Chasing_Tails

I did this for winter time kayak fishing where I know I won't be in the water more than ankle depth launching and landing and don't need full waders but want to keep my feet dry. I cut the neoprene feet off of an old pair of waders and got a pair of flats boots to go over them. I normally wear a size 11 but required a size 13 to fit the neoprene.

The Ice Prince The Prince: Hook: Mustad 3906B, #12 Bead: 3.5mm tungsten, gold Weight: Lead wire, 0.020 8 turns Thread: Uni-thread 6/0, black Tail: Goose biot, dk. brown Body: Ice dub, peacock Rib: 0.3mm wire, gold Throat: Saddle hackle, dk. brown Wing: Goose biot, white The Black Prince: Hook: Mustad 3906B, #12 Bead: 3.5mm tungsten, black nickle Weight: Lead wire, 0.020 8 turns Thread: Uni-thread 6/0, black Tail: Goose biot, black Body: Ice dub, UV black Rib: 0.3mm wire, black Throat: Saddle hackle, black Wing: Goose biot, black The Golden Prince: Hook: Mustad 3906B, #12 Bead: 3.5mm tungsten, gold Weight: Lead wire, 0.020 8 turns Thread: Uni-thread 6/0, dk. brown Tail: Goose biot, dk. brown Body: Ice dub, golden brown Back: Turkey tail Rib: 0.3mm wire, gold Throat: Saddle hackle, dk. brown Wing: Goose biot, yellow

Thank you. Looks like most of the standards. I'll give the Ted Fay shop a call and see if they recommend anything specific.

Thank you all for the info. I decided to do a float trip on Saturday and explore the area on my own wading Sunday. I am taking a 9'6"-11' 4wt nymph rod, 9' 5wt standard rod, and a 9'6" 7wt standard rod. What would be a good selection of flies to have on hand? Thanks all.

In the mail today. They are "estimated" to be there for monday (USPS...).

Chubby Chernobyl Salmonfly Hook: Mustad 79580 Streamer, #8 Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0, dk. brown Tail: Krystal Flash, copper Body: Ice Dub, chocolate brown Bands: Ice Dub, Orange Back: 2mm craft foam, gray Wing: McFlylon Polypro, tan/lt. copper Legs: Sili-legs nymph, pumpkin/green-orange barred Heading back out to Southern Oregon in mid-may and talked with a guide I am going to go out with and he mentioned the possibility of hitting a salmonfly hatch...time to stock the box up a bit...

Perfect. Thank you for all the information sir, that was what I needed to know. I more worry about access, private property issues, and wadeability versus needing a drift boat than the fishing aspect. I'll give that shop a call and see how things are closer to heading out that way. I've been watching youtube videos of the river and it definitely looks like a beautiful place to spend a weekend. Thank you again.

Hello all, I am going to be heading to Medford Oregon in mid-May for a business trip. I was there last August and was able to fish the Rogue River (Holy Water area) and had some success. I had a scheduled guided float trip in September for steelhead that ended up turning into a quick evacuation and unintended drive to Portland due to the fires. I am wanting to fish again on my weekend off, but it seems that the time of year it sounds like the area is mostly closed on the Rogue for trout and also not the best time of year for salmon or steelhead. I was looking at driving south to try the Upper Sacramento River as it looks like a beautiful place to try and is only about 1.5-2 hour drive from where I am staying. I was deciding between hiring a guide, or trying it on my own. I'm an experienced fly angler and have a selection of travel rods 3wt thru 8wt. So, get a guide, or try it on my own? Any tips on the area? Suggested guides? Any other areas to try? Thanks in advance.

I brought one home for blackened redfish last week. Made some Zatarain's dirty rice, green beans, and Hawaiian sweet rolls to go with it. Finished it off with some key lime pie. Doesn't get much more Florida than that. The new kayak allowing me to stand and pole easily it has really changed the game.

Headed back into the marsh after being blown out last weekend due to weather. Wasn't expecting the best as I was going to hit dead low tide and a full moon the night before. Went to my first deeper hole and was rewarded with a decent trout: Not much happening on the river side so I figured time to go hit the mud flats. Too shallow to run the motor, but still had plenty of water to float and pole. The water temp had greatly improved from my last trip and the flats were holding at 76 degrees. The wind picked up pretty good with a chop on the water so the lee shorelines were the place to go. Not long after working down my first shoreline I see a tail snaking left to right as a mid-slot redfish was belly down in the mud and back out of the water. Put the popper out with a few feet of lead and the fish immediately spooked. Guess it was going to be one of those days. Kept working down the shoreline and found 6 more crawlers. Largest went 29". This fish was again working left to right, gave it a bit more lead and did not spook but ghosted in slightly deeper water. Hard to believe a 29" fish can disappear in inches. Couldn't spot it in the chocolate milk colored water but figured it was heading to a mangrove point. Took the chance and blind casted the popper onto the point and sure enough the red was there. Great hit and strong fight. Released for another day. Ended up going 2 for 6 on the crawling reds. On the water by 0700 and pulled the kayak out at noon. Not a bad way to spend a morning. Craft fur tailed poppers are my go to for sight casting to these fish and produce some explosive strikes.

Craft Fur popper Hook: Mustad Octopus up-eye, #3/0 Thread: Uni-Thread, 6/0 Tail: Select craft fur Flash: Flashabou Body: Estaz Grande Head: Foam popper, medium Eyes: 3/8" 3D molded Finally found my first crawling redfish this weekend. The long craft fur tail gives excellent action in the water with a minimum of movement. Also sits low that makes it easier for the redfish with an underslung jaw to pick it off the top.

I was able to leader this fish, but never truly landed. Hooked 200 yards off the beach fishing the pogy pods. Two and a half hours later we ended the fight approximately 3 miles offshore breaking the fish off to avoid exhausting it. Flat calm west wind day. Even 3 miles out it was flat as glass and clean blue water. had schools of bonito busting, sea turtles, and a curious FWC boat trying to figure out how two kayakers ended up out there. Estimated at 120-140lbs., largest and hardest fighting tarpon I have ever hooked.

Crippled Minnner' (Shad) Hook: Mustad 3665A streamer hook Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0, grey Tail: Krystal Flash, olive Body: Pearl body braid, Fl. Yellow Belly: Closed cell foam, 2mm, white Wing: EP fiber, Ocean Grey Eye: Stick on prismatic, 1/4", yellow Markings: Sharpie marker, red and black I developed this pattern as a light weight sight casting baitfish imitation for cruising and backing redfish. Originally I tied it as a pinfish but found that casing around bull rushes and other bass structure worked very well. The sideways tied body give the fly a sideways, tail low attitude. Short twiches give a side to side wobble and a straight strip skips it across the surface. If you are participating in the foam fly swap you'll have one heading your way...

Good deal, glad to get the reply since I started tying them up last night, lol.

I'm in if you still have an open spot. Fly will be a baitfish pattern I call the "Crippled Minner'" in shad color.

There was an article I read from Saltwater Sportsman a long time ago that talked about use of eyes. There was a discussion of two eyes on one side, eyes in weird locations on the lure, damaged looking eyes...who knows, might be worth a try...

I like to use the gel type superglue for eyes. It doesn't flow into the hair, but does grip the hair very well. https://www.amazon.com/Loctite-1363589-6-Ultra-Control-Bottles/dp/B01EZTPXEO/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=loctite+gel+superglue&qid=1616496587&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzOEhHNE1JVTlTQzlYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTY2NzEzMkVBRlFISExDQkRRTyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTkxMTAzNEZUSVRIMDA2QkZIJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== Also, when setting the eye I like to use the backside of the bodkin to add pressure while the glue sets. Keeps your fingers out of the area.

The boat is a beast. Also, everything is stowed in watertight storage (minus the rods) so that if I end up getting rained on nothing gets wet. Most of the accessories stay loaded on the kayak when it is on the trailer so pretty much it is throw in the tackle bag, some rods, connect the battery, and go. The spotlock trolling motor function is incredible and allows for easy positioning. I am thinking about adding the GPS Heading sensor that allows for directional stability in spotlock and also a jog function that allows you to fine tune your spotlock position in 5 foot increments. All of my other kayaks are of a narrow beam and standing up is not practical, this thing is extremely stable making standing effortless. Really changes my capabilities with the fly rod as casing while sitting down at the water level can be challenging. I also added navigation and cockpit lights for night docklight fishing:

Micro beadhead bugger Hook: Mustad 3906B #18 Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0, Chartreuse Tail: Marabou, Chartreuse Body: Ice Dub, Chartreuse Hackle: Neck Hackle, Chartreuse Bead: 2.5mm tungsten, Flame Orange My resident bluegills have gone deep, this should do the trick in getting down to them.

Went out at low tide and was hoping to find some crawling reds, but they were mostly holding on the slightly deeper mud flats. Been windy this week so the water color was that of chocolate milk. Not much for sight fishing. But I was lucky enough to find a small school of reds to bounce around. Landed 5, largest at 25" and came home for a blackened redfish dinner. My new kayak (Old Town Autopilot 136) came in early last month and it has been a blast to fish from. Having the trolling motor and being easy to stand in for casting really changes the game.

I rarely use 2-part epoxy anymore, and have switched to UV resin. Same effect, easier to use. Rather than buying different colors I also bought a set of dye off of amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z3R37WY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 With the dye i'll add multiple colors to the resin but not fully mix to give a swirled look. It can give some depth to the fly when needed. I also add glitter on occasion. UV is addictive...

I'd look for something in the 8-10ft surf rod class. 12-20 would work well. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/100828800-offshore-angler-breakwater-surf-casting-rod-100828800

Glass Ant: Hook: Curved nymph hook, #18 Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0, black Abdomen: 3x 11/0 glass beads, black Head: 1x 11/0 glass bead, orange Legs: Hackle, black

Getting back to your rod choice, few questions: Shore, boat, mix? Prefer lighter tackle (20lb class) or heavy (30lb class)? Will depend on what line weight your going to go with. Moving water or lake? What weight sinkers are you planning on?

I always picked up older Penn's that just required a little TLC. Have a collection of 85's, 4/0H, 6/0H, 9/0, squidders, Long Beach 60's, and older SS spinning reels. Sadly Penn was never the same after they sold off to overseas.