The Road to Being a Successful Fly Fisher




Catfishers have their favorite stink bait, crappie fishers swear by their favorite-colored jigs, bass fishers have tackle boxes loaded with every conceivable lure.

Fly fishers, well that’s a whole different world, match the hatch, balance the rod, perfect the cast, and don’t break the bank. As with all fishing, success is about comfort, confidence, failure, and most of all, time on the water.


Comfort

Fly fishing equipment that is mismatched to the fisher and or the fishing can make a day on the water frustrating and miserable. The correct setup will be heavy enough or light enough to match the fly and handle the fish whether large or small. You don’t want to use a 9’- 9 wt rod to fish for bream in a creek or a 7’6”-4 wt rod to fish for large fish such as bass or carp in the open water. What action rod should you use, fast, moderate, or slow and why? Floating or sinking line, the proper size leader and tippet material? These are great questions to ask an experienced fly fisher when getting started.


Confidence

Second guessing your technique or fly pattern is usually a lack of confidence and is always connected to the success you’re having with it. We all question our choices when the fish aren’t biting so it’s easy to lose focus. One way I deal with this is to learn about the fish and the fishery before I ever start my trip. What are they eating, does my fly match the size and profile of the natural bait? Am I fishing the right depth as it relates to water temp and fish activity? Is my cadence, right? Am I stripping the line in a manner that maximizes the movement of the fly? These are all small things that can be adjusted on the spot. A little bit of confidence goes a long way. Confidence = success.


Failure

Failure is the best teacher life has to offer, it broadens our view and presents us with the opportunity to improve. Fly fishing is a constant test of our mental and physical endurance, when it’s good it’s great, when we fail, we learn. Don’t be frustrated when the fish don’t bite and enjoy the act of the presentation. Failure +confidence = success.


Practice makes perfect!

Spend as much time as possible on the water, this is how you learn and stay sharp. Athletes practice every day, musicians are never satisfied with the 1st cut, and fishers experience a new set of conditions every time they get on the water. Most of all don’t forget how privileged and fortunate we are for God’s bounty. Practice + failure + confidence = success.




Tell us what you think!

Bent Tree Motel - Emory TX

Lake Fork Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Fork Sponsors!

Lake Fork on Social Media

 
       

Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Saturday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 73

Sunday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Sunday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 75

Monday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Monday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75

Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 95

Tuesday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 7/12: 403.23 (+0.23)



Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jul. 9)

GOOD. Water Stained; 82 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Fork : Top waters early around pond weed and grass with frogs and poppers still working . Mid morning chatter baits on the outside edge of grass in 3-5 ft is good as well as shaky heads . Best bite is Carolina rigs off shore on points , road beds and humps in 12-25 ft . Big worms and flukes are good . Deep Cranks are good over the same area when the fish are suspending 19-23 ft . Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Lily fields are filling in, hydrilla and milfoil are reaching for the surface. Fish this type of cover at mid day when bass are seeking cover. Frog patterns are working in the shallow vegetation early and late. Small fish patterns like a dock knocker are producing bass and crappie shallow near grass. Large bream have moved shallow, wooly buggers are producing good fish. Channel catfish are cruising 2-4 feet biting clousers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing has been super up and down this past week. The fish are stacked up on brush piles, lay downs, tire reefs and some trees. The bite is the tricky part. Some days the bite is good and the bigger fish show up. Some days the bite is just off and the short fish show up. Seems like the bite may be better on days we have a little breeze. If the winds are calm the bite is very slow. Minnows will get some bites but small 1/32nd ounce hand tied jigs with small bodies and tails are working well on fish that don’t want to bite. Best depths have been 18-13ft with most fish suspended on trees and loaded in the brush. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

More Fishing Reports