First Time on Warm Water

[Wild One]

Last night I had my very first warm water fly fishing experience. Being someone who grew up in the Rockies and swore he'd never fly fish for anything but trout; this was a big deal.
I went with my father in law to a pond that just thawed two days ago about 3 miles from my house. It was his first time with a fly rod, my first time on warm water. I decided a smallish, size 12 olive bugger would bring something to hand. He picked out a fly that "the guy at the fly shop said was great." Actually, it looked like a well tied Clouser Minnow/Matuka Muddler hybrid in olive and black. Very attractive fly.
Anyway, on my 3rd cast I hook into 10 inch crappie and quickly release him. 2 casts later I land and release another crappie of the same size. My father in law is casting for all he is worth b/c he doesn't want to get out-fished by his son in law, hahaha. I move closer to him, and...pull in another-this time on a white zonker. Finally, he breaks down and asks for a little advice. I tell him to strip super slowly, with loonngg strips. The next cast he lands a 2-3lb largemouth!!
Moral of the story...I will admit that after just 3 crappie I am certainly happy with warm water fishing. I'll never give up my stream-lined, silver, cold water friends. I've just added to the posibilities of always catching fish!!

[rookie]

Wild One,

I can certainly relate to what you are saying. I was a die hard tournament Bass fisherman for 20 + years. Swore I would never do any other type of fishing. Then somebody turned on the lights for me. I realized how much I was missing out on. I've done a lot of offshore, inshore, pan fish, walleye, and have moved on to fly fishing. I am certainly enjoying fishing and everything related a lot more.

Congrats,

[dudley]

I remember back around '82-'83, telling a guy in a fly shop,
"You're wasting your time if your not fishing for trout"
Live and learn

[Crash13]

Warm water flyfishing can be as demanding as trout fishing. I've fished for bluegill in a stream where I had to throw size 18 midges with a good drift to get a hit. But most of the time you can catch fish a lot easier. Welcome to warm water you'll have a blast.

[Rick Z]

Welcome to the warmwater area.

Rick

[Big Bad Wulff]

Welcome to the illness........

[WarrenP]

I have looked at all my fly rods and none of them have stamped on them that they are for trout only! I, too, was a tournament bass fisherman for 30+ years and just got burnt out on the crowded lakes and the joy of fishing went away. After selling everything (bass boat, etc.) a friend turned me on to fly fishing about 12 years ago and I wish I had picked up a fly rod 30 years ago. I have missed out on a lot of fun, but, I am trying to make up for it!

I use fly rods for all my fishing no matter what species I am going after. I tie my own flies for trout, bluegill, bass, stripers, etc.

Don't let anyone tell you a fly rod is for trout only.

Welcome to the wonderful world of fly fishing.

PS - You should be ashamed of yourself for catching crappie and then moving closer to your father-in-law so you could "rub it in"!

[raw69]

Wild One - Welcome to the flatlands, Buckeye country, & warmwater fishing. If you liked Crappie, wait until you hook a Largemouth, or better yet a Smallmouth. Also, Carp really are freshwater Bonefish. I had one make an 80 yard run. BUT, there is coldwater fishing, too. The tributeries of Lake Erie are great Steelhead water. There are 3 Trout streams within an hour of Columbus, the Mad being the best of the 3. Check out Mad River Outfitters here in C-bus, great guys and a great shop. If you can't stop by try their site -
http://www.madriveroutfitters.com/

The fishing report section covers the Mad (east), the Clearfork (north), & the Erie trib's. Let us know what area you are near & the guys can help you out with good spots to try.