Warmwater flies

[Boneapart]

Good morning everyone.

I'm a novice at flyfishing. My fishing has been pretty much limited to fishing the Salmon River for mainly trout. I've always had fantastic luck fishing catskill dries which I tie myself (just started tying my own last season).

Heres my question .... has anyone here targeted Walleye? There really isnt much I have found via internet on flyfishing walleye ... a few posts on some flyfishing sites, but not many. I realize that walleye spend their time in deeper waters making it tough for flyfishing, however in the late spring early summer they are in 4' to 8' of water here. I would "assume" that a small yellow perch mimic should work well but not certain of this. If anyone has any ideas, pictures, recipes ... I would be grateful.

Another question I have is equipment for Bass and Northern fishing. One day last summer I got out of work early, shot home and grabbed my 5 weight and tossed it in the back of my truck. I sped down the back road en route to one of my fishing spots. A deer jumped out and I swerved to miss it.
Upon reaching my destination and gearing up, I found that my nice 2 piece Fenwick 5 wt was now in 3 pieces ... /sigh.

I went to a nice pro shop about an hour and a half away. They had some nice GLoomis rods on special. I tried out a few and with a little coaxing from the owner ended up with a 3 weight for my trout fishing and an 8 wieght for Salmon.

Don't get me wrong .... I absolutly love my 3 wieght ... its an aboslute blast however its too light to tackle smallies. My 8 wieght is a 9'6" rod. I just ordered my Tarpon 120 http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif and was wondering what you more experience fishermen felt about my 8 wieght rod and Bass / Northern fishing off my new Yak.

On a side note ... last year after buying my 3 weight, I went to a local spot on the lake from shore just to get the feel of my new setup. There was a guy there spin casting with one rod and worm fishing with another. Was a weedy type spot so I figured I'd throw on a blue wing olive and just see what happens ... hehe. About the 6th cast I hauled in a little smallmouth. about another 10 casts I landed another. Then another .. hehe .... the guy spincasting was getting a little irritated. I never would have thought a bass would hit dries ... was alot of fun.

Any advice would be fantastic. Thanx.

Bones

[Boneapart]

Good morning everyone.

I'm a novice at flyfishing. My fishing has been pretty much limited to fishing the Salmon River for mainly trout. I've always had fantastic luck fishing catskill dries which I tie myself (just started tying my own last season).

Heres my question .... has anyone here targeted Walleye? There really isnt much I have found via internet on flyfishing walleye ... a few posts on some flyfishing sites, but not many. I realize that walleye spend their time in deeper waters making it tough for flyfishing, however in the late spring early summer they are in 4' to 8' of water here. I would "assume" that a small yellow perch mimic should work well but not certain of this. If anyone has any ideas, pictures, recipes ... I would be grateful.

Another question I have is equipment for Bass and Northern fishing. One day last summer I got out of work early, shot home and grabbed my 5 weight and tossed it in the back of my truck. I sped down the back road en route to one of my fishing spots. A deer jumped out and I swerved to miss it.
Upon reaching my destination and gearing up, I found that my nice 2 piece Fenwick 5 wt was now in 3 pieces ... /sigh.

I went to a nice pro shop about an hour and a half away. They had some nice GLoomis rods on special. I tried out a few and with a little coaxing from the owner ended up with a 3 weight for my trout fishing and an 8 wieght for Salmon.

Don't get me wrong .... I absolutly love my 3 wieght ... its an aboslute blast however its too light to tackle smallies. My 8 wieght is a 9'6" rod. I just ordered my Tarpon 120 http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif and was wondering what you more experience fishermen felt about my 8 wieght rod and Bass / Northern fishing off my new Yak.

On a side note ... last year after buying my 3 weight, I went to a local spot on the lake from shore just to get the feel of my new setup. There was a guy there spin casting with one rod and worm fishing with another. Was a weedy type spot so I figured I'd throw on a blue wing olive and just see what happens ... hehe. About the 6th cast I hauled in a little smallmouth. about another 10 casts I landed another. Then another .. hehe .... the guy spincasting was getting a little irritated. I never would have thought a bass would hit dries ... was alot of fun.

Any advice would be fantastic. Thanx.

Bones

[pmjasper]

To hit walleye on the fly you almost have to target them at the right time of year. There is a short period in spring when the fish will be up shallow (pre-spawn) and will take flies. Small Clouser minnows or small deceivers will work in a slow, short jerky motion. Hope this ain't against the rules but check out www.flyfishingforum.com (http://www.flyfishingforum.com) in the forum section under warmwater fly patterns. There are a few guys there, such as FrenchCreek and Dble Haul, who does alot of pike flyfishing and makes some pretty nice yellow perch patterned flies. If your targeting walleye, a yellow perch pattern should be in your arsenal. Good Luck.

[JonS]

The 8 is a good choice for the fishing. You'll need it to cast larger flies. When the Eyes are shallow I'd go with larger patterns to imitate the forage. We get them on suspending minnow lures like Smithwicks at night. We're using 5-6" lures. Also live herring are deadly. So tie some larger patterns. Most saltwater patterns will do. Flies like flatwings that are easy to cast and will stay high in the water column are nice.

Eventually you may wish to add a 6 wt. to the arsenal.

Bass take dries all the time.

baja55@optonline.net

[saltyh2ofly]

I would use bunny strip flys in black, red and purple. The patterns can be:

Tail: Loop of 40lb test mono with a bunny strip and a little flash
Body: Crosscut bunny strip.
Weight: Lead eyes (or weight the body with lead before winding on the crosscut).
OR
Just a plain Zonker style with a mono loop and again weighted with eyes or in the body.

Simple yet effective, these fish do eat leeches and worms so these could be a good fly patters along with Lefty's and Clousers in specific colors, black is good here. While on the spawn do they hit in agression or food? Some fish don't eat and only hit a lure to drive it off. Not sure of the habits of the walleye at this time of year. I see this as an oppertunity to cash in on some great shallow water walleye fishing if you can crack the code....you be the one to find out what works. It may be a pattern that you develop so keep working at it....I like the idea of a bunny strip alot for these fish, give it a try.

Sit back and enjoy the ride!

[Esox]

bones, that will be a great set-up for the 120, Lets see my 120 has caught, bluegills, walleye (slip bobber), crappie, bass (large and smallmouth), pike, steelhead, brown trout and of course 2 muskie (no monsters yet!), some of these on the fly and some on spinning, I use a 9' 8/9 wt. Bass will hit anything: streamers, poppers, zonkers, sliders, whatever, keep experimenting and talk to local fly guys there are always favorites in your area. Keep us posted http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Boneapart]

Salty ... heres a good article. You brought up a question I wasnt sure of ... whether they were eating or attacking out of anger.

null (http://www.billsaiffoutdoors.com/saiff/article2.htm)


John

Doh ... don't know why it says null, but the url works /shrug.

[Boneapart]

Now ... if Bill is correct (Im sure he is .. knows his stuff) in the article I posted the url to above ... and schools of Alewife are hitting the bay at Walleye post spawn .... I wonder how this fly would work http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

web page (http://flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/012604fotw.html)

Have a great day all ... time to head out for work /sigh.


John

[saltyh2ofly]

Good read on both the fishing and the fly. It seems that worms work so the bunny stip is a good idea. Alewife patterns....to me it's any pattern with a baitfish shape in a size and color to match the schools in the bay. Sinking lines better sinking shooting heads to get deep. Weighted flys for sure, short leaders and a drift sock to help with the drift. Up the slope and down the other side. Not knowing a thing about the water is my only question...is it safe for a kayak? Weekdays are the best for sure to find out. Good luck, I hope you find what works because it sounds like a good shot at a marble eye in close to shore.

Sit back and enjoy the ride!

[Boneapart]

Salty ... yes its kayak safe Im sure. The inside fishery he speaks of is very accesible. This is one of the main spots I am going to exlpore this summer Yak fishing. On either side of the "Walleye" spot is very shallow water ... almost a marshy area with only a foot or 2 of water. I'll bet late spring early summer there are some monster bass and Pike in there.

The outside fishery he mentions could get a little rough for a Yak on a windy day out in the middle.

I can't wait to try it.

John

[JimW]

Old timers used to tell me to use any color for walleyes as long as it was yellow and/or orange.

There's also some tremendous SMB fishing in E Lake Ontario.