Off Season Projects for the Fishing Guide




Well, winter finally hit in Texas, the cold fronts are driving through our area and bringing not only falling temperatures but lots of wind. Our fly-fishing season is grinding to a halt so it’s time for reflecting on the past season and starting preparations for the upcoming spring season which is only 14 weeks away. 

Our off-season projects will include servicing our fishing equipment, boat, tying new flies, and leaders. I’ll reflect and study successes and failures from this past season, and research new areas for future trips. 

My 1st project is cleaning and servicing the rods, reels, and fishing line.

Unlike monofilament line, fly line is not simply removed and replaced every few weeks, at up to $100.00 + a roll fortunately it’s not necessary either. Fly line can and should be cleaned and treated a couple of times a season depending on how much and where it’s used. If properly cared for you’ll get many years of use out of your line. Floating fly line needs to have grime and pollutants cleaned from it and flotant applied regularly. 

Fishing still waters, as I do, introduces lots of opportunities for anything that’s floating in the water to attack my line, it just takes one look at the scum line on my boat after a few trips on Lake Fork, red, brown, and slimy. 

 Here’s how I clean my line. I put 2 clean 5-gallon buckets side by side, 1 with a couple of inches of warm soapy water (I use mild dish soap) and the other with the same amount of warm clear water. I strip the fly line (to the backing) so it falls loosely into the soapy water and let it soak for 20 minutes. Next, I pull the line through a soft kitchen cloth, stripping it into the clean water and let soak 5 minutes. For step 3, I refold my cloth and strip the clean line back into the emptied and bucket that held the soap. Step 4, I empty the rinse bucket and dry it before refolding my cloth and applying line treatment/flotant by pulling the line through the cloth back into the clean bucket. Finally, I allow the treated line to cure for several hours (1 Dallas Cowboy football game) or longer. 

It's a good idea to store your reels and rods indoors through the winter and during the heat of the summer to protect the coating on the fly line. Excessive unprotected exposure to the sun will cause the line to crack and dry out. I keep my rods in my boat parked under a cover because I use them almost daily, I will cover them with a towel if I leave the boat on the water for lunch or bathroom breaks.

Next week’s project is to clean and service all 8 or 10 of my fly reels and rods. 

Please send comments to [email protected]. 




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

Friday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 91

Friday Night

Clear

Lo: 75

Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 89

Saturday Night

Clear

Lo: 73

Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 91

Sunday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75

Monday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 91

Monday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 6/20: 403.34 (+0.34)



Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jun. 18)

GOOD. Water Stained; 82 degrees; 0.38 feet above pool. The water level is up and murky in the east and west arms, but clear mid lake. Topwaters early are good with poppers and frogs around weeds or grass. Bass are good mid morning with shaky heads, and crankbaits on points with 1.5-2.5 square bills in 3-5 feet around bream beds. Caroling rigs and power shaky heads and Texas rigs are good offshore around points and road beds or humps 18-25 feet. 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 midday when bass are seeking cover. Frog patterns are working in the shallow vegetation early and late. Drop a clouser on an isolated cover for black bass. Large bream have moved shallow, wooly buggers are producing good fish. Channel catfish are cruising 2-4 feet, clousers are a good choice. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing is getting better and better as we get deeper into the summer pattern. Loads of small fish under 10 inches are still being caught daily, but a lot more large fish are stacking up on brush piles, tire reefs, artificial structures and the base of trees. You can still find some fish on bridges, underwater bridges and road beds in 16-26 feet. Minnows, small hand ties and soft plastics are all working. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

More Fishing Reports