Venture On The Pond

Even though I have been a long time float tuber, fishing everything from the round donuts to the high tech float tubes of today, I find myself spending more time just stalking the shores of my local ponds on foot.  I am, actually, enjoying it every time I get the opportunity.  Looking for hiding spots, structures, weeds, feeding lanes, and other fishy looking places for good fish to hangout.  In other words, even though I own a high tech modern day float tube, it spends its days in the shade of the garage. 

While scrolling around on the internet the other day, I came across an interesting new concept for accessing the ponds, or lakes for that matter.  Thought I would share with you this new mode of on the water transportation.

This is the Venture Outdoors VOModular 5G Pontoon Boat.  Let me say right off the bat, I have never seen this boat in person or talked with anyone from Venture Outdoors about having one.  Just something I saw on the internet that was different and I felt needed a shout out to those of you who fish ponds and lakes by accessing the water instead of fishing from shoreline.
From their website I have borrowed the following information on this Modular Pontoon.
" 5.0' modular rigid kick boat, standard rowing kit with 5' T6061 aluminum oars, 5' long x 12" wide pontoons with internal storage access via 8" round sealing hatch with improved seal design. An innovative design that assembles in one minute. (USA) weighs approximately 50 pounds including oars, oar locks and 4-point fly apron with raised edges and convenient printed ruler. Carries up to 225 pounds + 50 pounds cargo weight. Disassembled unit transports easily in the smallest of cars, the seat bottom and seat back surfaces are comfortable with ergonomic lumbar support. The rigid pontoons do not require an inflation pump and are virtually puncture proof.
Designed for flat water applications.
Dimensions: 60"L x 43"W x 22"H fully assembled.

Available at: Cabela's, Wayfair, Sportsman's Guide, Direct Boats, Oregon Fishing and LLBean.

 Here is a quick video showing how easy this Modular Pontoon Boat is to put together or disassemble.

Again, sight unseen, this just looks like a quick and great process for getting on the water.  If you are so inclined, check out their website or give them a shout of some sort.

In the mean time, I will be stalking the ponds close to home on foot...................................

Confidence On The "Fly"

STAYNER DUCKTAIL

Many of those of us who tie flies seem to be always tinkering at the vise.  Working on coming up with that "Hot" new pattern that all the fish will just go nuts on this year out on the water.  Be honest now, if you have tied much or for sometime anyway, invariably, this has run through your mind.  Or, perhaps you just want to modify a certain established pattern a little bit.  That will make it a new fly right and all your fly fishing friends will credit you with be the creator of a great new pattern.  Especially, if it catches fish, and, you give them a handful to try!  Well, ya' know, you know the story from here.  There truly is probably not a snowball's chance in Hell that somebody, somewhere hasn't already thought of that or tied that pattern up during a session at the ol' vise.

How many fly patterns does an angler need to carry with him or her for a day of fishing? Well, that is a topic for another post sometime, somewhere else.  The point I would like to make here is that it really is a matter of confidence when you tie and fish a fly that works for you.  Both, at the vise, and, on the water, if you have confidence in that fly you will concentrate more when tying them and fishing them.  Why? Because you know they work and you have been rewarded with many a memory of a day{s} on the water when you caught fish after fish on that fly.  Call it what ever you want, but you know, that "Fly" is going to produce more times than not.  You have confidence on the water and confidence on that "Fly" It has become one of your favorite flies that you know you can always lean on when the weather, or the fish, or both are playing hardball with you!  Now, that is a lot said in order for me to introduce you to one of those "Flies" for me.

The Stayner Ducktail was made popular by Ruel Stayner of Twin Falls, Idaho, back many years ago.  Ruel, designed this fly to imitate Perch in the local stillwaters in Idaho.  Little did he know at the time what he really had on his hands with the creation of this pattern.  This pattern went on to become extremely popular in the stillwater fly fishing circles.  I was a member of the "Float Tube Navy" out of Boise, Idaho area.  The Float Tube Navy spent their time learning the concepts of stillwater fly fishing from a float tube and fishing many of the great lakes of the Rocky Mountains. The Stayner Ducktail became the go to fly for many of us back in the day.  It was fished with a sinking line of some sort and fished very well for Trout, Bluegill, Crappie, Bass etc. etc.  It became legendary! Now, I will add to this, that it not only became a legendary, local pattern, but a pattern whose success goes far beyond that.  The Stayner Ducktail has been fished on the rivers in Russia, on the big ponds of New Zealand and Australia, and, for the the giant Rainbows that reside in the lakes of Argentina.  Sadly, not by me, but I have seen many photos of big fish from these waters from friends who made trips to these magnificent waters.  Please bare with me as I recall a story once told to me by my fly fishing mentor, the late Ken Magee of Boise, Idaho.  Ken and several friends from the Boise area had made the trip to Russia and paid for guides to fish some of the great rivers.  He said that they had a really difficult time understanding what the Russian guides were saying, and, particularly what patterns they should use.  None of them had any of what they needed!  So, the group decided they will just fish with Stayner Ducktails.  A Rainbow Trout is a Rainbow Trout, right?  Long story short, Ken and the group had a terrific trip fishing Stayner Ducktails for big, Russian trout!  

There are more stories I could tell, but, let's refocus on the tying of the Stayner Ducktail.  Now, I might be able to tie Stayner Ducktails with anybody, but, I don't shoot video.  Being the subject just gets me all discombogulated!  So, I have done a You Tube search and found a very good fly tying video for you to watch and learn how tie the Stayner Ducktail.  Hope you enjoy watching and tying this great pattern.  Beware warm water fly fishers of the guy fishing the Stayner Ducktail!

2014 Bluegill Blitz Wrap-Up. The Winner Is............................................

Ok, I have been focusing on the fun of the 2014 Bluegill Blitz and haven't posted for a week or so. 
Now that the Blitz has come and gone,  yesterday was show and tell day on this years Blitz, thought I should post a re-cap for all my readers and followers who were interested.

As I understand it, there were over (30) participants from across the United States, who spent a couple of weeks of the month of May plying their local waters for a Bluegill with a fly rod.  Simply, the largest fish, length wise would be declared "Master Bluegill Fly Angler" for 2014.  All for fun and giggles mostly, but hey, it was the first year of the Blitz.  So, perhaps, bigger and better things to come.

Anyway, Brandon Bailes, has been announced as this years winner of the 2014 Bluegill Blitz.  Just want to say congratulations to Brandon for his Bluegill.  Here is a picture of Brandon catching something other than a Bluegill.

Now, to show everyone that Brandon is a versatile angler, here is winning photo of his fine Bluegill.

I am a brave soul so I won't keep you wandering any longer about the fish I entered.

Trust me, their is a Bluegill somewhere in that picture.  I dropped it in the grass and was so small anyway that it could not be seen with the camera.  Woe is me.............................................................

I think my buddy, Greg McBill, caught it a bit later on.  The benefits of Catch and Release!

Oh, and for those that read my blog regularly and know of Bill Trussell's effort to catch some big Bluegill on his annual quest, well, Bill was a participant in the Blitz and did well for himself.

Here are Bill's fish entry's for the 2014 Bluegill Blitz.

Darn it, Bill, that won't work in a Bluegill Blitz.  That thing eats Bluegills, anyway!

Ok, Bill, can catch a Bluegill and does on a regular basis.  Wish he would share but I would have to travel to Alabama to catch Bluegill like this one.  Great Bluegill, Bill, although it wasn't the longest, it was one I will surely remember.

That is almost (10") of a brute Bluegill.  So, Bill knows Bluegill.........................................

I am already looking forward to the 2015 Bluegill Blitz.  Have fun Bluegill anglers.

The 2014 Bluegill Blitz!

One of the really good things that I can say about my time over on Facebook is that I have met and communicated online with a number of really good people.  These folks have shared a love for a number of things we have in common.  For example, Warm Water Fly Fishing Group that I joined has a great group of guys and gals who share their love for warm water fly fishing.  Lots of pictures of successful fishing trips and a flow of good ideas to keep one interested in warm water fly fishing. 

One of the great things the Warm Water Fly Fishing Group has spawned is the 2014 Bluegill Blitz.
Fellow Colorado warm water fly fisherman,  John Doddridge, has came up with a great idea for some online fun combined with fly fishing for the ever popular, Bluegill!  After you have clicked on the links and read about the 2014 Bluegill Blitz then take a minute and consider if you would like to  participate.  Fly Fishing, Fun, Bluegills, Pictures, Good Times, Meet New Online Friends, what do you have to lose.  Hope you check it out!

Ok, there are a few rules.  Yea, rules, but even those are simple and fun.
Official Rules:
1) Bluegills and Sunfish of all types are allowed. Not allowed are LM Bass, SM Bass, Carp, Drum, Catfish, Warmouth, Crappie. You get the point. Cheaters will be MOCKED!
2) You may submit ONE picture of your LONGEST fish. In the picture you must clearly show the length, and your ID number. 
3) All anglers must be signed up by 5pm on April 30th. ID numbers will be issued between 6pm and midnight on April 30th through a PM sent to each anglers competing.
4) Pictures may be submitted on the Warm Water Fly Fishing page anytime on Sunday May 18th.
5) All fish must be caught using a Fly Rod, Fly Reel, and Fly.
This is for The Warm Water Fly Fishing page Bragging Rights Only.

That's it. Send me John Doddridge a personal message if you want in and I will add you to the list. You must be on the list by 5pm April 30th. Otherwise contact me at johndoddridge81@gmail.com

Bluegill fishing time is here!