The hunt is about to start..again.

[Leo Nguyen]

Big Bear Lake in Southern California reported in with good bites. So, armed with $100, went to the local Bass Pro (where all my fun money seem to be siphoned out on a regular basis) and grabbed some cheap replacement toys:

Bass Pro brand two-pieces Ultralite Glass 5'6" rod. Man, can that rod flex. Remember Kencor magnaglass series? Holy crap, this thing can do the same for $20, rather than $50. Same price can get a 7'6" rod for some major whipping action (crazier than the fly rod any day). 1lb gill are going to feel like 20lbs+ monsters. The reel is the the Quantum Micro for $20. Yeah yeah..I'm cheap. Love the reel's smoothness from the Signature Series combo without any snag during dragging, so, it's a good replacement. The flexibility of the rod is just..just..unreal.

Berkley Trout Dough Series (green) 7'6" ultralight for casting small flies with open reel, $35. Got a Browning ultra light reel for $25. Freaking awesome combo to cast flies with. Just sick! I can outcast my fly rod using a series of 3 nymph weights 10" above the fly, and wham! X mark the spot on every cast up to 30ft.

Okay..I'm itching to head out to one of the lake and give the rods the test run..Casting into a pool is not fun any more.

[Tony Livingston]

Atta' boy Leo!  Go get em'!!

Remember, fish small, and fish slow.

[Leo Nguyen]

Sure will. Got 1000 maggots hidden behind the rarely used compartment in the fridge away from missus. Hope they dont crawl out..LOL

[Greg McWilliams]

I am impressed, Leo!!!!!!! MASS QUANTITIES of MAGGOTS,HIDDENED!!!!  Now you need a rarely used compartment for MASS QUANTITIES of ROD!!!!!!!!!!

W.T.G. we are awaiting the pictures!!!!!

[Leo Nguyen]

Trying to hide the maggots are not fun. I created a box that get packed with baking soda and active charcoal around the container to absorb the ammonia. Have to check up on it every few days. I think I found a niche in the garage to store the "massive" amount of disassembled rods and reels. But, need to find a box long, large, and strong enough to support the rods from getting squished to oblivion. Then, I'll be like you guys ;) LOL

[Tony Livingston]

Leo, you sly dog.......

[dick tabbert]

Leo remember that rice you ate for dinner yesterday.

[Leo Nguyen]

AWWWWWW!! DICK!! LOL! She made rice pilaf yesterday too..awwww..man...hope that wasn't the case.

[JBplusThuy]

I'm deeply impressed, Leo. I find it hard to get away with even keeping a box of worms in the fridge.  I get a stream of machine-gun VNese words fired at me if I get caught :-) Thuy's fine with baiting her own hook, she just doesn't want that bait in her fridge lol

[Leo Nguyen]

LOL Wife has no problem with worms (meal/wax/crawlers) in the fridge. As long as it doesn't get in the way of the food storage. They don't smell either. HOWEVER, maggots, she doesn't like it one bit..she can't even stomach seeing them. Just the mention of me raising them in the garage using only fruits as their source of food got her skin crawling. We have flies infestation every summer due to the pets and kids leaving the access doors wide open. No matter clean the house is, flies just love the cool environment in our place..thus, the maggots. Around the bottom of the trash can, in the grooves of the house near the downstairs bathroom and the door leading into the garage. They love to lay eggs there. The compost bins in the backyard is not helping to isolate the flies, nor the fly traps. Give and take I guess. However, with the bait glue, hell yeah! I made a deal with her that I will make sure to make good fish meals out of the buggers I find the floor. She's happy..

 

But, at the moment, that container of 1000 maggots is not easy to keep hidden in the fridge. I have to check on it every 2 days now. The scent is getting to the point of noticeable if you stick your head near the shelves, even with baking soda and active charcoal as odor absorbers. The fridge also has an odor removing media too. Bedding has to be changed on a 3 days basis now. I guess 1000 maggots can really let loose respiratory and bodily secretion even at 34°F. Since I'm the guy that always clean the fridge, I guess I have the ability to find spots that she don't normally use on the day-to-day basis. So..more power to me LOL

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

Leo when you going to post some more pics? Water here is about 36 degrees and starting to freeze good at night.

  You a fly tyer?

tooty

[Leo Nguyen]

Will post more photos as soon as I can get to the lakes ;) Been dying to hammer more fishes.

I do tie flies, but not as great as the masters in here. I'm still a rookie.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

As soon as I get my new fangled camera I"m going to start posting pics of flys etc, fish pics , etc. I've been tying for over 30+ years and learned a thing or two and the beauty of tying is the inventing stuff that actually works and the satisfaction gained from it. I made custom rods for about the same length of time and it was great . Gave most of it up 10 years ago when I retired and now make about 800-1000 bugs a year to keep everyone I know supplied.
  GOt to go for the night , a fishing buddy is coming over to talk about gills.
  LATER    TOOTY