have never trout fished so I am looking for some helpful tips on flies/presentation/anything else that could help me land a couple. Reading up on the waters, it looks like the following species can be found in the area:  

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Mountain Whitefish, and Lake Whitefish.

I know we have several guys on this thread that target trout so I am hopeful y’all can help this poor pathetic n00b. 
 

PS any tips on how to not get mauled by bears would be appreciated as well. 

 

 

[CoTex 1162]

3 hours ago, hookemATL said:

All yous fly fisherman:

Im going to be in Banff National Park in a few weeks and will be bringing my fly rod. I have never trout fished so I am looking for some helpful tips on flies/presentation/anything else that could help me land a couple. Reading up on the waters, it looks like the following species can be found in the area:  

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Mountain Whitefish, and Lake Whitefish.

I know we have several guys on this thread that target trout so I am hopeful y’all can help this poor pathetic n00b. 
 

PS any tips on how to not get mauled by bears would be appreciated as well. 

 

 

It ain’t like sight casting reds.  I’ve learned that much.

Be prepared to get your rig stuck in a tree, a shoreside willow, a submerged bush, on a rock, and then in the willow again.  Then be prepared to generally not even know when a fish takes the fly.

Best thing I can say is get a guide for your first time on a River.  It’s a whole different world of mending, eggs, droppers and microscopic flies.  And it is awesome.  Those River fish fight like hell and will break your fly off quickly.

On the bears - read up on what not to do here.

https://huntershield.com/case-closed-in-case-of-wyoming-hunting-guide-killed-by-grizzly-bear/

[hookemATL 11890]

Thanks a ton!

This is a backpacking trip and mostly hitting small streams and alpine-ish lakes in my free time so likely not going to be on a river proper (although fishing the Bow River will definitely happen at some point in the future if not this trip).

any actual fish caught will be a total bonus,  but it would be a very cool experience if I can luck into one or two. 

[Jerry Callo 8727]

Find a local fly shop - local knowledge is key. Spend $30‐40 on the flies they suggest and they'll give you all the pointers you need.

[atomheartbevo 89792]

On 5/28/2022 at 8:39 AM, hookemATL said:

All yous fly fisherman:

Im going to be in Banff National Park in a few weeks and will be bringing my fly rod. I have never trout fished so I am looking for some helpful tips on flies/presentation/anything else that could help me land a couple. Reading up on the waters, it looks like the following species can be found in the area:  

If you are new to fly fishing, start practicing right now, find yourself a quiet small pond or creek.

I recently and briefly tried to teach my kid how to fly fish for perch and small bass along Shoal Creek here in Austin.  Lots of obstacles - small pools of water at times, trees, weeds, etc.  Good practice, but he's not ready for it just yet.

As far as bears, I would pick up some kind of bear spray.  If a bear comes along, and you have another person or persons along with you (that you're not close to), you can spray the other person(s) with the bear spray, and they'll make so much racket/noise that it'll distract the bear long enough for you to get away.

[hookemATL 11890]

Not new but not a pro for sure. And I’ll be backpacking solo so no one to sacrifice. I’ll work on my best bear insults to shame them away. 
 

“You hibernate like a bitch!”

[Snake Diggity 4627]

Anybody got tips on where to fish without a boat in/near Rockport?  Wife and I heading down there in a few weeks.

[leaf 699]

3 hours ago, Snake Diggity said:

Anybody got tips on where to fish without a boat in/near Rockport?  Wife and I heading down there in a few weeks.

Backside of the airport on Copano Bay.  Park at the Howard Murph Memorial Park.  Then go down to the old pier.  Can wade fish on the south side of the pier.  A couple of buddies went last weekend a d caught some nice trout.  Watch out for the big alligator that lives in the drainage ditch.

 

[Jerry Callo 8727]

Anybody got tips on where to fish without a boat in/near Rockport?  Wife and I heading down there in a few weeks.

Goose Island State Park pier. Half way down the pier is a set of steps down to the water. You can wade a ways out. Fish the guts, especially the one you can't cross.

Also, continue on past the entrance to GISP and the road and runs curves and runs along St. Charles Bay. Drive all the way to where it turns again. There is easily 3/4 mile of wadeable shoreline.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 5/28/2022 at 1:13 PM, hookemATL said:

Thanks a ton!

This is a backpacking trip and mostly hitting small streams and alpine-ish lakes in my free time so likely not going to be on a river proper (although fishing the Bow River will definitely happen at some point in the future if not this trip).

any actual fish caught will be a total bonus,  but it would be a very cool experience if I can luck into one or two. 

Brohan if you're hitting up high elevation creeks in Canada (or anywhere for that matter) all you have to do is get a fly in the water and the trout will eat it. It's more about understanding where the trout hold in the water and just getting any fly that floats drifting through the water without dragging. Fly selection doesn't matter...anything size 12-16 that rides high. Just take a lot of them and bring dryshake. The biggest problem in the high country is churning through flies when the brookies are annihilating them.

[hookemATL 11890]

1 hour ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

Brohan if you're hitting up high elevation creeks in Canada (or anywhere for that matter) all you have to do is get a fly in the water and the trout will eat it. It's more about understanding where the trout hold in the water and just getting any fly that floats drifting through the water without dragging. Fly selection doesn't matter...anything size 12-16 that rides high. Just take a lot of them and bring dryshake. The biggest problem in the high country is churning through flies when the brookies are annihilating them.

Thanks for the tips and good to know! Never had the opportunity to target trout before so every little bit of info helps.  And noted on the dryshake (not something I have previously used/carried with my gear).

 

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

23 minutes ago, hookemATL said:

Thanks for the tips and good to know! Never had the opportunity to target trout before so every little bit of info helps.  And noted on the dryshake (not something I have previously used/carried with my gear).

 

Dry shake, a little hand rag and a baseball cap you can stick them to the bill and air dry them. 

If the creek is small enough you can just start walking up it and you will start spooking the fish. You can take mental note of where they are darting off from and start to pick up on where they hang out (where fast water meets slow, bonus if there is any depth in the slow).

[Johnny Chimpo 479]

Wild high elevation trout have such a short feeding season they usually slam anything you set on the water. I can definitely attest to that. 
 

Usually they’re not too big (10” max) for the same reason. 

[Born to Run 6569]

Wild high elevation trout have such a short feeding season they usually slam anything you set on the water. I can definitely attest to that. 
 
Usually they’re not too big (10” max) for the same reason. 

Dumb, young and full of fun.

I always carry a Tenkara or 3 weight travel rod on backpacking trips with a small box of dry flies
Usually pays off, the one time I don't bother I regret it with a high alpine lake or stream with constant rises and starving dumb fish. That's much worse than carrying gear I don't use because it's too dry or Intel was off.

[Braff Zacklin 13662]

On 5/31/2022 at 7:58 AM, Johnny Chimpo said:

Wild high elevation trout have such a short feeding season they usually slam anything you set on the water. I can definitely attest to that. 
 

Usually they’re not too big (10” max) for the same reason. 

 

What sort of elevation are we talking? Unless the water freezes solid, the fish are feeding year round.

There might not be insects to skim off the top, but there are always bugs in various stages of their lifecycles distributed throughout the water column.

[MoJames 8254]

Went up to Wolf Creek Pass to go lake fishing with the boys secondary to winds around 30mpg on the Rio. Night crawlers def on the menu. Went up with 7 kids 5-9 and each caught about 3.

[DougO 5256]

Question for you old-timers who have kept up with the times, unlike me. In my younger days I was an avid bass fisherman, and used the good ol' Ambassador 4500 series reels. I still have them and will probably fish with them again. But I was thinking about getting a modern generation reel. I have no idea what's good now. How does the new stuff compare to the stuff I an accustomed to? 

I was looking at the Garcia Max stuff, Lew's and H20 at Academy. I have Abu Garcia bias for sure, but the stuff is all made in China now, tiny spools and the goofy thumb bar which I always hated. But I guess it would be good to get a newer rig and get used to it. 

[fattyflattie 4638]

54 minutes ago, DougO said:

Question for you old-timers who have kept up with the times, unlike me. In my younger days I was an avid bass fisherman, and used the good ol' Ambassador 4500 series reels. I still have them and will probably fish with them again. But I was thinking about getting a modern generation reel. I have no idea what's good now. How does the new stuff compare to the stuff I an accustomed to? 

I was looking at the Garcia Max stuff, Lew's and H20 at Academy. I have Abu Garcia bias for sure, but the stuff is all made in China now, tiny spools and the goofy thumb bar which I always hated. But I guess it would be good to get a newer rig and get used to it. 

Lews or Shimano. 

[DougO 5256]

Never had a Lew's reel, but loved the rods. I developed anti-Shimano bias because I had a few and they would always go to shit in a fairly short time, and weren't as easy to maintenance. I can tear down and old Ambassadeur and tune it up any time it is really needed.

[fattyflattie 4638]

9 minutes ago, DougO said:

Never had a Lew's reel, but loved the rods. I developed anti-Shimano bias because I had a few and they would always go to shit in a fairly short time, and weren't as easy to maintenance. I can tear down and old Ambassadeur and tune it up any time it is really needed.

I don’t know what you consider go to shit but if you are fishing a Chronarch or higher, it shouldn’t go to shit. I still keep one from ‘00 as a backup, and it’s entire life has been in salt. Surf fishing, bay fishing, hell I’ve caught dorado with it.  Same goes for that vintage Calcutta’s.   I’ve got some of the cheaper Lews, ~$200-ish, and they are ok. I use them specially for the 2-3 bass tournaments I go to and that’s it.  I’ve got friends that use the high end Lews stuff in salt and they like them, but I haven’t had need for a new reel in awhile.  I typically go 15 years on a chronarch/core then it goes to backup duty and replaced with newest version.  None of them will be mistaken for a 4500 ambassador.  If you like that style, try a Calcutta. 
 

eta: 99.9% of it is not dunking your reel, and lightly rinsing after every trip.  When I took my 50MG to have a full breakdown sonic clean they replaced something like $5 in parts.  Put a reel cover on when crossing choppy water, etc.  

Edited June 6, 2022 by fattyflattie

[Lat22 4017]

Anybody ever fished offshore out of Nassau? Looking for charter recs. We’ll be down there next month and I’d like to get out on a boat. Thanks. 

[BearSchlong 8114]

I don’t know what you consider go to shit but if you are fishing a Chronarch or higher, it shouldn’t go to shit. I still keep one from ‘00 as a backup, and it’s entire life has been in salt. Surf fishing, bay fishing, hell I’ve caught dorado with it.  Same goes for that vintage Calcutta’s.   I’ve got some of the cheaper Lews, ~$200-ish, and they are ok. I use them specially for the 2-3 bass tournaments I go to and that’s it.  I’ve got friends that use the high end Lews stuff in salt and they like them, but I haven’t had need for a new reel in awhile.  I typically go 15 years on a chronarch/core then it goes to backup duty and replaced with newest version.  None of them will be mistaken for a 4500 ambassador.  If you like that style, try a Calcutta. 
 
eta: 99.9% of it is not dunking your reel, and lightly rinsing after every trip.  When I took my 50MG to have a full breakdown sonic clean they replaced something like $5 in parts.  Put a reel cover on when crossing choppy water, etc.  

I haven't owned a chronarch, but I love my 13 fishing concept C except that its white and is starting to look beat to shit.

Regarding Lew's, which models do your saltwater friends prefer?

The only one I have is a museum peice that is actually a Browning designed by Lewis Childre.

[LebongJames 1813]

Going this weekend to Venice, La. Going offshore on Saturday and Bay fishing on Sunday. Really want to catch some tuna and red snapper. Would kill for one of those up thread.

[RMac5 1551]

Another vote for Shimano. I have the chronarch’s, Calais and calcuttas and couldn’t be happier.

[fattyflattie 4638]

4 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

Regarding Lew's, which models do your saltwater friends prefer?

Hypermags and Custom Lites.  Most of them are guys that loved their MG50’s/cores and didnt care for the Metanium or Alderbaran.    I’ll say this, the Lews spools are considerably louder, but they are as smooth or smoother than any shimano I’ve had.  

[justhookit 4191]

5 hours ago, Lat22 said:

Anybody ever fished offshore out of Nassau? Looking for charter recs. We’ll be down there next month and I’d like to get out on a boat. Thanks. 

I’ve never heard anything good about the fishing in Nassau.

2 hours ago, LebongJames said:

Going this weekend to Venice, La. Going offshore on Saturday and Bay fishing on Sunday. Really want to catch some tuna and red snapper. Would kill for one of those up thread.

There might be bluefin around still but I doubt it. Season is over though so if you did catch one you’d have a really, really long fight and then have to let it go. Good luck on the yellowfins.

[DougO 5256]

I'm thinking I may buy an affordable on sale baitcasting reel and a two-piece rod to keep in the car/truck. I never used 2-piece casting rods but it's just more practical, and I don't want to risk my more vintage stuff getting busted or stolen. Any recommendations on a decent two-piece casting rod for portable pond jumping and spontaneous fishing when I'm out and about?

[Lat22 4017]

8 hours ago, justhookit said:

’ve never heard anything good about the fishing in Nassau.

That’s what I was afraid of. I really just wanted to get away from everybody for a few hours. PRANK CALLER! PRANK CALLER!

[Zwylde 812]

My youngest wanted to go out and chum for some mankillers on Sunday.  Nothing big but a couple of small twin blacktips kept him busy.  Those little bastards are so hard to tire out I hate to image latching on to a couple hundred pounder.  Makes my back ache just thinking about it.

 

 

 

[USCATX 1078]

About to board a flight to Juneau for a week to some fishing and relax where it’s not 100 and damn 5. We will probably do some inside waters fishing close by and also head out to the west coast of Chichigof and Yakobi Islands to wreck some big kings and halibut.  I’ve been so excited I had to channel my energy into tying leaders.  Should have some blood on the decks by tomorrow afternoon’s low tide.  

[DeathTongue 88]

On 6/6/2022 at 5:13 PM, DougO said:

I'm thinking I may buy an affordable on sale baitcasting reel and a two-piece rod to keep in the car/truck. I never used 2-piece casting rods but it's just more practical, and I don't want to risk my more vintage stuff getting busted or stolen. Any recommendations on a decent two-piece casting rod for portable pond jumping and spontaneous fishing when I'm out and about?

After a quick look at Dick’s/Academy/Bass Pro, other than a bunch of combos at BassPro (which are essentially a Bass Pro brand 2-piece rod with a decent Abu/Diawa/Lew’s/Shimano reel) this was the only combo that I saw with a 2-piece rod:

https://www.academy.com/p/kastking-7-ft-mh-freshwater-casting-rod-and-reel-combo?sku=7-right-medium-heavy-fast-6-5-1

…and it’s currently on sale.  I haven’t ever fished a Kast King, but my brother’s FIL has one and he seems to like his.

If you want to put together a combo on your own, an Ugly Stick is really the only 2-piece rod that I saw other than the Bass Pro rod mentioned above.

As for a reels to pair with it, Abu used to make a decent low-end reel (Black Max) but doesn’t look like they make it any longer.  It looks like the replacement is the Abu Max X.  It appears to have decent reviews.  Lew’s makes a few sub-$100 reels (Speed Spool series) that I have heard good things about.

[DougO 5256]

6 hours ago, DeathTongue said:

After a quick look at Dick’s/Academy/Bass Pro, other than a bunch of combos at BassPro (which are essentially a Bass Pro brand 2-piece rod with a decent Abu/Diawa/Lew’s/Shimano reel) this was the only combo that I saw with a 2-piece rod:

 

https://www.academy.com/p/kastking-7-ft-mh-freshwater-casting-rod-and-reel-combo?sku=7-right-medium-heavy-fast-6-5-1

 

…and it’s currently on sale.  I haven’t ever fished a Kast King, but my brother’s FIL has one and he seems to like his.

 

If you want to put together a combo on your own, an Ugly Stick is really the only 2-piece rod that I saw other than the Bass Pro rod mentioned above.

 

As for a reels to pair with it, Abu used to make a decent low-end reel (Black Max) but doesn’t look like they make it any longer.  It looks like the replacement is the Abu Max X.  It appears to have decent reviews.  Lew’s makes a few sub-$100 reels (Speed Spool series) that I have heard good things about.

 

Thanks, I've been looking at the Max series, and probably will decide between the X and Pro. You can still get the older Black Max at Wal Mart for a few bucks cheaper than Academy has the X on sale. I'll probably get a lightnin' rod or Lew's Hank Parker to pair when I know I'm going fishing and can stash it over the seat.

I might take look at those two-piece rods you mentioned for a perma-stash car rod, but I haven't seen much around, though local options aren't great.

[Mac8111 2116]

The Lews Team Lews Lite is the correct answer for best reel.


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