We're on the "Road Trip" portion of our yearly week in Michigan. We are supposed to head down and canoe the Au Sable River this morning but
currently is it raining pretty steady, so we're enjoying a lazy morning in the hotel room. I thought I'd catch you up on the trip so far...
Each year we send a week at the family lake house...and each year I get a little more information out of the fellows at the tackle shop, translate how they are catching fish on gear and bait to fly fishing, and then try to sneak out of the house for an hour here and there to try new tactics and locations on the lake. Crystal Lake is really quite a nice lake and the perfect size for good fishing and recreation as well. I am very slowly unlocking the secrets of this lake.
First...a review of the Mountainshark Fly/Spin's. They arrived at my father's office and were waiting for me at the lake house upon our early morning arrival on July 4th! They turned out beautifully and I couldn't wait to get out on the lake to give them a go. After a trip to the tackle shop for license, some local knowledge, and worms...we were off on the lake for an hour or so.
Hadley's first fish on the Fly/Spin! She was so excited.
She enjoyed picking out the worms. In fact...she might have enjoyed playing with the worms more than the fishing.
The Fly/Spin's with fly reels attached. A pair of Martins...a Model 60 and MG-3...courtesy of middlemac.
I REALLY like the burl used in the handle.
Silver ink on the yellow blank really "pops"!
REC Recoil guide used as a stripper guide.
I know that Mountainshark isn't crazy about the twist threads...but I think it looks really cool against the yellow of the Lamiglass blank.
OK...enough of the Fly/Spin's for now. The last thing that I'll say is that they are everything that I hoped that they would be...and Hadley and I will have a great time fishing them together. Thanks again Mountainshark.
As far as unlocking the lake...
...I had my map...
...and I had the right flies (beauglass and Bulldog...you see yours?)...
...and after a few minutes I did battle with a nice smallmouth that tossed me off...and then hooked up with this Rock Bass.
I am really liking this Heddon Pal #8383. It is a great little six weight that can do the work. I hooked up with two really nice smallmouth that both came unhooked but they reminded me what a great game fish they are. What a battle each time!
We'll be finishing our "Road Trip" up today and then have three full days at the lake house this week before heading home on Saturday. I am hoping to find a few smallmouth and get them to the boat this time.
Each year we send a week at the family lake house...and each year I get a little more information out of the fellows at the tackle shop, translate how they are catching fish on gear and bait to fly fishing, and then try to sneak out of the house for an hour here and there to try new tactics and locations on the lake. Crystal Lake is really quite a nice lake and the perfect size for good fishing and recreation as well. I am very slowly unlocking the secrets of this lake.
First...a review of the Mountainshark Fly/Spin's. They arrived at my father's office and were waiting for me at the lake house upon our early morning arrival on July 4th! They turned out beautifully and I couldn't wait to get out on the lake to give them a go. After a trip to the tackle shop for license, some local knowledge, and worms...we were off on the lake for an hour or so.
Hadley's first fish on the Fly/Spin! She was so excited.
She enjoyed picking out the worms. In fact...she might have enjoyed playing with the worms more than the fishing.
The Fly/Spin's with fly reels attached. A pair of Martins...a Model 60 and MG-3...courtesy of middlemac.
I REALLY like the burl used in the handle.
Silver ink on the yellow blank really "pops"!
REC Recoil guide used as a stripper guide.
I know that Mountainshark isn't crazy about the twist threads...but I think it looks really cool against the yellow of the Lamiglass blank.
OK...enough of the Fly/Spin's for now. The last thing that I'll say is that they are everything that I hoped that they would be...and Hadley and I will have a great time fishing them together. Thanks again Mountainshark.
As far as unlocking the lake...
...I had my map...
...and I had the right flies (beauglass and Bulldog...you see yours?)...
...and after a few minutes I did battle with a nice smallmouth that tossed me off...and then hooked up with this Rock Bass.
I am really liking this Heddon Pal #8383. It is a great little six weight that can do the work. I hooked up with two really nice smallmouth that both came unhooked but they reminded me what a great game fish they are. What a battle each time!
We'll be finishing our "Road Trip" up today and then have three full days at the lake house this week before heading home on Saturday. I am hoping to find a few smallmouth and get them to the boat this time.
