Do you love big bluegill?

David, aka, "McScruff"'s Blog (38)

Weather or Not - and Jeffrey Abney

Calling Jeffrey Abney

https://palmettoflynfish.blogspot.com/2018/12/dont-stay-home-because-of-weather.html

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 2, 2018 at 4:52pm — No Comments

Weather Or Not - and Jeff Abney

Calling Jeffrey Abney

https://palmettoflynfish.blogspot.com/2018/12/dont-stay-home-because-of-weather.html

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 2, 2018 at 4:51pm — No Comments

Slip Float Lessons, Relearned

I have been doing some slip-floating lately. One morning I just decided to stop by BJ's bait supply and get me some of his extra fine red worms. In my kit were various slip floats, hooks and small split shot. I was in business, and the fly rod stayed in the car.

I re-learned that long floats and teeny rigs are definitely out, for me. The best floats for my use are stout 2" models, with a single 3/0 shot to balance them. These cast like bullets, and they don't have long, dangly stems…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 6, 2016 at 6:30pm — 8 Comments

Improving a Popper

Using poppers with a fly rod is pretty much a standard, but casting these flies can be awkward. The popper is light, relatively bulky, and usually festooned with feathers. This combination catches air and causes drag on the popper on the cast. The net effect is to hinder both control and distance. To remedy this, try this trick:

Drill a small hole in the belly of the popper, right at the center of gravity. Insert a small BB, or buckshot. Drilling the hole just undersize ensures the…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on May 17, 2016 at 6:55pm — 3 Comments

Missed Surface Strikes - A New Thought

Here's a little something I read tonight that lot a lightbulb over my head. See what you think:

"Either sunken or floating, your flies are most apt to be taken while sitting, between pulls. Start and stop retrieves are effective for both bluegills and bass.

Another thing to remember is, if you have a hit on a floating lure and miss, return it quickly to the same spot.

Big bluegills (and sometimes bass) can't stand to see something that seems alive, sitting… Continue

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 13, 2014 at 8:57pm — 6 Comments

Flatfish, The Lure

I won a couple lots of used Flatfish lures on eBay recently.

I ended up with 26 of them, in various colors and designs, for $20.

Sizes range from F7 down to F3's (medium to small), and just a little spit and polish was needed to clean them up nice.

I tested one out today.

What a neat little lure! It is a slow bait, in that you can't run it fast or it twists and spins instead of wiggling on the retrieve. This can actually look like a fleeing prey, though, in short… Continue

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 26, 2014 at 7:30pm — 17 Comments

The Boat Pole

I made one to help get in and out of the canyak.

Works great - no more tipping over getting out!

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 12, 2014 at 6:33pm — 1 Comment

The Fish Finder Works

Got the P-Max 170 installed in the Blue Beast the other day. I added an omni-directional, flat faced transducer instead of the directional one that comes from the factory. Because of the flat, disc-shaped face, I was able to silicone the transducer hard and fast to the flat bottom of the hull. None of the usual bedding usually seen, the flat puck sounder stuck wit a thin well squeezed out layer of silicone. My hope was there would be no bubbles or air pockets, and it appears I achieved…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 12, 2014 at 5:42pm — 11 Comments

Radiator repair

Was smelling coolant from my wife's car yesterday and found a cracked radiator. The new plastic heat shedders can't be repaired like the old style, but they are an easy drop in replacement. Ordered yesterday, delivered today and installed by midday.
Shame of it was, it ate up my Sunday fishing. It happens that way sometimes, but dammit man! What did I do to anger the fishing gods?

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 5, 2014 at 6:06pm — 4 Comments

Mad River Canoe Adventure 14

September 20, 2014

Took the Mad River Adventure 14 'yakkanoe' out again. As I mentioned before, it takes 21 days to make a habit stick. That said, more trips are definitely needed!

EQUIPMENT NOTES

My Secret Fishing Trousers - Try cotton sleep pants for fair…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 20, 2014 at 4:30pm — 14 Comments

The Old Man Is Gone

The Passage

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Someone at my side finally says, "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?" I ask.

Then I realize - she is gone only from my sight. That is… Continue

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on August 14, 2014 at 9:00am — 27 Comments

FLY SCARES HELLOUTTA ME!

The last bass I caught took my tippet and fly leaving me with just a tippet ring. So, I tied a new Briminator tonight. While refitting my fly rod together, the Briminator swooped by my feet near the floor... And scared the shiite outta me!!

I thought it was a big bug scurrying by, and I jumped out of its way. So, if I mistook it for a bug.... Maybe the fish will, too.

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on July 23, 2014 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Agreeable Pond Owner

The pond I fish is on an adjacent property, which I have sole permission to access. Well, the owner stopped by the pond today while I was fly fishing. He asked if I actually caught any fish in his pond, particularly bass. I allowed that I do, but not a lot. It's a small pond — only so much is possible.

He told me he had added bass and bluegill some years ago, along with a few sterile carp for weed control. But nothing was done beyond that, and the pond was left to its own… Continue

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 30, 2014 at 5:48pm — 8 Comments

Don Schmotzer, Gentleman

I got to meet with Don today. He lives about 20 miles from me and we got together to tie a few flies and yak about fishing.

I also met his gracious wife, Dianne and shared a bowl of her home made, award winning chili... and they shared the secret recipe with me. The Schmotzers share a lovely, welcoming home and a long marriage spanning decades.

Don is the kind of fly tyer that likes his work to look as good as it fishes. He has a supply of tying materials that is to be envied,…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on January 25, 2014 at 9:03pm — 10 Comments

Another Book

Got the book, "Simple Flies... Flies You Can Tie With Three Materials or Less," by C. Boyd Pfeiffer.

This is an interesting study in what is really essential. Mr. Boyd strips the fly types we know to their basic elements, proving simple can be as good as complicated.

How about an Upside Down Winged wet fly?

Bend-Back Streamer?

Coffee Bean Beetle?

They're in here.

I got the book used on www.alibris.com. A lot of…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on January 19, 2014 at 7:48pm — 2 Comments

Floating Damsel - Say NO to Poppers!

Floating Damselfly Nymph

by Gary LaFontaine

•   HOOK: 8-12; TMC 5262—2X long nymph hook

•   FLOTATION: an underbody of high-density foam, wrapped along the hook shank as a thin strip

•   TAIL: olive marabou and clear Antron fibers (combed together)

•   ABDOMEN: olive fur and olive Antron dubbing (chopped, blended, and dubbed)

•   THORAX: olive…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 30, 2013 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment

Tying Flies, Again?

Ive been doing an inventory of the flies I've got on hand, both my own and those from others. I have reached a momentous decision:

I will stop tying new flies for myself.

Okay, thats not gonna happen, But it should.

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 25, 2013 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Take the BLUGILL QUIZ

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/fishing/freshwater-tips/panfish/bluegill-fishing-quiz.htm

Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 1, 2013 at 6:51pm — 6 Comments

Bugs up the Wazoo

Been digging around the internet, looking for the common insect nymph forms in my region. I found one source that is perfect, listing all the taxonomic names. Pictures abound and my file is full. I have the four main types to tie.

Mayflies

Caddis flies

Odonata - dragon and damsel flies

Diptera - aka, chironomids, blood worms, etc.

So now I'm a ding-danged entomologist! All hail the internet.

PS I dont know what a "wazoo" is, but stuff…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 1, 2013 at 5:44pm — 38 Comments

Truck Blew a Gasket!

Literally, blew a gasket. Last week, I was heading out on Saturday to a local pond when I noted a cloud of smoke following me. I pulled off the road and to my amazement, found oil pouring from my engine. Luckily I was still close to home and got back without damage to the engine.

On a positive note, my truck is running again. I had to tear down the front and bottom of the engine, as in totally removed. I've replaced all the seals, oil pump, timing belts, re-timed and tested it this…

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Added by David, aka, "McScruff" on November 2, 2013 at 8:30pm — 5 Comments