I float tubed a pond in late evening to beat the recent excessive heat using a 7-wt. and a size-2 chartreuse/red Hula Diver. Casts to shaded pockets in the weedline induced explosive strikes and bull-dogging fights accompanied by head-shaking leaps. Continue reading →

There is a beautiful stretch of pocket water on my favorite smallmouth stream. On the hike to my fishing spot, I encountered a dead tree branch hanging over the water that was covered with trapped mayflies. Rock-turning in the shallows Continue reading →

A smallmouth bass swirled in the rock-infested shallows forcing tiny minnows to spray into the air to escape. The first strip of my size-10 silver/white Mini Minnie was viciously attacked and a head-shaking leap preceded a current-aided tug-of-war. Finally Continue reading →

Bluegills, with only two exceptions, always approach their prospective meal from behind and hesitate. That hesitation enables evaluation through smell and sight. If it passes inspection it’s sucked into its mouth. The two exceptions are during the spawning process Continue reading →

Spawned-out female bluegills and still brightly-colored post-spawn males were located patrolling the deep edge of the weedline this weekend. Olive Bully Spiders fished on a slow sinking intermediate line with a 9-foot leader and 4X tippet brought many to Continue reading →

Terry’s 7-weight rod, a 7 1/2-foot leader with 3X tippet and a box of our Diving Frogs went out for the evening to a favored pond this week. The fly’s double weed guard enabled casts into the heaviest cover. When Continue reading →

Terry’s midday wading trip under bright blue skies on a favorite stream produced 7 smallmouth bass and numerous green sunfish. Most smallies were 8 to 9 inches but one of 13 inches jumped 6 times. All the fights were enhanced Continue reading →

Aha! Spring! A beautiful 70-degree late afternoon with only a light breeze led to selecting a favorite 3-wt. Yellow Bully Spiders in size 12 accounted for several 8-inch bluegills before surface dimples invited a switch to size-10 yellow sponge Continue reading →