Hoppin the creek

[Travis C.]

Hit a local creek today for a couple hours of some topwater action. The water was not really cool as I thought it should be but still not really warm.

Managed several panfish species to which I forgot all about taking pictures of after this toad sipped not exploded my hopper pattern.





Nice fight in about knee deep water with trees on both sides.

[jaystaler88]

What pattern/size fly were you using? Looks like a cool bug...

[jad2t]

That's a nice sized smallmouth on the flyrod! Well done.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by jaystaler88

What pattern/size fly were you using? Looks like a cool bug...

A size 10, Clipped Head Hopper (tan)

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by jad2t

That's a nice sized smallmouth on the flyrod! Well done.

Thanks, I never expected it to be that dude though. I try to snap the cast on those so they splat down rather hard because there is nothing graceful about a grasshopper ending up in the drink. The fish came out of no where for a simple sip not even causing much ripple until I set the hook. Then all hell broke loose. My heart sank every time it jumped but luckily I landed it, let my girls see it and then taught them to let go gems like that.

Another inch and I would have had my TARP...

[Reel Tune]

Nice work Travis, there's something special about wading a creek with just a flyrod.

[jad2t]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

A size 10, Clipped Head Hopper (tan)

I have that exact same fly. Guess I know what to use next time I hit local creeks.

[txnative]

There's another creek south of where you were that has very easy to read water and willing smallies. I caught a 22" smallmouth on a large streamer there...ended up chasing it upstream to the next pool to keep from losing it. Let's try to hook up and hit it soon.


Chris

[Doc Marshall]

Hi Travis,

Is that a dry fly for the surface?

Went on my first fly fishing trip in Oklahoma last week. I had better luck with the under water nymphs (with a strike indicator) than the dry flies....however, I'm a beginner at fly fishing, so I think I simply need more practice. I'm trying to give it a go in some local TN rivers.

I like the idea of kayak fishing with a spin caster and then pulling over to fly fish!

Best,

Doc

[Travis C.]

It's surface fly and would fall in the terrestrial category more than dry but bare bones they are the same.

Usually I fish terrestrials (hoppers, beetles, ants, bees and crickets) now thru around first frost then maybe beetles a little past that. They are the first to come out every year and last to go away.

I would say unless your chasin trout it may be easier fishing than under an indcator and be about as easy as stripping a streamer. You can even use the hopper or what not as your indicator. Google "hopper dropper setup."

The reason it may be easier is its very bad cast friendly. You want to plop it down on the water and try to place it next to banks. Not very often unless its a stiff breeze will they drop mid river.

Fun way to fish that is a change of pace to a spinning rod.

[bd-]

I have caught some big smallies on hoppers in late summer. Lots of fun. Something about seeing a big smallmouth come up to eat a surface fly is hard to beat.

bd