Another day, another bag of bluegills

Fly Fish Food's Foam Dragon

This weekend I tied up a bunch of this new foam pattern I recently found while on my quest for new and innovative panfish flies. 

The Foam Dragon is a recent creation tied by Clark Pierce (Cheech) over at the Fly Fish Food blog. Clark (Cheech) was kind enough to put up a detailed how-to video on his blog. I want to thank him for sharing this on his site. It is people like this who make the fly fishing community such a wonderful place. This is a super fun and easy pattern to tie It should be an effective panfish producer. 

Fiberglass 4wt build

I recently wrapped up this little project I have been working on. I wanted to build an understated lightweight rod mainly for pan fishing. I think this rod would be just as happy on any small spring fed trout stream. It turned out just as I planned it to be. A few elegant details but over all a simple, no frills build. 

Here are some shots of the nearly finished product. (I still have to "sign" the blank...line weight, length etc..but my handwriting leaves much to be desired)

This 4wt was built on a 7'3" Fiberglass Rustic River blank

I love this down locking banded reel seats from RL Reelseats it pairs well with the cigar grip

 I am very excited about this Meisselbach Rainbow No.631

I think it compliments the build quite well. 

I can hear the click pawl scream while a slab gill slams my popper. 

Hard Water continued....

The fishing trip was a success. It was a great way to kick off the season and get me excited for a lot more ice fishing to come. With 6-8" of ice and temperatures well below freezing, there was plenty of safe fishing.
The pan fish made us work for them, but through patience and persistence, drilling lots of holes and probing the entire water column with my jigs, I was able to find a depth and bait combination that worked. I don't fish with electronics yet. Every time I go out,  I convince myself I am going to buy a flasher. I still haven't pulled the trigger on that investment. If I can find vegetation, take the time to fish the entire water column, it usually produces. Along with starting small, and eventually working my way up to the biggest bait fish willingly take.

We put  nice Bluegills, Crappie and Perch on the ice. Enough for a solid meal or two with the family.

Some of the Crappie were pushing 14 inches. Unfortunately the largest caught was lost at the hole, but it didn't matter. We got what we came for, and had a great time.

Hard Water

Well, I can't think of any better way to end the year and cap the holiday season off than an ice fishing trip with my Dad.

Tomorrow we will be headed North to Vilas County to do some much needed relaxing. Recent reports have us excited for Pike and Walleye on a strong bite as well as gills and crappie still feeding strong.

I have the tip ups ready to go, fresh line on my jigging rods, and plenty of new colors sizes and styles of jigs to try out. 

 A soldiers row of Beaver Dam tip ups ready for action.

My little box of new stuff. I assembled this one tonight.

The weather is looking pretty good for a long weekend on the ice. Reports to follow, and maybe some recipes too....