100+ Panfish (3.5 hours)

[BassMouth87 0]

Today I received in the mail a much anticipated 6'6 2pc 2wt custom fly rod built by Steve at Midwest Custom Fly Rod. I was anxious to say the least to try it out so I headed to the local pan fish pond armed with a small arsenal of flies and started to get a feel for the new addition to my rod collection.

 

The rod is beautifully crafted to say the least, and took some getting used to after fishing with my new 8wt over the last few weeks for bass. There was a wind coming left to right at the pond, if it had been any windier I would have had almost no control over my casting. I started picking up fish very quickly and started to get more accurate with my casts as I got a feel for the rod. I started off the night with a bead head pheasant tail soft hackle fly and started having immediate success. After 30 or so fish in a short period of time I switched over to a creation of mine, the mirage back bead head scud and that is when things really took off. I went on to catch 100+ fish in a little over 3.5 hours, I estimate that 80+ fish were caught on the scud alone. Lots of small guys, lots of medium guys and even some hogs and personal bests!

 

9" Blue Gill

 

Bluegill and Pumpkinseed:

 

Crappie Galore!

 

Here is a bead head mirage back scud after 80+ fish

 

I hooked into a nice 13-14" crappie that would have beaten my personal best of 10.5" last season but it managed to either wiggle free or ripped the fly free from its paper thin mouth. I watched 6 or so other crappie of similar size take swipes at my fly as I was stripping it in several times towards the end of the night. I fished until it was to dark to see what I was doing before getting in to the car to head home...man I love days like these...some personal bests, some memorable moments, a bunch of feisty fish and forgetting about work, bills and responsibilities for a few hours jam packed with action and child like glee.

 

I want to thank Steve again for being a stand up guy and hooking me up with a fantastic rod at a reasonable price. His customer service is top notch, his work amazing, and his passion and enthusiasm for fly fishing infectious. Many thanks Steve for a beautiful tool that will spend many days bent over fighting fish.

 

-Corey

[GdubyaSmith 0]

Man that sounds like so much Fun...A Beautiful Day indeed!!!

[Tom Gibbons 0]

yah,,,,and a new rod,,oh boy,,but I'm interested in the fly,how do you tie it?

[BassMouth87 0]

I am still wired for sound...hope I can get some sleep tonight, long day of work ahead of me tomorrow lol.

 

Tom: I plan on my next SBS video to be the mirage back bead head scud, nothing fancy, nothing new or innovative , just an easy quick to tie deadly fishing fly. I will post the video up here when I make it.

[Steeldrifter 0]

That's awesome man I'm really glad to see the new rod has such a good home. Some nice fish there as well. Gills and crappie, catch a baked potato and it's the perfect meal That's a "buggy" looking fly as well.

[SSC 0]

Well done. looks like fun times

[flytire 0]

glad you had fun!

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

great way to break in a new rod

[Steeldrifter 0]

great way to break in a new rod

 

Please don't say "break" and "rod " in the same sentence lol

[FlyFishin'Jam 0]

2wt Panfish madness!

[Guest]

Sounds like a great day! You know you're in good hands when Steve-O builds the rod. 8-)

[BassMouth87 0]

Went back this morning for an hour and was having similar success minus the large guys. I have a feeling the large crappie and gills come in shallower at night to this little bay area so will be heading back tonight to try again...some pictures of my catches:

 

[BassMouth87 0]

Here is the tying video for the Bead Head Mirage Back Scud as promised:

 

[GdubyaSmith 0]

great way to break in a new rod

 

Please don't say "break" and "rod " in the same sentence lol

LOL....I know right