Fall fishing

Something Different for Fall

October 3, 2019 by Leigh Leave a Comment

It seems like the Connecticut DEEP has stocked more trout in the Farmington River than the human population of some western states. The Housatonic smallmouth action has been nothing less than exceptional. So why am I sitting here in a kayak throwing poppers to hungry bream and rock bass? Simple. I wanted something different.

Instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with other anglers, driving an hour to get to good water, worrying about water temps or reading flow levels, I threw the kayak on the car and was floating within 15 minutes.

This end of the Housatonic is known more for pleasure boats and water skis, yet the inlet leading to the public launch is relatively quiet. Only an occasional boater, returning from a day on the water, asks me how I’m doing.

And I am doing great. Bream and rock bass are hitting the balsa poppers so hard that two of them were reduced to hook and rubber legs. The water is calm, relatively clear, and the takes are easy to spot. I paddle almost effortlessly into small coves, cast, and wait for strikes.

Just like upstream, where the trout are waiting, the fall scenery is part of the experience.

Regardless of where you are and what you’re fishing for, hope you can get out and enjoy some fall fishing.

Enjoy!

Redington Butter Stick Redux

December 23, 2018 by Leigh 2 Comments

Back in 2013 I reviewed the Redington Butter Stick. To see that review, click here. In the 5 years that have passed, they’ve made some nice improvements that I’ll mention during this review.

I’ve always been a fan of fiberglass rods, especially for kayak fishing and small streams, so I was very interested to see what updates they would make to a pretty solid offering.

Last time I worked with a 3wt. This time I went with a 4wt for better distance casting and a little more backbone. The 4wt kept the flexibility that I expect from a Butter Stick.

One of the first things I noticed is that the rod has a new look. I would call it retro, since it reminds me of some of my barn finds. That said, the quality of the blank, guide wraps, grip and reel seat reflect the benefits of modern technology and quality control. It’s a good looking, well made stick.

For this test, we paired the rod with a Redington ZERO Reel and RIO Gold fly line.

If you’ve read my other reviews, you know I am a big fan of RIO lines. The Gold line is no exception.

The RIO Gold product sheet says that it has incredible loop stability, a unique taper that easily loads fly line at close range and perfect presentation of flies between sizes #22 and #2. I would agree with these statements, and add that the overall quality is in line with other RIO products.

The ZERO reel is light for a large arbor reel, and the click system is smooth and easy to use. The Dreamcicle Orange color is an added benefit and compliments the colors of the Butter Stick.

I started by taking the Butter Stick to the local paddling lake, my go-to for rod testing. It allows me to cast from different perspectives. The wind kept me from staying long, but using a thin mint woolly bugger, I caught this perch.

Next stop was a nearby farm pond. The winds subsided, and I proceeded to pick up a string of these. The Butter Stick’s sensitivity allowed me to detect the subtle takes.

What I noticed about the new Butter Stick is that it has the backbone to bring a fish to the net quickly, while delivering the soft presentation you’ve come to expect, even when chucking streamers. Distance casting is solid and straight for a fiberglass rod, yet it still has that familiar waggle.

The ZERO reel complements the Butter Stick, both functionally and aesthetically. It’s light and effortless to retrieve. I did give it a chance to play a fish and it was happy to see how smoothly it performed.

I attribute some of the softness of delivery directly to the RIO Gold line. The quality and performance of these lines is undeniable.

What I like about this combo:

The Butter Stick did well even in windy conditions. I used it to cast dry flies, nymphs and streamers. It delivers a smooth presentation, solid distance casting, but never lets me forget the forgiving nature of fiberglass
The ZERO reel feels like it was made for this combo. The simplicity of the click system adds to its appeal
RIO Gold line loads well for short range but also shoots effortlessly for distance and target casts

The bottom line: If you’re a fiberglass rod enthusiast, or are looking to add glass to your collection, the Butter Stick is a great choice. I thought it would be hard to improve on the original Butter Stick, but Redington has done it.

I’m not the only fan of the Butter Stick. Check out the reviews below.

As I finish this post, I realize that it will probably be my last of 2018. Hope this year was a good one for you, both on and off the water.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours. All the best in 2019!

The Sage Dart Hits A Bullseye

October 6, 2018 by Leigh Leave a Comment

I’m always excited to see a package on the doorstep with a return address from Sage and RIO. It usually has some of the latest products inside and an offer to test them.

I was pleasantly surprised to open this box and find a new Sage Dart 3wt rod, Sage Click reel and RIO Creek fly line. Ever since I saw the Dart I’ve been wanting to give it a try, and the timing couldn’t be better.

I live in New England. The recent rains have pushed some of the larger rivers to relatively high water levels, and small streams have been looking more attractive.

The Sage Dart is a great choice for small streams. I am testing the 3-piece 7’6″ 3wt.

If you’ve read any of my prior reviews, you know that I typically test the product outside the intended use. This review is no exception. While I used it for small stream trout, it was also tested on my local bass pond.

To complement the Dart, I received a Sage Click reel along with RIO Creek line, which is specifically made for small streams. Sage reels are always light and dependable, and I’ve been using RIO lines for some time.

The first day of testing began on the Farmington River. Almost immediately I caught a juvenile smallmouth on a nymph. It was good to feel a fish on the line, but the winds picked up and I wanted to use this rod for what it was intended for – dry flies and small streams. We packed up and I started thinking about where to go next.

Five minutes from my house is a small stream that runs thru town. It is stocked lightly in the spring, but by late summer holds few remaining trout and it is mostly dominated by panfish. It was a longshot, but turned out to be the right decision.

I tied on a small caddis dry and started catching panfish. Nothing of size, but it gave me the opportunity to cast to different targets. I’m pleasantly surprised by the distance and accuracy you get from the 7’6″ 3wt Dart. For such a light rod, it shot much more line than I expected. The RIO Creek line delivered the fly softly to the surface and did not spook the other fish.

On one cast I had an interested follower that looked like it might be a trout, but it quickly turned away.

I dropped down to a size 2o midge, and this brown appeared. As is typical, he refused the fly 3 times before turning and crushing it on the surface.

The second outing I took the Dart to a local bass pond.

It was a beautiful fall day and I decided to tie on a size 10 baby complex twist bugger from Fly Fish Food.

I cast from the dock into the glassy water. Within minutes I had this perch on the line.

Followed by this juvenile largemouth bass.

Even though the Dart is a 3wt, it provided enough backbone to cast a size 10 streamer 60 ft, and pull in this bass with no issue. Again, I really like the smoothness and distance of cast with the RIO line.

What I like about this combo:

Casting is effortless – it is a very light rod and I was happily surprised by the distance you can get with the Dart
The Click reel felt like it was made for this combo, smooth and light
RIO Creek small stream line was perfect for small streams – loaded well at close range but has enough body for casts beyond 50 feet

The bottom line: If you’re a small stream enthusiast, give the Sage Dart a test. It is an excellent dry fly rod, and worked well with small nymphs and streamers.

If you’d like to check out other review on these products, see below:

Sage Dart Fly Rod Review

HATCH Magazine Review

Link to the RIO Creek line video.

Note: I received a Sage Dart rod, Sage Click reel and RIO Creek line to test, but no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Enjoy!

A Few Streamer Patterns

November 27, 2016 by Leigh Leave a Comment

This time of year the surface action slows and most of us turn to nymphs and streamers.

Here are three streamer patterns that I’ve tied and fished successfully over the past year. All will work in both cold and warm water.

The Guinness Trout – I’m a big fan of Ralph Long of Ralph’s Fly Box. I started tying this pattern in a size 10 because I liked the name, but soon found it would bring both brookies and bass to hand.

The Thinmint Woolly Bugger – From In The Riffle, this has been a great pattern for trout. Try it in sizes 4 – 10.

The Triple Threat Woolly Bugger – This Rob Weiker pattern is probably my favorite of the three because it’s attractive to summer smallmouth as well as large hungry rainbows.

Named Triple Threat because the 3 body materials (schlappen, chenille and dubbing loop) are all wrapped simultaneously, it can be a challenge that will give your rotary vise a workout. I started tying this in a size 4, but also like sizes 8 and 10.

Give these 3 patterns a try as you’re filling in the streamer box. Enjoy!

Product Review: Fishpond Buckhorn Sling

December 23, 2015 by Leigh Leave a Comment

Had a chance to review the Fishpond Buckhorn Sling for the past few weeks. I’ve used other Fishpond products before, and find them to be well constructed with plenty of useful features. Here are a few of the specifics from the product spec for the Buckhorn Sling:

Cyclepond Fishpond fabric
YKK Aquaguard #8 external water resistant zippered main pocket
Structured back air mesh panel to help carry loads and keep cool
Zippered main storage compartment for secure fly box storage
Signature molded zip down fly bench with replaceable foam
Exterior VELCRO® attachment for foam, tools or accessory attachment
Exterior Hypalon® tabs and cord loops for tool and accessory attachment
Integrated guide net slot
Exterior water bottle pocket
7 zippered pockets

After spending a few days on the water with it, here’s what I like most about the Buckhorn Sling:

The two zippered pockets in the fly bench are spacious enough to carry tippet, leaders and other supplies. The fly bench itself is large enough to carry a number of flies, more than I typically use in a day. I actually carried more on the water than what is seen here, but wanted to show just how large it is.

Behind the fly bench is another large pocket with compartments, enough to carry an extra reel, fly box, water bottle, sandwich or rain jacket.

I don’t personally carry much on the outside other than nippers, forceps and floatant, but there are plenty of clips and tabs for other equipment. The water bottle holder also comes in handy.

I really liked the zippered mesh pockets, suitable for licenses, keys or a phone in a waterproof case.

On The Water

So while the Buckhorn Sling has plenty of room for gear and some neat features, how comfortable does it feel on the water?

The good news is that you really don’t notice it until you need it. During the day I positioned it on both sides, and am happy to say it didn’t interfere or feel awkward with my casting or wading.

I’ve used a vest, Fishpond Black Canyon Backpack, and now largely rely on a Fishpond Westwater Chest Pack. The Buckhorn Sling has much more room than my chest pack and felt comfortable throughout the day. If you’re making full day trips, I would definitely consider the Buckhorn.

Here are links to some other reviews:

Overall, I would recommend the Buckhorn Sling. It’s light weight, capacity, comfort and price (~$130) make it a great choice.

Note: I received a Buckhorn Sling to test, but no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!