5 Tips To Stop Breaking Off Bonefish
By Louis Cahill
If you’re breaking off bonefish, there’s probably and easy fix.
Someone asked me not long ago about losing bonefish due to tippet breaking. It happens to the best of us but there are only a couple of ways for it to happen and each has a pretty simple fix. If you follow a few simple guidelines you can cut way down on the number of bonefish you lose.
It’s fair to say that several of the potential problems I’m going to talk about apply to almost any species of fish. Some are much more common in the environment where we find bonefish and others just happen more frequently because of the speed with which things happen in bonefishing. It is a demanding game but breaking fish off should not be a problem.
Keep in mind that tippet strength is always a concern and in no way a constant. The weight of your tippet has everything to do with where you’re fishing. In locations where bonefish see a lot of pressure, you will need to fish lighter tippet and you will have to be much more diligent. Regardless of the strength of your tippet, there is no reason not to fish to the best of your ability and each of these tips is relevant.
How bonefish break off and how to stop them.
THE HOOK SET
One of the most common ways anglers break fish off is on the hook set. Bonefish behave unpredictably. Often a fish will eat your fly and make an immediate turn away from you. Sometimes even before you strip set. This is most common when a fish charges the fly while it is still high in the water column. Even small bonefish are powerful and failing to give them line when they need it will result in a familiar popping sound. You need to
Read More »Sunday Classic / My Favorite Bonefish Reel
STILL MY FAVORITE BONEFISH REEL.
BEST OF ALL IT ONLY COST $285
I remember standing on the beach at Andros South watching my buddy Bruce Chard teaching his annual bonefish school. Bruce was illustrating for a first timer what he should expect when he encountered a bonefish. He held the line and let the student feel how hard he should strip set, then he took off running down the beach a fast as he could. The student did a good job of clearing the line and getting Bruce on the reel but I’ll never forget the look on his face when Bruce turned and ran straight back toward him. He stood slack jawed, line piled up at his feet while Bruce and I laughed.
That’s exactly what a bonefish will do to you. They can swim thirty miles per hour and at some point, as they go ballistic and criss cross the flat they’ll head straight for you. You had better be ready to pick up some line in a hurry. The first time it happened to me I struggled. My reel wouldn’t pick up the line and I resorted to stripping it in by hand. My guide told me to, “get rid of that trout reel.” Of course, it wasn’t a trout reel but it clearly wasn’t a bonefish reel either.
The next time I went bonefishing I had to be better prepared. I knew I needed
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / A Special Year
IT’S BEEN A SPECIAL YEAR FOR MY BUDDY PAUL PUCKETT.
You may remember the article he wrote for G&G a while back, “Half Way Through A Bad Decision.” Paul took on the idea of spending a whole year fishing a single fly. In this case the Everglades Special. I think it’s fair to say he found it challenging.
Well here’s the video evidence.
“A SPECIAL YEAR PART ONE”
Watch Paul and the crew from Flood Tide take on Tarpon and Permit in all the wrong ways.
Read More »Seriously COOL Gear from Yeti
YETI HAS CHANGED THE COOLER MARKET.
The Yeti cooler has has become the must-have accessory for fly fishermen in recent years. You’d almost expect Yeti to be riding the gravy train with their incredibly popular high-end coolers. But far from coasting, Yeti is working hard on new innovative products like the Hopper, a soft side cooler that offers Yeti performance.
My favorite new Yeti is the Rambler. I almost never leave on a fishing trip without this space age to-go cup in my hand. It keeps my coffee hot and doesn’t spill. After all, you can’t catch fish if you’re asleep.
Check out this video to see the features of these great new products from Yeti.
Read More »G&G 2014 Flyfishing Christmas Gist Ideas
By Louis Cahill and Johnny Spillane
Happy Thanksgiving from Gink and Gasoline!
Tomorrow is Black Friday and the official beginning of holiday craziness. If there are fly anglers on your Christmas list there’s a good chance you’re not going to find anything for them at those crazy door buster sales. So why not kick back with a turkey sandwich and let G&G be you Christmas 2014 Secret Santa.
Johnny Spillane and I have teamed up to share our ultimate Christmas angler’s wish list. There’s something on here for every Santa, no matter what kind of angler is on your list or what your budget is.
If you’re like me and everyone in your family is bugging you for a Christmas list, just hit print and get ready for the best Christmas of your life!
JOHNNY’S LIST
FISHPOND NOMAD NET
Fishpond came out with a new net this year called the EL Jefe. It’s a little larger then their previous mid-length guide net and has a little blunter tip to help get underneath a big fish. The new camo pattern is badass and as always, the nets float like a cork. Check ’em out, they are pretty sweet. The net is not on Fishpond’s website as of this post, but look for them in your local fly shop.
Going to the salt this winter? Give the new appropriately named Sage “Salt” a try. Like the Sage One and Method, it incorporates Sage’s Konnetic Technology making these rods incredibly light and easy to cast. My favorite part about the rod is that it casts just as well at 20 feet as it does at 80. Short casts are just as much a part of saltwater fishing as long casts and it’s great to finally have a rod that does both.
Winston has developed a new rod that I’m sure many of you have either seen, cast or heard about called the BIII TH-MS. TH-MS stands for Two-Handed MicroSpey and it does everything you could ask in a rod designed for catching trout. It is very light for a rod this size and has a delicate feel that is perfect for detecting subtle strikes. I’ve been fishing this rod all fall on two very different rivers, the Yampa in Colorado and the Green in Utah, and I can say with certainty that it’s the most fun I’ve had fishing in a long time. I’ve been using the 11ft 4 weight and have found it to be very versatile and a pleasure to cast.
Read More »Gobble Gobble – Turkey’s Multiple Uses In Fly Tying
By Kent klewein
TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING AND THERES GOING TO BE LEFTOVERS!
Do you ever find yourself wanting to pull of the road to snip off some feathers when you see one of these guys? I know it would never work, but it still doesn’t stop me from finding myself wanting to try. Turkey feathers have been used in fly tying since the very beginning, and many of our popular fly patterns today still incorporate turkey feathers in their tying recipes. Turkey tails work great for tying wings in many of our dry flies. It also works equally well for tying wing pads and shellbacks in thorax’s of our nymphs. I love to use the two toned turkey under feathers (basically marabou) for tails in my nymphs and woolly buggers. Dig in deeper and I think you’ll find several other useful situations where turkey feathers will serve you well in your fly tying fresh or saltwater.
G & G Tip: Find a buddy that turkey hunts but doesn’t fly fish. You’ll be able to get your hands on all the turkey feathers you can cram into your fly tying bins.
Read More »Fly Feature: Stealth Bomber
By Justin Pickett
IT DIVES AND IT GURGLES. IT SPUTTERS AND IT BUBBLES. AND IT JUST PLAIN CATCHES FISH!
The Stealth Bomber is by far my number one topwater fly pattern for warm water species. Whether I’m after smallmouth or largemouth bass, or targeting bluegill, it’s always in my box and typically gets tied onto the end of my tippet at some point during my outings. I typically carry them in 3 different color schemes to match different conditions. Check ‘em out! It’s an easy tie. And if you ever fished with a Pop-R as a kid, then you’re good to go! Either tie ‘em or buy ‘em in sizes #2-#6 depending on the fish you’re targeting. Fish this bad boy around floating grass, weed lines, lily pads, or any other submerged structure where bass and panfish like to hide. Vary your retrieve to find out what the fish are liking that day and wait for that take!
Want to add a fish-catching twist
Read More »Three Proven Options For Deep, Deep Nymphing
By Louis Cahill
IT’S TIME TO MAKE LIKE CAPTAIN NEMO AND GO 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA.
Sometimes the only trick to catching fish is getting the fly down to their level. When you’re nymphing and you’re not catching fish it’s always a good idea to add weight before changing flies. Often one split shot is the difference between fishing and casting.
I have fished with friends who were shocked at how much weight I use on my nymph rigs. They always end up following my lead and catching more fish. Especially in the heat of summer or cold of winter, weight is usually the answer. But just because you’re fishing heavy doesn’t mean you can’t fish smart.
Here are three rigging options that will help you make the most of the weight you use.
THE STRING OF PEARLS
The struggle in fishing deep is not sinking your flies. They are usually weighted and sink pretty quickly. It’s your leader that needs the weight. You can pile up a couple of #7 shot or a half dozen size BBs just above your tippet and it will drag that leader down but there’s a smarter way to use the weight.
I use hand-tied leaders and
Read More »Sunday Classic / Angler Attitude Can Increase Success During Tough Fishing Conditions
I’M GRATEFUL TO HAVE A FULL-TIME FISHING PARTNER THAT ISN’T AFRAID TO STEP IT UP WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.
Louis Cahill is the epitome of this, he’s an angler that’s willing to do whatever’s necessary to put fish in the net, even when catching fish seems completely hopeless. In fact, he seems to shine when fishing conditions are really tough, and oddly as it may sound, sometimes I think he actually prefers bleak fishing conditions for the challenge and reward. It doesn’t matter if everyone on the river is getting their butts handed to them, Louis won’t except defeat until he’s given it everything he’s got. And here’s the real kicker, unlike many of us, I rarely have to pump Louis up for him to give me his absolute best on the water. All I have to do is get a serious look on my face, start cranking on the oars, and mention the words, “Let’s do this”. Nine times out of ten, he charges out the gates, like a horse at the Kentucky Derby, and ends up getting the job done by landing multiple big fish.
I think Louis has figured out
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Wild Steelheaders United
THIS WEEK TROUT UNLIMITED LAUNCHED A BOLD NEW EFFORT.
Wild Steelheaders United is taking on the task of bringing Steelheaders together under one tent to work for the protection of this embattled species. Sounds like a no-brainer but when no two groups can even agree on what a steelhead is the challenge is daunting.
Trout Unlimited has a proven track record when it comes to consensus building. In this effort they are embracing science and educating anglers and policy makers to the facts. My style is a little more direct, so I’ll put it simply for you.
It’s time to put the immense mountain of bullshit surrounding steelhead behind us and move forward in a meaningful manner.
Please watch this video and visit the Wild Steelheaders United site. This is an issue we should all care deeply about and get behind.
Read More »