Well, I've got my first fly rod (8.5', 6 wt.) and have been practicing casting sans fly since turkey season is now over (no luck). I was hoping to pick up half dozen flies max to start fishing with soon.
I'd probably target panfish around Dow's lake where I fish with my kids and whatever I can fish for in Ottawa River rapids (brown trout, bass (when season starts), ???). I know my outfit may be overkill for panfish but I don't care.
Can anyone recommend a first half dozen flys to start with, and what size?
I was thinking of stopping in at Green Drake or CT.
Also, I have an unused gift certificate from LLBean. could anyone recommend any of their selection packs?
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/500155?p ... hing-flies
Cheers,
Ray
first flies
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beachburger
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For panfish and smallies in the Ottawa and Rideau rivers,
1 - black size 8 bead head woolly bugger
1 - olive size 8 bead head woolly bugger
1 - olive size 6 bead head woolly bugger
1 - size 6 clouser minnow
2 - size 8 foam spider or hopper
The pannies will be all over the spider or hopper. I think you will be surprised at how much of a tussle a big bluegill with give you on the 6wt.
For the LLBean certificate, this one would be good around here.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/40986?pa ... at4=500155
HTH,
Doug
1 - black size 8 bead head woolly bugger
1 - olive size 8 bead head woolly bugger
1 - olive size 6 bead head woolly bugger
1 - size 6 clouser minnow
2 - size 8 foam spider or hopper
The pannies will be all over the spider or hopper. I think you will be surprised at how much of a tussle a big bluegill with give you on the 6wt.
For the LLBean certificate, this one would be good around here.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/40986?pa ... at4=500155
HTH,
Doug
Re: first flies
Ray,wheresdad wrote:Well, I've got my first fly rod (8.5', 6 wt.) and have been practicing casting sans fly since turkey season is now over (no luck). I was hoping to pick up half dozen flies max to start fishing with soon.
I'd probably target panfish around Dow's lake where I fish with my kids and whatever I can fish for in Ottawa River rapids (brown trout, bass (when season starts), ???). I know my outfit may be overkill for panfish but I don't care.
Can anyone recommend a first half dozen flys to start with, and what size?
I was thinking of stopping in at Green Drake or CT.
Also, I have an unused gift certificate from LLBean. could anyone recommend any of their selection packs?
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/500155?p ... hing-flies
Cheers,
Ray
The selection/qualtiy at CT typically leaves a lot to be desired. You'd be better off going to LeBaron, Green Drake, Float Paddle & Fly or Sport Action for your flies.
What I would consider to be 3 essential patterns for the Ottawa area are:
- Beadhead Woolly Bugger (Olive, #6, #8)
- Panfish Popper (Black or Frog, #10)
- Stimulator (#6, #10, #14)
Looking at the LLBean site, the Essential Stream Selection would be my first choice if I we picking from their variety packs.
Cheers,
Todd
"There wouldn't have been any butt kickings if that stupid death ray had worked."
Thanks everyone for the advice - both on flies and stores.
I've shopped at all of them for other fishing tackle and hunting supplies, save for Float, Paddle, Fly. I'll probably start close to home and stop in at GD for my first few and report back how things go on my first outing (can't wait, but short on time so have to be patient...sigh).
Cheers
Ray
I've shopped at all of them for other fishing tackle and hunting supplies, save for Float, Paddle, Fly. I'll probably start close to home and stop in at GD for my first few and report back how things go on my first outing (can't wait, but short on time so have to be patient...sigh).
Cheers
Ray