BIL Fishing Thread

[Radiation]

Yo I just started fishing for the first time this weekend I haven't caught anything but I will not GIVE UP

[snail]

Oct 12, 2020 15:23:07 GMT -5 Radiation said:

Yo I just started fishing for the first time this weekend I haven't caught anything but I will not GIVE UP

Get used to it my friend hahaha. Where you fishing and what for?

[Radiation]

Oct 12, 2020 15:36:33 GMT -5 snail said:

Oct 12, 2020 15:23:07 GMT -5 Radiation said:

Yo I just started fishing for the first time this weekend I haven't caught anything but I will not GIVE UP

Get used to it my friend hahaha. Where you fishing and what for?

Freshwater fishing in north Florida for bass so far. I don't have a lot of gear at all yet. Bout to head out to a spot, no boat so we just cast from the shore : )

[hormel chavez]

Oct 12, 2020 16:14:38 GMT -5 Radiation said:

Oct 12, 2020 15:36:33 GMT -5 snail said:

Get used to it my friend hahaha. Where you fishing and what for?

Freshwater fishing in north Florida for bass so far. I don't have a lot of gear at all yet. Bout to head out to a spot, no boat so we just cast from the shore : )

senkos and jigs

[Radiation]

Was out there for very little time, still a failure but I got some exciting bites

[donkeydoesthedane]

Schoolie striper fishing has been really good for me here on the potomac the last couple of evenings. Miserable weather is always the best.

[snail]

Trying to revive this thread a little bit...

wen't into the backcountry of the Everglades on Saturday with my buddy to try and find some big Tarpon and scored with a solid 80lber to hand and jumping two more over 100. This time of year the fish are getting ready for their annual migration around the coast of Florida and will stage up in rivers and bays to feed and get ready to make the push. Conditions weren’t great (blowing nearly 20 knots all day) so we didn’t see as many as we thought we would.

Our plan was to sight fish them on fly but no way we could with the wind so we tossed swimbaits all day and after 5 hours of no bites, we got three hook ups back to back to back with the second bite being the landed fish. Another small front is moving in this weekend which will drop the water temp too low and they’ll move out in the Gulf of Mexico but as soon as it warms up they’ll move back inside. Pretty much the only fishing I’ll be doing until mid March when they start migrating around the keys. Not many bites cooler than a tarpon exploding on a fly or lure.

[gold soundz]

Tarpon fishing sounds like so much fun. I recently read the longest silence and the author had awesome stories about tarpon and permit in the keys.

[snail]

Feb 15, 2021 17:53:50 GMT -5 gold soundz said:

Tarpon fishing sounds like so much fun. I recently read the longest silence and the author had awesome stories about tarpon and permit in the keys.

That’s awesome! If you liked that, you should definitely read 92 in the shade. Thomas Mcguane was a huge part of the fishing culture in Key West in the early 70’s. Him, Jim Harrison, Guy Valdene and Richard Brautigan were all part of the same group and had some amazing stories about how the town (and the fishing) was back in that time. It’s kinda hard to find, but if you can get your hands on a copy of the movie Tarpon they all did I highly suggest watching it. Some of the most amazing footage of Tarpon jumping ever recorded. Plus some really cool interviews with real tarpon guides from down there. I would also suggest reading Lords Of The Fly by Monte Burke. A great history of record Tarpon fishing on fly that includes some very interesting people, both past and present.

To me, fishing for Tarpon is the coolest thing in the world and I can talk about it forever. Just last year I started really pushing myself to target them on fly and it’s opened a whole new passion for me. Any body who has a real interest in fishing needs to give it a shot at least once to really grasp how extraordinary it is. Brautigan described it as “immediate unreality” when you hook a tarpon and I would certainly agree with that.

[Pat]

I've only done the wade fishing for juvenile tarpon around the mangroves, and even the small one really are a blast. And it's super cool to be wading a sandflat at daybreak.

But somehow, it's missing something that makes me understand that I'm more of a UP Harrison than a Key West one.

[Tstigz]

I’m jonesing for some ice fishing. Haven’t been in years. Nothing staves off the February winter blues like drinking tall boys of PBR in the garage while you toss some bluegill in the fry daddy.

[hormel chavez]

yeah I wanna get out on my lake and do some ice fishing soon

[donkeydoesthedane]

Feb 15, 2021 17:53:50 GMT -5 gold soundz said:

Tarpon fishing sounds like so much fun. I recently read the longest silence and the author had awesome stories about tarpon and permit in the keys.

The longest silence is a good read.  Another great book if you are interested in the history of tarpon fishing in the keys and homossasa is lords of the fly. 

Andy Milil's Book "A passion for Tarpon" is a bible, as is his podcast if you are at all interested in the history of it.

[Tstigz]

Feb 15, 2021 21:41:39 GMT -5 hormel chavez said:

yeah I wanna get out on my lake and do some ice fishing soon

You got your own lake??

[donkeydoesthedane]

Feb 15, 2021 21:23:29 GMT -5 snail said:

Feb 15, 2021 17:53:50 GMT -5 gold soundz said:

Tarpon fishing sounds like so much fun. I recently read the longest silence and the author had awesome stories about tarpon and permit in the keys.

That’s awesome! If you liked that, you should definitely read 92 in the shade. Thomas Mcguane was a huge part of the fishing culture in Key West in the early 70’s. Him, Jim Harrison, Guy Valdene and Richard Brautigan were all part of the same group and had some amazing stories about how the town (and the fishing) was back in that time. It’s kinda hard to find, but if you can get your hands on a copy of the movie Tarpon they all did I highly suggest watching it. Some of the most amazing footage of Tarpon jumping ever recorded. Plus some really cool interviews with real tarpon guides from down there. I would also suggest reading Lords Of The Fly by Monte Burke. A great history of record Tarpon fishing on fly that includes some very interesting people, both past and present.

To me, fishing for Tarpon is the coolest thing in the world and I can talk about it forever. Just last year I started really pushing myself to target them on fly and it’s opened a whole new passion for me. Any body who has a real interest in fishing needs to give it a shot at least once to really grasp how extraordinary it is. Brautigan described it as “immediate unreality” when you hook a tarpon and I would certainly agree with that.

Just saw this after my last post.  i watched the movie 92 in the shade and wasn't super into it.  is the book a lot better?

I am obsessed with tarpon.  Have 8 days booked between the keys and homossasa the last week in may and first few days of june.  don't expect much in homossassa but just want to experience it.

[hormel chavez]

Feb 15, 2021 21:59:14 GMT -5 Tstigz said:

Feb 15, 2021 21:41:39 GMT -5 hormel chavez said:

yeah I wanna get out on my lake and do some ice fishing soon

You got your own lake??

i mean it's not my own personal lake but I live in a lake community

[Pat]

How many broats are we talking?

[Tstigz]

Feb 15, 2021 22:01:47 GMT -5 hormel chavez said:

Feb 15, 2021 21:59:14 GMT -5 Tstigz said:

You got your own lake??

i mean it's not my own personal lake but I live in a lake community

I was imagining you owning your own personal like 40 acre lake. We can both close our eyes and imagine that for you.

[hormel chavez]

Feb 15, 2021 22:04:16 GMT -5 Pat said:

How many broats are we talking?

broat?

[meatballmaniac]

wen't out a few times for steelhead in January. No luck, but I was fishing a part of the river where I knew the fish would be few and far between. But I’d rather get skunked than fish around people.

[hormel chavez]

Feb 15, 2021 22:06:13 GMT -5 Tstigz said:

Feb 15, 2021 22:01:47 GMT -5 hormel chavez said:

i mean it's not my own personal lake but I live in a lake community

I was imagining you owning your own personal like 40 acre lake. We can both close our eyes and imagine that for you.

not even sure how big it is officially can't find shit online

SPOILER: Click to show

[snail]

Feb 15, 2021 22:01:46 GMT -5 donkeydoesthedane said:

Feb 15, 2021 21:23:29 GMT -5 snail said:

That’s awesome! If you liked that, you should definitely read 92 in the shade. Thomas Mcguane was a huge part of the fishing culture in Key West in the early 70’s. Him, Jim Harrison, Guy Valdene and Richard Brautigan were all part of the same group and had some amazing stories about how the town (and the fishing) was back in that time. It’s kinda hard to find, but if you can get your hands on a copy of the movie Tarpon they all did I highly suggest watching it. Some of the most amazing footage of Tarpon jumping ever recorded. Plus some really cool interviews with real tarpon guides from down there. I would also suggest reading Lords Of The Fly by Monte Burke. A great history of record Tarpon fishing on fly that includes some very interesting people, both past and present.

To me, fishing for Tarpon is the coolest thing in the world and I can talk about it forever. Just last year I started really pushing myself to target them on fly and it’s opened a whole new passion for me. Any body who has a real interest in fishing needs to give it a shot at least once to really grasp how extraordinary it is. Brautigan described it as “immediate unreality” when you hook a tarpon and I would certainly agree with that.

Just saw this after my last post.  i watched the movie 92 in the shade and wasn't super into it.  is the book a lot better?

I am obsessed with tarpon.  Have 8 days booked between the keys and homossasa the last week in may and first few days of june.  don't expect much in homossassa but just want to experience it.

Yeah the movie blows, the book is much better. Since you mentioned him, my buddy and I happen to run into Andy Mill going down the canal at the ramp on Saturday. His good mojo definitely rubbed off on us cause his son told me they couldn’t land one lol. Have you listened to his podcast? Its fucking awesome.

I wish I could’ve seen the homasassa stuff back in the day, but they say there’s still 200 pound fish that move through there. Maybe one day I’ll go check it out just to experience it too. Just curious but who’re you fishing with in the keys? I booked Jared Raskob for April 8th and can’t wait.

[donkeydoesthedane]

Feb 15, 2021 22:37:40 GMT -5 snail said:

Feb 15, 2021 22:01:46 GMT -5 donkeydoesthedane said:

Just saw this after my last post.  i watched the movie 92 in the shade and wasn't super into it.  is the book a lot better?

I am obsessed with tarpon.  Have 8 days booked between the keys and homossasa the last week in may and first few days of june.  don't expect much in homossassa but just want to experience it.

Yeah the movie blows, the book is much better. Since you mentioned him, my buddy and I happen to run into Andy Mill going down the canal at the ramp on Saturday. His good mojo definitely rubbed off on us cause his son told me they couldn’t land one lol. Have you listened to his podcast? Its fucking awesome.

I wish I could’ve seen the homasassa stuff back in the day, but they say there’s still 200 pound fish that move through there. Maybe one day I’ll go check it out just to experience it too. Just curious but who’re you fishing with in the keys? I booked Jared Raskob for April 8th and can’t wait.

Yep, i have listened to every episode.  As far as i am concerned it is the best fly fishing podcast out there by far.  

I am fishing with a guy named Randy Stallings out of islamorada.  I have never fished with him but my longtime guide who retired last year recommended him so hopefully he is good.   I am fishing in the keys first so hopefully i can get a fish or two and then just relax for the homossassa days and hope for the best.  

Raskob is supposed to be one of the best, you should have a great time.  

[snail]

Feb 15, 2021 23:24:38 GMT -5 donkeydoesthedane said:

Feb 15, 2021 22:37:40 GMT -5 snail said:

Yeah the movie blows, the book is much better. Since you mentioned him, my buddy and I happen to run into Andy Mill going down the canal at the ramp on Saturday. His good mojo definitely rubbed off on us cause his son told me they couldn’t land one lol. Have you listened to his podcast? Its fucking awesome.

I wish I could’ve seen the homasassa stuff back in the day, but they say there’s still 200 pound fish that move through there. Maybe one day I’ll go check it out just to experience it too. Just curious but who’re you fishing with in the keys? I booked Jared Raskob for April 8th and can’t wait.

Yep, i have listened to every episode.  As far as i am concerned it is the best fly fishing podcast out there by far.  

I am fishing with a guy named Randy Stallings out of islamorada.  I have never fished with him but my longtime guide who retired last year recommended him so hopefully he is good.   I am fishing in the keys first so hopefully i can get a fish or two and then just relax for the homossassa days and hope for the best.  

Raskob is supposed to be one of the best, you should have a great time.  

Right on...Randy is legit. He’ll definitely put you on the fish. I fished with Jared last July and got my first slam with the bonefish and tarpon on fly and my biggest permit ever. And he’s a great dude to fish with which makes it a little less anxiety inducing lol.

The Mill House is going to have Tim Borski and Rob Fordyce on soon which I’m super stoked for. And the one with Neil Beidleman was insane...definitely my favorite of the non fishing episodes.

[donkeydoesthedane]

Feb 15, 2021 23:47:30 GMT -5 snail said:

Feb 15, 2021 23:24:38 GMT -5 donkeydoesthedane said:

Yep, i have listened to every episode.  As far as i am concerned it is the best fly fishing podcast out there by far.  

I am fishing with a guy named Randy Stallings out of islamorada.  I have never fished with him but my longtime guide who retired last year recommended him so hopefully he is good.   I am fishing in the keys first so hopefully i can get a fish or two and then just relax for the homossassa days and hope for the best.  

Raskob is supposed to be one of the best, you should have a great time.  

Right on...Randy is legit. He’ll definitely put you on the fish. I fished with Jared last July and got my first slam with the bonefish and tarpon on fly and my biggest permit ever. And he’s a great muchacho to fish with which makes it a little less anxiety inducing lol.

The Mill House is going to have Tim Borski and Rob Fordyce on soon which I’m super stoked for. And the one with Neil Beidleman was insane...definitely my favorite of the non fishing episodes.

Thats awesome.  Next year I want to come down to the keys and focus on permit.  I have caught them in belize and mexico but have yet to catch one in the keys.  Haven't really tried as my keys permit fishing has consisted of throwing a tarpon fly at the random permit we might see while tarpon fishing.  Seems like some of the lower keys guys have it dialed in fairly well.  

[snail]

Just bought a new (to me) Tibor Gulfstream QC for an older 12wt rod my old man has laying around. $400 shipped and the guy is going to throw in some tarpon flies since this is a birthday gift to myself lol. Hope to put some poon in the air when I get it next week! (And when the weather stops being so shitty lol).

[gold soundz]

I wen't on a guided fly fishing trip on the upper deschutes with my brother in law 2 summers ago, it was a blast and I caught lots of trout but I feel like the guide didn't teach me much. It was my first time and my brother in law is really experienced so we just kind of jumped into it in order to catch as much as possible. We were mostly bank fishing using dry flies, which seems like the most basic way to do it as far as I can tell. The water was gin clear and it was super easy to spot the fish, so definitely not the most challenging conditions.

I recently got a flyrod as a gift and I feel overwhelmed just trying to pick a fishing location, let alone figuring out how to use the equipment. I'm currently debating whether or not to do a beginner's class/trip or just figure it out myself. Any suggestions?

[snail]

Feb 19, 2021 15:31:04 GMT -5 gold soundz said:

I wen't on a guided fly fishing trip on the upper deschutes with my brother in law 2 summers ago, it was a blast and I caught lots of trout but I feel like the guide didn't teach me much. It was my first time and my brother in law is really experienced so we just kind of jumped into it in order to catch as much as possible. We were mostly bank fishing using dry flies, which seems like the most basic way to do it as far as I can tell. The water was gin clear and it was super easy to spot the fish, so definitely not the most challenging conditions.

I recently got a flyrod as a gift and I feel overwhelmed just trying to pick a fishing location, let alone figuring out how to use the equipment. I'm currently debating whether or not to do a beginner's class/trip or just figure it out myself. Any suggestions?

When it comes to picking a spot, it’s hard to say because I don’t know anything about stream/river fishing for trout. My limited understanding is they like to sit in areas where theres a break in the current (like behind a rock or deeper hole) so they can just rise up and sip food off the surface as it washes over them with the current. Casting techniques are also a little different because you may not have a ton of room on your back cast like you would on an open flat from a boat.

The basic saltwater casting technique is a double haul. It’s a little tricky at first but there’s a bunch of videos on YouTube that will show the basics and from there it’s all about practice. If the only time you cast a fly rod is when you’re actually fishing, then it’s going to take much longer for you to get comfortable. I practice my casting almost every day because I have a big open field in my complex right next to my house and usually for about 30 minutes at a time. I started with a hula hoop 40 feet away and after about a year, I can drop a fly into the middle of the hoop from about 80’ with an 8wt and closer to 100’ with a 10/12wt about 75% of the time. Still not perfect but when I first started, I could barely cast out of my shadow.

I would definitely suggest a course or a guide if you can afford it. Hands on knowledge from someone who does it every day will definitely shorten the learning curve, even after one trip, if you pay attention. When I booked that guide last July, he showed me two things that added 30’ to my cast almost immediately so to me it was well worth it.

[hormel chavez]

Feb 19, 2021 15:31:04 GMT -5 gold soundz said:

I wen't on a guided fly fishing trip on the upper deschutes with my brother in law 2 summers ago, it was a blast and I caught lots of trout but I feel like the guide didn't teach me much. It was my first time and my brother in law is really experienced so we just kind of jumped into it in order to catch as much as possible. We were mostly bank fishing using dry flies, which seems like the most basic way to do it as far as I can tell. The water was gin clear and it was super easy to spot the fish, so definitely not the most challenging conditions.

I recently got a flyrod as a gift and I feel overwhelmed just trying to pick a fishing location, let alone figuring out how to use the equipment. I'm currently debating whether or not to do a beginner's class/trip or just figure it out myself. Any suggestions?

my suggestion is watch a shit ton of youtube videos. I'm dead serious

[gold soundz]

Thanks for the suggestions dudes, appreciate it. I've been watching as much youtube as I can, and there's actually a casting pond in my neighborhood so maybe I'll hit that up.

I think part of my problem is that I have so many other outdoor hobbies, I can't afford to spend endless hours learning a new one. I just want to be able to throw my rod in the car when I'm headed out surfing or hiking and be able to have fun with it. Looks like classes are starting up again so I'll try to hit one of those too.