Can You Name That Fly?

Well can you?  Here at J & M Flies, we have decided to hold another popper naming contest for the Teal popper.  Last time we did this, we couldn't agree on a single name.  So, not only is this your chance to get something for free but it is also a chance for you to have a fly named after you so to speak.  In the comments section, please give me your name ideas for the Teal popper.  If you come up with the name we choose to use, we will send you the fly in the size of your choice (either in 8 or 10).


Here is the fine print so read carefully:You must be or become a follower of my blog to enter, or be a Facebook fan of our page. 
Yes you can follow by email.If you are not a follower or a Facebook fan, and you enter, your entry will not count.You can enter as many names as you want.Deadline to enter is July4th at 2359 hours or 1159 for you non-military people- I'll announce the winners soon after that.Please remember this is totally subjective and only for fun...Names will be chosen by my family.  All decisions on the names are final.

I Get It....I Finally Get It

That's right folks!  I finally get it.  Glass is not dead.  Long live glass.  The revolution has started!  Power to the glass!  Well you get the idea.  We have all heard about it, read about it, and maybe a few of you out there are followers or revolutionaries.  What is it you ask?  Shall I remind you?  OK since you asked I am speaking about the movement centering around the use of fiberglass rods.  Pat does it over at Super Fly and of course there is the legendary Cameron over at The Fiberglass Manifesto who is rocking the glass.  Overall, it really has become a movement of sorts with fly fishermen buying vintage fiberglass rods in an effort to return to the days of old.

About a month ago, I finally broke down and bought my first fiberglass rod.  I searched Ebay for a while drooling over the older rods that appeared well out of my price range.  I looked at Cabela's Custom Glass Rods (CGRs) but a hundred dollars also seemed a little high.  Then I remembered people talking about the Eagle Claw Featherlight series fiberglass fly rods.  They seemed like people enjoyed them and they were reasonably priced as I was able to find them for $32 a piece.  I read a few more reviews, had a few more discussions with Melissa about it and then decided it was time.  I was going to make the plunge.  I had to become a part of this movement.  I needed to rock the glass although I am not sure why as I was worried I would not like the action and I had never used one before.  I settled on buying the 6 foot 6 inch 3/4wt and the 7 foot 5/6wt.  Well the rods arrived and I, of course, opened them up for inspection.  I can honestly say that I have never seen such an interesting shade of yellow on a fly rod before.  I was intrigued by the ruler on the rod for measuring fish.  That would work as I can never seem to find my tape measure when I need it.  The rod itself had a very interesting action.  Much faster than I was used to.  It moved almost like a wet noodle.  I remembered reading some where that this was the case with these rods and one probably needed to slow down their cast in order to get the rod to load right.  Good to know I thought.

On Monday 06/11/2012, I was finally able to give the rod a work out.  I took the family to the river so I could fish and the kids could play while Melissa was busy being bored.  I really had no idea what to expect from the rod so I brought my 5wt Cortland as back up.  I was so worried I was going to hate the rod.  I paired it with my brand new Lamson Konic 2 Reel loaded with Airflo Ridge Line Supple Tactical 5wt line.  I had bought this reel and line for Harman's and I never got around to doing a post about them.  The weather had been in the low 90s that day but by the time we actually got to the river it had cooled off.  It was in the low 80s and the wind had picked up.  There was a cold front coming along with rain the next day.

For me, fishing this river usually doesn't start until the end of the month.  The weather here in Maryland can be so unpredictable this time of year causing the river to run high, stained and fast which was the case this day.  Oh well, I thought, I am already here so I might as well fish.  Truth be told, it turned out to be a great day.  I landed 11 smallies, 1 fallfish and 1 long eared panfish.  I caught the first smallie on a Near Enough Crayfish and everything else was caught on a white bead head Woolly Bugger.  The fish weren't big but man did they put a bend in that rod.  I mean a serious bend.  I was stunned to see the rod bent what appeared to be almost in half at one point.  The smallies really were given it a run for its money and I was loving life.  

So glass is not dead for me.  Long live glass!  I am a fan now.  Sorry Melissa but we need to buy more fiberglass rods!  I want, I want!  Maybe I can at least talk her into the Cabela's one although I doubt it.  I did  wear my T.F.M. shirt while making my first outing with a fiberglass rod.  I thought that would be fitting.

First fish and first smallie caught on a fiberglass rod!

Best fish but shitty photo.  Sorry 

Last Day of Fishing At Harman's

After we did some smallie fishing, we headed back to Harman's for the awards ceremony and dinner.  While sitting around the dinner table, Teams J&M Flies and New Jersey started talking about the sulphurs and fishing.  We all decided to head back to the cabin, grab our gear and head down to the stream.  The sulphurs had been hatching like crazy the past few nights and we were hoping to get our dry fly action on.

I, shocking I know, decided to chase the smallies first.  After I had no luck at the bottom end of the run, I moved up stream and started throwing a size 12 Mr. Rapidan.  The light was fading fast and I was hoping that the trout would look at it as one big sulphur.  The mother of all sulphurs so to speak.  As I looked around, I saw fish rising everywhere.  They were gulping down the sulphurs like crazy.  I threw out to where I saw this fish continuously rising.  It took me a few drifts but finally....fish on.  It was a dandy of a fish as well.  It took off and headed down stream at an alarming rate.  I was excited!  I was going to be vindicated!  I will catch this fish!  And no I didn't.  Damn thing got off.  I pulled the fly line back in and examined the fly.  It had a huge chunk of jaw flesh hanging off the hook.  I have no clue how it managed that one but it did.  Trout 1, Jeff 0.

I tied on another size 12 Rapidan and continued to throw the dry fly.  I figured why not.  The fish were rising steadily.  In fact I know the fish were rising because Andy and Paul were landing fish left and right or so it seemed.  Andy landed a beautiful rainbow.  The photo really doesn't do it justice.  It was a beautiful fish.

Sadly, I did not get any photos of Paul's fish.  He was off at the top of the run doing his own thing and loving life.  

I continued throwing the Mr. Rapidan without much success.  Nothing pisses me off more than throwing flies to rising fish who continue to eat everything under the sun but my fly.  Add insult to injury or maybe throw salt into the open wound....have the 15 year old that just kicked your ass in the tournament come down and give you pointers on fishing.  Nice kid don't get me wrong and boy could he fish.  However, I have been fishing since before he was born so the advice was a tad insulting.  I know, though, that he meant it in a good way.  He, after asking, worked into between Andy and I and started hooking up with fish.  I was ready to give up and move.  About that time, I had let my fly drift down below me.  As I started to tell Greg that I was moving, something came up and hit it.  Fish on!  I set the hook and went to work.  I think I fought the fish for like 7 or 8 minutes.  It felt like forever.  In fact I borrowed the net from the kid since I knew my net wasn't going to be even close to big enough for the fish.  He was kind enough to not only lend me the net but also offer advice.  I remember at one point turning the rod a certain way and hearing "tisk, tisk tisk I won't do that."  So I didn't.  Again, don't get me wrong I know he meant well and he clearly knows how to fish.  It is just the whole idea of some one half my age and then some schooling me on fishing. 

Well his advice paid off because I was finally able to land the fish.  It turned out to be a really nice rainbow.  Sadly, we didn't get a decent photo of it.  Greg's camera wasn't working right and mine was in my pocket.  I was afraid to get it out and lose the fish.  I would guess it was like 3 pounds or so.  Maybe more.  I have no clue really.  I was just happy to land a fish and redeem myself so to speak.  Greg took a few photos.  These were the best I have.

After I landed and released the fish, I was done.  Everyone else continued to fish but I wanted to go out on a high note.  It had been a rough week and tournament for me.  Not my finest showing to say the least.  I will be back next year though provided they will have me.  And as they say.....That's All Folks!

Changes in the Luscious Lemon

Due to the hackle shortage, we have been forced to change the Luscious Lemon up a little bit.  Really all we changed was the hackle and tail colors.  We had to switch to a yellow tail and black hackle.  The hackle we have left that we used to use for this fly was also used on the Fish Foolin' Frog.  We began to run low on the hackle so we switched everything up somewhat.  I like it a lot but I am curious to hear what you all think.  Here it is and let us know

Smallmouth Fishing in WV

After our two fly competition in session 3, Greg and I knew we would not be in the championship round.  I was fine with that and I believe so was Greg.  I can't say I was overly excited with our showing, more to the point mine, but hey at least we weren't last.  Not too bad for two anglers who have never done something like this before.

So we decided to do what we love which is chase the warm water fish.  On our last misadventure to WV, we found a small park that had access to the river.  We did really well that day chasing the smallies and panfish.  So with the information tucked into the back of our minds, we decided to hit the park again.  Our previous misadventures can be read here

Well we didn't do as well as last time but we did have a blast.  The water was up and moving still at a pretty good rate.  The rocks are extremely slippery here and it can be treacherous to walk.  We really could only get around half way out into the river.  Where we really wanted to fish was across the river on the other side.  Figures, right?  I fished the Road Kill nymph and slayed them using it in white.  I ended the day with 22 smallies, 6 fall fish and 3 long ears.  I even managed to catch the first smallie of the year on a size 8 Fire Tiger popper.  Greg landed 2 fall fish, 2 long ears and 11 smallies.  They really loved the Road Kill stripped in fast and then left to dead drift and finally swing in the current.  I caught all of my fall fish that way.  Eventually I lost my white Road Kill.  I had only tied two of them up for me and gave the other one to Greg to use.  Switching colors still produced fish though.  They really did love the thing.

I believe the only mishap of the afternoon was me being chased by some snake.  I happened to be about half way out into the river and was letting the fly swing to my left.  As I turned back to the right to cast again, I saw the snake heading right for me and it was only about 5 feet away.  I have to admit that I don't like snakes.  I don't care whether they are poisonous or not.  I just don't like them.  Yes before you all get all up in arms, I know they serve a purpose.....just not around me, on me, near me and even where I can see them.  They really might be my Kryptonite or Achilles heel.

All in all it was a great outing.

First smallie of the year on a popper 

Winner, winner chicken dinner 

Vote For Melissa!

Hop on over to T.F.M. and vote for Melissa.  We are in the running for the spotting contest Cameron holds each month.  We submitted two photos of Melissa working on Cameron's order while wearing "my" Comrade shirt.  You can also submit your vote at tfmcontests@gmail.com.  Just let Cameron know that you are voting for Melissa.  Here is the link http://thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com/2012/06/vote-mays-finalist.html

Here is a photo of the flies Melissa was working on when we took the photo of her wearing "my" Comrade shirt.  Look at them all neat, lined up in orderly rows arranged by color.  Squads of soldiers ready to do battle with bass and panfish.  LOVE IT.

This might be my favorite picture of all time!

And remember.....

HNFI First Flight, Beat 2...Third Session

I realized yesterday that I forgot to finish this adventure.  Between the catching up on fly orders, emails and another bout of diverticulitis, I have been swamped.  Enough said.

Quick recap....bad news at work equaled disaster on the water for me.  Lost four fish in beat 6 while fishing the last flight.  Greg, whom all thought would be the handicap, was carrying the team.  Boy was I having a poor showing at this competition.  We were ranked 11 out of 16 teams... but at least we weren't last!  We were due to fish beat 2 from 0830 to 1030 Saturday morning.  The last session for the competition before the championship round.  A reminder, beat two looked like this:

The competition called for us to fish one beat as a two fly session.  That meant that we could only use two flies, one for each of us, and if we lost them, we were done.  Greg and I had decided to fish this last session as our two fly.  We had discussed this on Thursday and decided this would be the best course of action.  This beat is a hard one to work with fast, pocket water and a lot of rocks.  We knew we were going to have to go down for the fish anyways, so we decided to call this one our two fly and use Bead Head Pheasant Tail and Bead Head Hare's Ear nymphs.  This was it.  Our last shot at getting into the championship round.  

The day dawned early for us.  Well I say early as it was like 0600 when we got up.  Damn I hate that hour of the morning.  Everyone grabbed a cup of coffee and had some breakfast.  Time ticked by both slowly and at a rapid rate.  I was nervous.  My performance had been less than stellar up to this point.  I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to succeed.  Why?  It is only fishing right?  Well I am a Type A personality.  Thus, I am constantly in competition with at least myself and I hate to lose.  I really do.  That is not to say that I am a poor loser or bad sport.  Not at all.  I just get down on myself and beat myself up when I lose.  So as time marched on, we geared up.  Here is Andy, Greg and Paul getting ready for the session.

And here I am tying my fly on and getting ready.

So with 0830 on the clock, the fishing commenced.  I won't leave you in suspense or drag it out....Greg saved the day again.  I got a big old 0.  Nada, nothing, zip.  I didn't even get a strike.  On the plus side, I didn't lose my fly either.  Greg managed to land one rainbow and was lucky enough to do so while the camera was rolling.  Nice timing.

At 1030, the judge called it quits and our first ever fly fishing competition was in the books.  We knew we weren't going to make the championship round.  Despite that, we had a blast trying.  It was a great experience and we learned a lot.  I look forward to trying again next year and am already buying items to improve the overall standing of team J&M Flies.

The fishing photos

What to do, what to do with the rest of the time we had until the awards ceremony?  Hey, let's go chase the green trout!  Coming up next, see what we caught in the afternoon (I promise I won't make you wait forever).