Any fly fisherman out there?

[Ghdorn]

Trying to make up for 30 years of no fishing and focusing on fly fishing - Florida and the Rockies and a few weeks in Australia and New Zealand. Usually in conjunction with visiting kids in the West. Yellowstone kind this summer then to the pacific. . Being retired is a good thing!

 

[Justa5th]

I have fly fished off and on for 20+ years (as well as regular fishing). Like most things in my life I didn't dive all in with it but do enjoy it. My wife and I just fished the San Juan in new Mexico recently. I have fished mostly out west. I have done Yellowstone and the Tetons as well as lakes in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Utah. I agree retirement is a great thing! Enjoy and good luck catching the big one.

 

[Randall lee]

Another wannabe fly fisherman from the Fl panhandle. I’ve got a couple of r&r’s that I’ve had for 25 years, one a BassPro thinking Gold Cup 8wt. 4 pics, the other is a Remington 8/9wt, 2 pics. The 2 pics in a hard tube is pain to store but a much better casting rod.
I tried it out is saltwater for redfish, speckled trout but would put it down for a spinning rod because I knew the catching was going to increase greatly.
Broke them out a few months back and started casting off of some public docks to get the feel for it again. After a trip out west last June into S. D. And Wy. A lot of the RV parks had small ponds where you could cast a line.
Might start looking at a new travel rod a little lighter than what I have. Any good suggestions for something that would be easy to travel with but not break the bank?

 

[Ghdorn]

Another wannabe fly fisherman from the Fl panhandle. I’ve got a couple of r&r’s that I’ve had for 25 years, one a BassPro thinking Gold Cup 8wt. 4 pics, the other is a Remington 8/9wt, 2 pics. The 2 pics in a hard tube is pain to store but a much better casting rod.
I tried it out is saltwater for redfish, speckled trout but would put it down for a spinning rod because I knew the catching was going to increase greatly.
Broke them out a few months back and started casting off of some public docks to get the feel for it again. After a trip out west last June into S. D. And Wy. A lot of the RV parks had small ponds where you could cast a line.
Might start looking at a new travel rod a little lighter than what I have. Any good suggestions for something that would be easy to travel with but not break the bank?

We are in Tallahassee and I would recommend maxcatch 4 piece rods. Under or around 100. I have their 3 weight and am very happy. Only catch is you can't try them out before buying. Their midrANGE REELS are fine. cheaper ones not so much. I'm just not into buying 600+ dollar rods and super expensive reels. Go directly to their website. They are good to deal with. I think their 5 weight would be darn hard to beat . the three is in my suitcase as we speak. Coming back from Colorado Tuesday.

 

[Rivercityjeff]

Trying to make up for 30 years of no fishing and focusing on fly fishing - Florida and the Rockies and a few weeks in Australia and New Zealand. Usually in conjunction with visiting kids in the West. Yellowstone kind this summer then to the pacific.View attachment 24150. Being retired is a good thing!

Being retired is awesome!

My wife and I fly fish the San Juan with guide Andy Kim (not the singer).

Silly me, I was pleased catching 20-24" rainbows and browns all day long. And then, and then she catches this monster trout on a 3wt rod!

 

[Ghdorn]

Nice fish to say the least. In New Mexico below the dam or above? Guided below about ten years ago on size 22 flies. Even then I couldn’t find the eye and now would be even worse. Were you wading or floating. You look wading, well your wife does anywAy. Impressive fish. Well done. My 3 weight has not seen such a monster but has been some beautiful places. Used to fish one of the forks of the San Gabriel up by round rock years ago when there was no development. The little sun fish would really hit poppers. Still have friends in RR - the Quick’s to be specific and brother in Austin.

 

[Rivercityjeff]

Nice fish to say the least. In New Mexico below the dam or above? Guided below about ten years ago on size 22 flies. Even then I couldn’t find the eye and now would be even worse. Were you wading or floating. You look wading, well your wife does anywAy. Impressive fish. Well done. My 3 weight has not seen such a monster but has been some beautiful places. Used to fish one of the forks of the San Gabriel up by round rock years ago when there was no development. The little sun fish would really hit poppers. Still have friends in RR - the Quick’s to be specific and brother in Austin.

We were wading below the Lower Flats with size 22 nymphs custom tied by the guide. They were small but effective. Having float fished the San Juan before, we had much more action wading!

Round Rock has lost it's small town charm. Crime, traffic, and taxes have grown exponentially. We are here 9 months of the year only because of family and church.

 

[JKellerJr]

Haven't done any fly fishing but its on the list someday. We hit Canada usually once a year for walleye/bass/pike. Never carried the gear around since pole storage can be a pain so didn't get much fishing in while traveling so I finally had to come up with some decent pole storage in the 5th wheel.

Came up with this for the garage area, Hopefully we can get more fishing in now!



The other end is above an outside tv:

 

[Overtaxed]

If you wind up in Yellowstone, do a float trip on one of the rivers. I've never had fly fishing like that before, it was like fishing in a hatchery. And the fish were big, and they were energetic. Great time. But the water we were fishing was too big to wade and a lot of the success was because we could drift with our flies (looking very natural). It was an experience!

 

[Rivercityjeff]

Randall,

We purchased 2 of these 4 piece rods after Mary caught a monster trout with the guide's. Go to the Reel Fly Rod website and a $25 off $150 coupon will popup. https://www.reelflyrod.com/tfo-pro-ii-3wt-86-fly-rod-tf-03-86-4-p2.html.

The guide claimed the TFO 3 weight was more sensitive than our 5 wt rods but, he still used 5wt line and reels. It certainly has enough backbone for big trout! Andy Kim has guided on the San Juan for 20+ years.

 

[Ghdorn]

I have a nearly identical set up from max catch. a 4 piece three weight and really like it
Ought an extra tip just in case I break it and won’t be home for another couple of months. Have it with me going to a birthday party in Dallas (100 year one) then to Houston for a couple of dAys and might get to use it there for a bit. Buffalo bayou maybe...hard to get away sometime but fingers are crossed. MaxcAtch makes rods for a number of other companies too. Enjoy

 

[Beachcamper]

I have been fishing all my life in Florida mostly inshore and now that I retired have had more time to learn how to fly fish and also to fly tie. Since I am fulltiime in my 303 have only one 5 wt for freshwater and an 8 wt for my saltwater inshore fishing. My winter landing pad is a short kayak paddle from Everglades National Park plenty of snook, reds and sea trout to practice on and see if any of my flies work. Heading to Montana this summer to fish with my neighbor, I am so lucky to have so many incredible fly fishermen to learn from here.

Vivian

 

[leonmckee]

If you’re ever in the NW try big hardware with big rods in the big rivers. Most challenging freshwater fishing I’ve ever done!

Leon McKee

 

[Ghdorn]

going to be in washington and oregon this summer and am going to have to tie some big stuff. Have an 8 weight and that will be the extent of my big rod. Will be with other nonfishers so will be a challenge to make it work for everyone. Gone three or four months so something shouldl be manageable. Looking forward to it for sure. Some salt and fresh is on the list for sure.

 

[Malhouse]

Interesting threads this week. One on fly fishing and one on bears. As a Ranger in Grand Teton I have some experience with both. Fishing here. The Snake river and Gros Ventre are great trout rivers. There’s a bridge across the Snake near Flagg Ranch with close parking and easy access. Also anything below the Jackson Lake dam can be excellent. In addition there is great access in the National forests as well. Wyoming state license required everywhere except Yellowstone, which requires its own special license. The snake just below the south entrance to Yellowstone can be fished before it enters Flagg canyon and becomes dangerous. Most folks fish a #5 rig with some 3s and 4s in smaller streams. I use a 6 weight myself, 9 footer and it can be helpful in the wind and with bigger fish. Many Park Rangers in Grand Teton are excellent fishermen and women. Much better than I. Stop by any visitors center or ranger station and ask. You may learn a lot. Parachute Adams in 12 and 14 is a standard. Lots of assorted nymphs will work. As far as streamers, circus peanut in medium sizes. That’s all for now. Good luck.

 

[Malhouse]

Oh yes, always ALWAYS, keep an eye out for bears. Keep your bear spray accessible.

 

[Ghdorn]

which bear spray do you recommend? Will be in Yellowstone and Grand teton for about three weeks this summer and then drifting west toward the pacific. Was with some folks doing some ice patch archaeology a couple years ago and they were big believers in bear spray. So, what's your go to bear spray? Thanks in advance..

 

[Malhouse]

Counter Assault $49.00 and UDAP $45.00 are the two brands I've carried. Both have been proven effective on the big bears. There are other brands. Walmart sells something that's 7 or 8 bucks less, but I've never seen a park employee carry it. Yes, bear spray is the most effective thing in most cases. Most effective is letting the bears know you're there. Make noise, sing, call out, talk to your group. If you can stay with 2 or 3 others that helps immensely. Bears are strong and tough but not stupid. They can count (sort of) and they know 4 people outnumber 1 bear.
Also, any ranger will demo the proper deployment of bear spray for you and do a bear safety orientation. The bear has to be pretty darn close to you for the spray to work. It can be a tense few moments.

 

[Malhouse]

Not giving too much away here, but the Buffalo Fork of the Snake is good, The Yellowstone River below LeHardy Rapids also.
BWO #12 and a number of black foam beetles are effective depending on the time of year. It's almost impossible to go wrong in the Teton-Yellowstone ecosystem.

 

[Ghdorn]

just bought 4 udap sprays. two sons my self and one for our trailer Thanks, I figured experienced people would have good advice!