[T. Wiles]

 
Here’s what I would go with…Pretty sure this will be my first 8wt/spey in the near future.

http://www.feather-craft.com/2007TFticr.asp

Travis

[T. Wiles]

Miracle Mile on North Platte…..only fished it one day passing through with some real monsters hooked up.

[T. Wiles]

Zach,

Watch out next time you go to the Amazon….You may have some competition!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_MjHVgzdbk

Travis

[T. Wiles]

If by ds you mean Discovery Series Sage, all you have to do is have a reputable dealer return it for you—-the cost of repair is usually around $30 plus shipping—No telling how many times I’ve broken rods in the past 15 years, but they’ve all been fixed by good rod companies.

Travis

[T. Wiles]

If you’re fishing in Late May/early June on the Madison, try to catch the Salmon flies

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some ferrocious top water action.  It can be like catching a moving train–gotta be there at the right time—it’s a fun chase.  When I lived in ID in 2001, the guides described the Madison hatch as a swarm that basically starts hatching earlier downstream in Ennis and progresses upstream.  It’s over in a flash, but the trout gorge like crazy.  I bummed around tent camping in willows @ pulloffs a few miles from the $3 bridge area and never got caught, but it was probably against regs.

Travis

[T. Wiles]

I have a great solution on smaller flies….shown to me on a emerger pattern used when I lived on the Henry’s Fork, called the Downey nymph

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I have since tied all my smaller nymphs 18-22 this style.

First of all, I use only synthetic dubbing on the little guys usually in brown/olive—you won’t over bulk the body this way, you can match any color, and it’s way more durable.
Fiber tail, copper wire ribbing, thin dubbed abdomen.

The Legs and the wing case will be done in one step….by plucking out an appropriate small hackle using the fluffier webbed fibers at the butt-end stem.

[T. Wiles]

Hey Mike,
I’ll agree with everything that Matt said.  The Spring can be lots of fun, and I prefer to fish the colder months due to better fishing and less crowds.  I’ll add: Floating in a pontoon is the way to go if you can.  Most of the trout are, of course, congregated by the accesses, where most stocking takes place….Expect your average 11-13 inch stockers with a couple of 17-18″ ers in the mix.  Lassiter & Dam #3 at the hatchery has plenty of good wading and Bayou is more secluded and lots of fun…I find the flows in this river can be quite high this time of year due to the water table being elevated–Meaning, you’ll have to search lots of stronger flowing riffles.  The river is loaded with Sculpins and Crayfish—brown and sculpin olive #6 buggers have been great for me–also soft hackle hare’s ears—-You’ll even catch a smallmouth and a pickeral or two,  if you’re lucky.
My friends have had luck on Glo-bugs and Y2K’s.

One thing I’ll add:
There are several other anglers who fish this river on John Wilson’s Flyfishing Arkansas website…Check the archives of recent posts in general discussions of the forum.
http://www.flyfishingarkansas.com
Good Luck

Travis

[T. Wiles]

I’ve been tying buggers for a while. Got boxes of them….They are my main cloudy water go-to fly for large trout on a 6wt sink tip.

[T. Wiles]

Hey Mike,

I, too live in Memphis–midtown near Rhodes……Moving back to East TN as far northeast as you can go in July—and can’t wait.

[T. Wiles]

Steelhyde,
I’ve got an older Outcast model pontoon in Memphis that you would be more than welcomed to use….Just give me a call if you are passing through and would like to use it… I was planning on making this trip, but my schedule and finances are holding me back til later in Feb.

Travis
(901)569-8884

[T. Wiles]

Dan,
Welcome aboard.  I’m quite new to this site myself, but I’ve found there’s much to learn from all these seasoned anglers here who love to experience flyfishing the same way I do.  It’s from forums such as this one that I learned how to start posting photos.  It’s always neat to experience a river through someone else’s photos..I’ve still got much to Learn.
I’m sure there are several ways, but here’s how I do it:
Start an account at Photobucket.com
Upload your jpg images on the browse icon(from your library) in the photo album.
Copy and paste the IMG code from photobucket into the thread as you write.(use edit on tool bar, you can’t right click here)
The images will appear in the essay

My most recent was Little Red Turkey Day..from Thanksgiving with my brother. Looking forward to your posts and fishing pictures.

Travis

[T. Wiles]

Zach,
Grew up in East Tennessee—4 miles from a stretch of the lower

[T. Wiles]

Hey Mike, Where’s my dollar?? ;D

[T. Wiles]

Mike,
I’m pretty sure they’re Hellbenders.
We used to fish them on Lake Russell in GA on the Savannah River in early Spring.

Travis

[T. Wiles]

The issue of “spawn raping” was raised by a guide on the river who was frustrated by the actions of so many seasonal anglers who abuse his home waters….I understand his sentiments.

[T. Wiles]

Zach,
Where you fishing in Arkansas/Missouri?

Travis

[T. Wiles]

David,

I think you’ll like what you find….in a canoe—DO take caution with the water…that river rises pretty fast and falls out/drops very slowly.

[T. Wiles]

David,

Yes….that river was made for a canoe…So much to see when you paddle it quietly.

[T. Wiles]

I agree Zach…we usually see bigger fish.

[T. Wiles]

Cameron,

I wish all were on streamers….most were on egg patterns and soft hackles/nymphs.  The closeup was a nice fish in swift water on my new favorite sculpin pattern— called the Rag Head Sculpin tied with Ezee Bug rag yarn.
Travis

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