Lunch Break

Got approved to work from home several days a week. So now I guess I can go down to the neighborhood pond and get some fishing in during lunch. Fishing was decent today, at least the wind wasn't blowing 20+.....ended up with several nice gills and some small bass.

3 weights and 30 mph winds

Fish Denison Dam yesterday with Justin. The fishing was slow, Justin caught a catfish and a buffalo. I ended up with a couple sand bass and a fat striper.

Fished my parents pond today. The fishing is still a little slow and the 30 mph winds didn't help especially with a 3 weight. Ended the day with several nice bass and some solid gills. 

Ultimate Mods

Since the boat is still in the shop......I decided to raise the seat in my Native Ultimate 14.5.

All you need is :
2 feet of 4" PVC pipe
3 feet of 2x4
screws
pool noodle (optional)

Ended up raising the seat 5" which makes the already comfortable yak even more. Having a higher center of gravity will probably effect the stability in a negative way, but the Ultimate is already very stable and I don't think it will bother me any.

Before Shot

Cut PVC to 12" to lay in hull

Run two 2x4 for support and screw into PVC
Attach seat to 2x4 with screws

Add pool noodles inside PVC

(optional, I did it for added flotation)

Finished Mod 

(Raised the seat 5")

We will see how it handles/fishes this weekend.

Stick'em

Hit some local ponds again today since the boat is still in the shop. Sight fishing was kind of tough with the cloud cover and high winds. The EP bluegill will stick'em!!

Bucks on the Beds

Fished yesterday at DD and got one small striper. I think the water is still to cold for the fish to get active but it should be good to go in a 3-4 weeks.

Then this morning decided I would take the boat to Hubbard and fish the mouth of Rowlett  Creek. Got just outside of the buoy and was still idling when I hit a stump. No big deal I've done that plenty........Not this time.....the engine is knocking pretty good. Dropped it off at the shop on the way home..... hopefully I will have it back within 2 weeks.

So I went and hit some ponds in the neighborhood. Lots of these.

Lots of bucks up on the beds, saw a few females accompanying them.

One of my favorite flies for bedded bass is the EP bluegill. I like it because it is light weight and enters the water softly so you don't have to worry about spooking the fish. Even with it being light it still has a decent sink rate. The orange makes it very visible. The bass get pissed off at it more than any fly I have tried.  I do suggest keeping it in the water between fish because the fibers dry out quickly and the fly will float for a few seconds if it is not wet.

 

slow day

Fishing was slow today. Boated a nice 8 lb fish right off the bat, then broke off a nice fish due to a faulty knot on my part................towards the end of the day got a little 2-3 lb fish. Not many pics from today.

Gonna go hit a pond later this afternoon for bass and crappie........

True Loops

Having used several store bought mono loops, and I cant say I have ever had one fail. I have come up with a different concept that I call true loops.  I call them true loops because unlike most store bough braided loops that rely on the catching mechanism of the braided mono to hold the tag end, true loops have both ends secured.

I like to use 50lb gudebrod and a regular sewing needle to do the splicing.

I then use a pen to control the loop size.

You can cut about 1/4" below the tag end. I like the total length to be around 6-8".

You then inch worm the braided mono onto the flyline. It will be alittle harder since you doubled up the braided mono so it will take a few minutes longer.

I like to use 80lb Power Pro (braided spectra fishing line) to secure 2 or 3 nail knots. Cut the tag ends, add some knot glue like Loons Knot Sense and your finished product.

I like the true loops becasue:
1 Both ends are secured.
2 The loop is right up next to the flyline so you have better energy tranfer to your leader
3 they are very strong, I have lifted 40lbs with no slipping or breaking.