They're Back On at my Hole on the DPR

[Rich]

FAT 30" caught on a firetiger bugger-esk fly. Need longer arms.
Blood's mine, not the fish's.







Rich

[ohoffm]

That is a nice northern. Great job getting him on a fly. I would think that it would be tough getting them to use up their energy for a such a small meal.

[Rich]

Thanks,
that's a #2 hook, so, not what I'd call a small fly. These guys (same-ish size) are also taking #2/#1 mepps in-lines , to keep things in perspective. Keeping them on the line is what I need practise at, big time.


Rich

[BrookfieldAngler]

Nice job, Rich! I am liking that fly...I am thinking we need to talk about an SBS for it

[Rich]

Thanks.
Forgive my ignorance, what's an SBS?
That fly is heavily weighted with lead and eyes to get down a bit as I strip line fast-ish. I use my eight weight on it with seven weight line.

Rich

[Navyfisher]

Forgive my ignorance, what's an SBS?

Fly pattern Step-by-Step for tying it.

[Navyfisher]

Very nice pike adn flyby the way!

[Rich]

Forgive my ignorance, what's an SBS?

Fly pattern Step-by-Step for tying it.

Thanks.

[Rich]

...I am thinking we need to talk about an SBS for it

It's essentially a beefed up wooly bugger.
That one's on a 2/0 Mustad O' Shaughnessy (mis-posted #2 vs. 2/0 earlier, sorry) , but I use anything from #4 to 2/0 for the 20-30" river pike.

I tie in a small amount of tinsel then each tail color of marabou with tinsel in between each layer.
Weight the hook with a good amount of lead wire.
Wrap the body with neon chenille , sparkle chenile, whatever is orange-ish and bright/shiny.
Instead of palmering the hackle, each row is a different feather, so start from the tail and fully wrap each black then green hackle until you get to about the half way point on the body .
As you wrap a black or green in the front of the fly select small amounts of nice airy tendrils of marabou to tie in right in front of the most forward few black and green hackles.
Tie on a set of large dumbbell eyes and it's done.

I generally fish it standing down stream casting up , stripping faster than current (generally not a lot of current in the pike areas ) .

I suck at explanations, so if there's something that does not make sense...



Rich

[BrookfieldAngler]

Great SBS!! Thanks, Rich

[Aux Pleins]

Nice pike, cut myself there once before, theres a ton of broken glass and sharp metal in that spot, looks to be an old illegal dump site or somethin that they turned around and used to build like a levee to keep the river from spilling out.

[Rich]

Nice pike, cut myself there once before, theres a ton of broken glass and sharp metal in that spot, looks to be an old illegal dump site or somethin that they turned around and used to build like a levee to keep the river from spilling out.

Yup, funny you say that. My waders have duct tape on the ass (heading to Coren's today for a patch kit) from me trying to gently slide in and sight cast to one I saw a bit farther down the river, that very day.
I usually try to pick up garbage I find when I fish. Impossible task there and sad. It gets a little better once you are in the water, a must there and most spots on that river , if you fly fish.

Rich

[Rich]

Caught this 23" today on a black and rust backstabber I tied.
I was after carp mainly and targeted one about 15' away. The carp would take a look and shoot away. One biggie was coming in for a look as the pike did also. The carp passed and the pike hit .
It was caught on a 6' bamboo 2 weight I made this winter.

[Navyfisher]

Very nice, black and red have been great colors for me on the DPR as well.

[Rich]

Thanks guys. I chose that color because of all the similarly colored crayfish there.
It was tough today to get enough distance to not spook the carp due to the wind.

[Rich]

25" today on the same 6' bamboo rod. Modified brown beadhead backstabber on #8 streamer hook.








Rich

[pinecone]

Really nice fish, Rich....

[pikekid96]

nice fish man

[Rich]

Thanks guys.
I wanted to go back to the flies after a bit too much spinning. Pike are such fun on flies.

Not so good news. A full day of fly fishing last week for muskie on Lake Mammie by Land O' Lakes for one hit and one follow by two small snakes.
12 guys pounding that lake ( I was the only FF) hard for 5 days with one soft tail hit from a 3 footish ski.

[Steve]

Ive hit the DPR a few times with the fly rod in the past few weeks. Had two Pike hit my fly, an imitation Baby Bass streamer and another white wooly. The one on the Baby Bass bit right through my tippet like butter and swam off with the fly. I had wire leader on me but was just playing around. ( idiot)
Tied on the wire and couldnt set the hook on the second.
That was my first try FF on the DPR and I was super jazzed. Since then, been back 4 times or so. Nothing. Great post! It will definitely keep me trying. Its just finding spots I can cast from.

So far to date, this is the only legit fish Ive pulled from the DPR.

Brought to goddam hand.Dont mean to show you up in your own thread....

[Rich]

Ive hit the DPR a few times with the fly rod in the past few weeks. Had two Pike hit my fly, an imitation Baby Bass streamer and another white wooly. The one on the Baby Bass bit right through my tippet like butter and swam off with the fly. I had wire leader on me but was just playing around. ( idiot)
Tied on the wire and couldnt set the hook on the second.
That was my first try FF on the DPR and I was super jazzed. Since then, been back 4 times or so. Nothing. Great post! It will definitely keep me trying. Its just finding spots I can cast from.

So far to date, this is the only legit fish Ive pulled from the DPR.

Brought to goddam hand.Dont mean to show you up in your own thread....

Hey Steve,

Seaguar Red Label Grand Max. I don't use wire leaders usually, and never on a fly. I like the action of the fly/lure much better with fluorocarbon and it just adds to the sporting side of it.
I'm heading out today with my 0 weight bamboo with 16.5 lb .011" diameter Grand Max as a tippet. Should be interesting to see how a more than 10 dgree drop effects the pike today.
If you are ever wanting to go FF by O' Hare PM me. I can make it to the river in five minutes with a little warning.

Rich

[Steve]

Hell yes.

And thanks for the tip. I decided today to ditch the Wire leader and go with Flouro as well. Its too windy and unatural at the hook eye.

On my spinning set up I always used braid and never got bit off. Im out of my element with flouro, mono and Fly Fishing altogether.

[Rich]

Well...
Today started well and went to hell quick.
I tried to get to the river just before the rain and missed the no-rain window . It had just been lightly raining for about five minutes (the barometer was rising ) so I was not expecting great action.
Saw a nice 2 footer + and cast a firetager beadhead backstabber across it at least 8-10 times. I finally cast within an inch of it's snout and it took it.
I was using the 0 weight , 3' 6" bamboo pictured.
It was not as great a fight as I expected, probaly due to water temps, but fun enough.
As I got it close to net the fatty I stupidly lifted the fish with the rod instead of using my trout net to due most of the work.
Spit hook as the rod broke from the weight of the fish.

I spent much more time today than I usually do (usually no more than an hour or so) and saw at least 15 pike. None were having anything to do with my flies (brought my 6' bamboo as a back-up) and would spook by the flies or see me and spook. No more bites and now I have a rod to find another tip section for repair.

Sometimes you eat the bear...sometimes the bear she eats you.

[Rich]

Oh, and there are some smaller gills there too Steve.
Caught one yesterday. Funny to watch these guys go after the flies that the pike go after , being that the pike could easily take the gills these size also.

[Rich]

Little 20" on a wolly bugger with flashaboo and a Fish Skull today.

[Steve]

Hey thats my spot in that last one!!!!!

[Rich]

When do you usually fish it Steve? I don't think I've ever seen you there before.
By Higgins?

[Fopoil]

Rich,

You build the bamboo blanks yourself? For a while I was thinking about getting all the tools and equipment to make bamboo blanks but never got around to it. Did make a PMQ blank which turned out ok.

[Rich]

Rich,

You build the bamboo blanks yourself? For a while I was thinking about getting all the tools and equipment to make bamboo blanks but never got around to it. Did make a PMQ blank which turned out ok.

I've not make the blanks myself yet. Corens has a class I missed this spring . Renting the equipment is included. Maybe next spring.
I find old rods and usually take the mid and tip sections (sometimes just the tips) and re-ferrell them and put new guides and tip-tops, handles , ect. Sometimes a few other mods.

[Steve]

When do you usually fish it Steve? I don't think I've ever seen you there before.
By Higgins?

Oh sorry, no! Never been up that far yet. It looks like a scenic spot I like around Belmont. Low canopy, cool, a few deep pools.

[Rich]

Any time you're up this way Steve.

[Rich]

22" today on the same fly and rod as yesterday.

[Steve]

Sweet Rich- You are on fire!
Same Fly?

[Rich]

Thanks.
Same wolly bugger with Fish Shull and rod as yesterday Steve.
It's funny, because my sort of buddy Frank ( I only know him from that spot and exchanging info...) , who I bump into often told me where to cast as I was working my way down the river. He just had a hit in a pool and told me where and how deap. Two casts later I had him landed.
Teamwork.

[Steve]

I want to be on your team.

[tallfishman1]

Awesome! Have you been wading dpr?

[BrookfieldAngler]

Killing it, Rich!! Very very nice

[Rich]

Thanks guys.
Yes, I always wade.
Spinning today with a buddy for a couple pike north of Devon. Where we started it was not conducive to fly casting .

[Rich]

Well, had my first official bite off at the spot today. 2 footer came quick, hit the tippet only. I looked down to see my fly and about 3" of tippet attached. Fun stuff.

[Rich]

Two pike today , small, one 20, the other 25" and a 16" sucker which broke yet another rod. The same fly and 6' rod I've been using the last few days. Switching to my 3 weight graphite from now on, for awhile at least.

[Rich]

fantastic job. Whats the bottom like in your area. The only spot I've fished the dpr was pure mud nothing to wade.

Thanks.
That specific spot is great when at least 2' from shore. Solid and almost all wadable. There are a number of spots both north and south that are much more mucky and downright dangerous at spots. I always look for shells and pebbles and know I'm fine stepping in those spots.

[Culprit]

nice job

[Rich]

This was a surprise on a few levels today.
29" , on the same wolly bugger with Fish Skull and a 3 weight custom graphite rod I made.
This guy fought like crazy. At first I thought I had snagged something soft but placed, then I thought maybe a carp. Turned out to be a fighter. Best one on a fly since the 30" in the opening post. Very fun 30 minute (total fishing time, obviously not fighting the pike) is this heat. He was in 'deap' and dirty water.

[Steve]

Great job! She is a beaut!!!!

[Rich]

I should probably mention that all flies are tied by myself (I've not bought a fly in over two decdes, maybe three) , and all my rods under 8 weight I've made also .
Thinking of trying out the vintage House of Hardy Fibatube glass 5 weight I made years ago next on these spots.

[Rich]

A little 22" pike and another sucker this morning , both on same fly .

[pinecone]

Great stuff Rich....

[pikekid96]

killin it!

[Rich]

A little 21" today. And a bite off and two spit hooks. Yikes.

[Rich]

Crazy on , active night.
Only landed three, one was the smallest I've caught in quite awhile, a nice fat 23" and another fat 26".
Had two bite-offs , 6-8 spit hooks and three follows. All in just over an hour.
Sorry about the bad pics, bad lighting.