Ok, I waited to test my theory on this before I posted. It is currently 4:30 am and I just finished an AWESOME night of fly fishing. I lost track of the numbers but I would easily say from sundown to last cast over 60 trout and 2 reds. All were kind of small with the average on the trout of 12” and the reds under 15” (I quit measuring after a while). The fly I was using was an epoxy shrimp that I had painted with glow in the dark paint from Glow inc. The web site to buy the paint is www.glowinc.com (I used the v10 paint). I also used a small battery powered black light that I bought at Spencer gifts as this what the packaging recommended for the brightest charge. Not only did the fly look cool buzzing in the dark, but the fish were destroying it. I have been using this method of painting the epoxy shrimp for about 2 weeks now, but never knew if it really helped or if I just thought it was working when it was really unnecessary. So tonight I tried numerous flies when casting around dock lights, and they all solicited strikes but the number on the glow fly was FAR higher. Most times, the moment it hit the water, I would be stripe striking. After a while I realized all the fish were kind of small so I switched from my 9wt to my 4wt and had a blast fighting the smaller trout. The highlight of the evening was when what had to be a good size red took the glow fly on the 4wt and headed for the dock. I grabbed the line to try and get him to change direction and POW, fish gone. Anyway email me if you would the specifics on painting the epoxy flies and then using a sealer. It is fairly straight forward, but I picked up a couple of tricks. And if anyone tries it let me know if you have the same success.
2005 1442LW Alumacraft With Camo Clad System
2006 25hp Yamaha Four Stroke
I forgot who makes it (aqua glo maybe), but Ive used the stick (like chap stick) kind will similar results. Any fly can be given a little charge this way, its lasts a good while also (about an hour of heavy fishing). Great for lighting up the tip of the flyline for detecting strikes in the mtns. @ night (of the 2 I know you can still fish). We used to use an old camera flash wrapped in alum. foil and drop the fly in and give it a flash. instant full charge.
Shadow, if you don’t mind me asking, which river and were they on docks? Reason being, I am off from the 21st to the 2nd and hope to do some fishing. Thanks and great post.
I was fishing the docks on Coberg creek as those are the closest to where I put in. Any dock with a light will produce hits. I noticed unweighted flys were the way to go as the fish seem to be higher up the water column at night (I am guessing due to the lighted docks). I hope you tear em up, it is a lot of fun. I have no idea how this weekend’s cold front will make the fish react, but I suspect they will still be around any lighted dock. If you need someone to go with, shoot me a email, as my boat has a grass blind attached till the end of duck season:smiley:!
2005 1442LW Alumacraft With Camo Clad System
2006 25hp Yamaha Four Stroke
shadowgrass, i am a novice when it comes to the long rod and just wanted to know what your thoughts were on what kind of sink tip line is the best? any advice i can get is greatly appreciated. just got an early christmas present and am very eager to try it out!
bsready, I am still new to the long rod myself. At first I thought I needed a sink tip, however, I have learned a longer leader (10-13’) coupled with a weighted fly works just fine 95% of the time. Even using unweighted epoxy shrimp, cast up current and striping very little line at a time (no more than 2" at a time) has been working really well for me the last few days (I caught 22 trout on the fly yesterday in a little over an hour of fishing). When using this technique, just cast up current from the hole you want your fly to hit. I hope this helps, as I really have no experience with sink tip lines.
2005 1442LW Alumacraft With Camo Clad System
2006 25hp Yamaha Four Stroke
thanks shadowgrass, i cant wait to get out there and do it. do you think this cold weather will have the reds in deeper water?
might as well be dead up here if i cant find that live bottom
BS, I am sorry it took me so long to respond, work has been hell. I have found some fish in the deeper water, but if you look around oysters (dead oyster banks are great) you will find fish. Reason being, they absorb heat and heat the surounding water. The warmer the water, the better your chances are of finding fish. If you really want to go out and catch a bunch of fish, use a spining rod with a DOA and a popper, find a school and work the area with your fly rod. Have fun and email me if you have any questions, fly fishing is on the back burner for me, I am off to go kill some ducks!
2005 1442LW Alumacraft With Camo Clad System
2006 25hp Yamaha Four Stroke
thanks shadowgrass, i too have put the long rod up for the time being and gotten me shotgun out. normally take a trip to luisana for a week but coouldnt make it this year, have to settle for a lot of woodies and maybe a ringneck or two aroound here. good luck wit de ducks
might as well be dead up here if i cant find that live bottom
im wating for the genetically engineered glow in the dark deer. i bet it will be introduced as a safety measure to keep people from hitting them on the road. course you could save a lot on spotlight batteries too :O). a little lightening bug genes, a hot buck, shazzam.
hey they did it with tobacco 30 years ago.
we dont need no reservations we dont need no cruise control