We all were deciding what to make our next adventure special. We decided on a fly in lake from Nestor Falls, Ontario. The lake was one we had tried to get into through the years but the two cabinets were always booked. By our luck an opening was available mid-June. We were so excited and began our preparations.
We had a very successful trip for all days that we fish throughout the lake. The Muskie were in the coves eating the post spawn smallmouth bass. What luck to target this game fish. We ended with 2 mistake 44" and 2 smaller ones. Many looks by others at the boat. The smallmouth were big and grouped as the post spawn was just happening. The lake trout appeared just across from the cabin in a deep trough.
Follow the link to see some of the special places Canada has to offer for avid adventurous fishermen.
It has been a while since I
updated the blog, almost 2 years. Bad
for me so it is time to update my fishing adventures.
A lot of changes in my life,
with my daughter moving into her own house and a lot of DIY projects at her
house and at my house (a better Man Cave with a bathroom, grilling station on the new patio).
But for the few fishing times
there has been, it was a couple of years of Big Fish.Don’t know why but maybe a better concentration
in the areas where the big ones live and best use of the time on the water.
The bass fishing was
spectacular with many Purdy Frogs raising the big ones. There is nothing better than the topwater action early mornings. The frogs in the timber were the answer.Some of these frogs are on in the blog, and I continue
to make the hand carved balsa wood frogs and then use the copic marker and paint to bring
these forms to life.
The other fishing success
over the last two years was in the North Carolina rivers.The trout were large and the stock brookies
were enormous.Catching these fish on my
5 wt bamboo rod, (Rattlesnake A), made these fish special and a lot of fun.Got to
name your rods.The beautiful
browns were also great to hook up and still my favorite fish.
So enjoy a few pictures of the BIG ONES and
look forward to more adventures.
The last couple of years our fishing adventures have been focused on Smallies. We decided to travel back to Wisconsin to Boulder Junction for another bass trip in the area where Bob’s teenage years were spent honing his bass skills. In our Fish Cat Float tubes and 10,000 lakes to choose from, we hit the post span of the smallies. The bass were in shallow water “cruising” the ledges for any type of food. This allow for topwater and large fish. Small tube frogs and minnow tube flies were the ticket for raising the smallies. Some lake also had large numbers of largemouth in the 2.5-3 lb. size. Plastics were used in the cabbage patches to target these largemouth.
Boulder Junction is also the Muskie Capital of the world and would allow me to stalk another Muskie. Two big strikes on the Flambeau River but no hookups this time.
We also ventured into Michigan Sylvania Wilderness area. All lakes were no motors and about a ¾ or 1 mile hike in. The remote lake of East Bear had lily pads along the shore and small largemouth bass every 10 feet. No challenge to catch one here except for the mosquito’s in the millions. A swampy creek that was a great breeding area for the tiger mosquito fed the lake.
A wonderful time with my best friend and fishing buddy. If you would like to go to this area, the DNR is very helpful and can advise you on the lakes to fish. Smallmouth Bass in these lakes are large and willing to provide you a great fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql4-rIpWKsE&feature=youtu.be
It
was difficult to get some good photos this summer since I had a camera break
and leak, electronics don’t work the same after getting wet !!! The Pentax
crushproof, waterproof and dustproof camera did not make after a drop from my
pocket.It was a great camera up till
then.
My
fishing partner, Bob, and I agreed to focus a few trips this summer on
Smallies. This summer started with a float in June on the South Fork of the New
River and the New River in North Carolina.We have a great time on the South Fork on Saturday afternoon once we
arrived around 1:00 till 7:00.We fished
in our float tubes about 5 miles.A lot
of fish but small.Mostly on soft plastics.
The
next day we fished near Independence above the area the North and South Forks
join.The water was bigger and the fish
were bigger in size.It was an over cast
raining day and when we crssed the South Fork it was very stained but once we
arrive at the main river water quality was good.So off for our adventure.The river fish big with ledges of rock being
the target.Soft plastic was the
preferred lure again.Only a few managed
on topwater late in the day.Rain did
come and the fish turned on before and during the downpour.
We
will be back and go into Virginia for the bigger water below the dam.
For
the last couple of months I have been fishing the small electric only
lakes.Using my frogs and poppers for
bass and bream.I purchased a new Copic
airbrush and have added some more detail to the frogs and minnows.
A
couple of bream have been beast, pulling my kayak around once hooded.They are some much fun when that size.The poppers sitting on the water and just a
small wiggle and wham !!It is just
great.
So
in the hot moths get out to the lakes and enjoy some vicious strikes and a
wonderful time with topwater.
Since the fishing weather has not totally cooperated for the winter trout fishing with rain and high rivers, we finally expected a good day for fair conditions the 2nd weekend in March. Even this day was overcast and a reported high of 60 at the Tuckaseegee River in North Carolina. The morning about 8:30 found the temperature around 32 degrees, hoping for the sun to rise for the warm up. The dam release reports were for one dam flow later in the day, so we started our fishing in lower water. There was a slight stain in the water so we will start the day with a black wooly bugger and a Purdy"Want-a-be Prince". Good choice!!
The Tuck most recent stocking had been a few weeks before so we expected a good day. Well a good day it was for sure. The NC stocking must have been a spring brookie release. A you can see from the pictures it was a banner catch. We each landed multiple 15"- 18+" brookies. The one I am holding was a female full of eggs and hard to take a quick photo. She was a brute.
So the fishing was great on marginal day, never warming to 60 as reported with no sun. Very few people were fishing so it left the river to us brave ones.
These are the featured flies that were made for bass fishing. The frogs are hand carved balsa wood with an epoxy finish. these are tube flies with interchangable hooks and feathers for different action and looks. The tube minnows are made the same as the frogs.
See the viedo on the home page and order based on tube frog name.
The winner of the bamboo rod contest at the Dahlonega Gold Rush Days is Susan C. from Atlanta. There were 120 entries and only 24 correct answers to the three questions based on the pictures on the contest board.
1) Local river Shoals (Hint: another name for Satan) -- Devils Shoals on the Chattahochee River
2) Famous Bridge on the Madison River -- (Hint: $) -- Three Dollar Bridge
3) Bass Fly Featured in Booth -- (Hint: Picture of Stealth Bomber)--- Stealth Bomber
We tried to make the contest fun and thanks all that particpated.
Next time on the river look for Susan and her new Purdy Bamboo Rod. It is a special rod made from bamboo harvested from the Chattahoochee River. The bamboo rod is a 7' - 1" blonde - 5 wt. perfect for the trout in all of the rivers in Georgia.
The rods and flys that were displayed at the fair will be for sell in the next couple of weeks as I will update the web site with these items. All who purchased items thanks agian and send me pictures of your fishing adventures and I will post for all to enjoy.
Thanks for all of you that came by the booth at the Dahlonega Gold Rush Days Event. I always love hearing the stories of your fishing adventures and the large fish that you have had the pleasure of fighting, maybe even caught.
This year, I featured the Bass fly, tube frogs and minnows. See the following viedo post for more info. I know that all who now are proud owners of the Tube Frogs will be sucessful in the pursuit of the Big Bass. We will posting over the next couple of weeks the Bamboo fly rods for sale and the tube frogs and minnows. The trout flies are avaialable upon requuest but those who missed out , the big ones will be for others who now have some special Purdy flies.
thanks again!!! I will be posting the winner of the bamboo fly rod in the next couple of days. The answers to the questions wil also be posted.
FALL IS HERE - GO FISHING
This winter my thoughts have been on
summer bass fishing with my fly boxes already full of trout flies for the
spring season ahead.Over the last
couple of summer seasons, I have been experimenting with using small tube poppers
for bass.I was happy with the preformed
foam poppers durability and action.The
foam poppers worked just fine to raise bass to the top but would not last long during the summer season.So began my
obsession to make some new poppers and more realistic looking flies. The goals were to make flies of various sizes
that could be cast with either a 5wt rod for small flies or a 7wt rod for the
bigger flies.
I have always liked frogs went it
comes to bass fishing.They are great
for fishing bass early morning and late evenings over weeds or near downed structure.No big bass can refuse a swimming juicy frog.
I wanted a fly that would be light but with
some more shape and style.My crafting
traits took over and I began to experiment with balsa wood and tubes.My steelhead fly tying lead me to using
tubes.The tube allows for multiple
hooks and tails to be used on the same body depending on action and
conditions.I also wanted a more
realistic shape to the frog and minnows and the tube does not hinder the shape
of the fly and no hook setting is needed in the balsa wood.Freedom of design and shape of the fly was a
big plus.
Some of the frogs and minnows have
rattles inserted into their bodies and some have weight inserted to created different
actions. The final finish for the painted balsa wood is an epoxy finish to give
the flies their durable body.The tube
system allows for the body to move away from the hook to even protect the fly
more during a strike.Also, I find that the removal of
the hook from the bass is easier.
As with all experimental flies, we
sometimes get carried away.So was born
the Stealth Bomber Frog.Formed with a
chiseled black body with two rattles and of course the prototype had to have a pilot.It is so cool. Bass beware.
The start of the trout delayed
harvest in North Carolina and in Georgia marks the start of trout season in the
southeast area.We begin in November in
North Carolina at the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers.This year at the “tuck “we landed a great
many brookies, what fighters.With a new
underwater camera we explored the fish in there underwater world.On the tuck one trip, I was in a pod of fish
and then the rod bend did not give.I
was able to dance with a 23”-25” hook nose brown.As I was ready to land the fish by fishing
partner upriver arrived.I began to open
my tube pouch to get the camera.I
tossed him the camera the fish made one last run.Not to be netted that day.Biggest trout ever on my bamboo rod.
The Georgia DH starts in November, so
around thanksgiving I headed to the Toccoa DH area.A wonderful mountain river experience but on
that day a lot of fisherman and guides had the same idea in the low water
perfect for wading.So in the float tube, I headed for the deeper
and rougher shoals where wading is difficult.I always like to fish the pools of the shoals.Two twin big trout we at the head waters of
the shoals.The video shows only one but
both were skinny but 18+.Great way to
end the first trip to the Toccoa area.
The Chattahoochee River was a tough
start with the dam flows required for the South Georgia areas lack of
rain.The couple of trips were
successful with trout spread out along the river due to the water
generation.On the hooch, one can run
into other fish, bass for sure.When a
bass hits your fly the first thought is, this is a big trout.No disappointment as the fight is a good one
on the cane.
So a good start to the year’s trout
fishing with many memories.Looking to
2013 as a big fish year.
August 18-19, 2012 -by Stephen A. Dubberly
On an early Saturday morning before the sun arose over an early Autumn southern landscape, Jeff Purdy, Stephen Dubberly, Greg Bennett and Jeff Miller set out for an adventure in the storied Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After the quick ride from Atlanta we approached the winding mountain-side dirt road leading into the Valley. We are anxious for what lies over the next ridge or around the next corner for we had never camped or fished in the Cataloochee Valley. Driving over the mountain on the two path road seemed to take even longer than the 200 miles we had just driven from our urban confines. Every turn revealed more and more as we descended into the Valley and seemingly back in time.
As we set up camp, we swap stories about things we had read about the historic valley. From bears to trout to elk, we had much to discuss. All of which proved to be as illusive as the cell phone signals we had left on the other side of the mountain. Once settled in we head off to find these native rainbows and brookies we read and heard so much about. We fish away the afternoon enjoying the awesome environment this natural, mostly untouched, habitat has to offer. We spread out to find the water we think hold the best trout. Alone, I trek through several parts of Cataloochee Creek presenting fly after fly and try all my best skills and tricks to only miss a couple of tiny trout before heading to see what the other guys may have accomplished. It appeared as though they had all had similar luck. These fish are tough, clear, skinny water, hard to find fish, hard to catch fish. These fish are pros, we are not in their league. Perhaps with the exception of our guide and fly fishing mentor Jeff Purdy, who had the most luck (or skill) of the entire weekend.
We head over to the Ranger Station to try the creek running through the meadow. Beautiful pocket water with small tumbling rapids over unique Smoky Mountain boulders transitioning into smooth flats just begging for a dry fly. "This it it!", I think to myself. "This is the spot, time to rid the skunk." No such luck, but I enjoyed every bit of this new water and this challenging leg of the adventure.
We drive back to camp after searching much of the fishable water in this area of the Valley. Purdy's Special marinated ribs on the grill with all the fixin's for dinner and a few night caps and we are off too dream about the trout to be found in the day to come. That is, until the rain started. There was no rain in forecast, but in this valley, all bets are off. Will the fish bite in this weather? Well, according to the ranger in the campground, "Sometimes they like the rain, sometimes they don't." Words to live by. We give it one more shot in hopes that this is one of the times "they like it".
We drive over a long mountain pass in search of the "Second Bridge". We finally arrive after about 40 minutes on the two path road of endless switch-backs. "Are we there yet's" follow "Whoa! Look at the cliff!" The rain has subsided on this side of the mountain and we are once again excited! We are all anxious to try our hand at the fresh water we see flowing crisply and calling to us like a Siren's song from deep down in the gorge below. We step out into the parking area and decide which way to go. Greg and Jeff Miller head downstream, Jeff Purdy & I head upstream. After finally finding the overgrown stream-side trail we are on our way. The only thing I am thinking is, THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY! I had already read the statistic that this area has the highest concentration of bears in the entire GSMNP! That is a large area, and we are in the"bulls-eye" for bears so to speak. I have accepted the fact that we will walk up on one at any second as we trudge through the so-called "trail" yelling, BEAR! YO BEAR! Alas, we have survived and no bear is to be seen. Now, for the record, I'm not deathly afraid of bears. However I would rather see one from a distance than up close and personal in his/her own habitat!
We make our way down to the stream and it proves to be quite different than some of the slower water we had been fishing the day before. Larger boulders, far more pockets requiring a highly tactical approach. A level of fly fishing skill that I surely have not acquired yet. I make the best of the spot that I am in as Purdy treks on up stream further into bear country. We all reconvene near the bridge after a few hours. It appears I am the only one that has not actually landed a trout, I hooked into a couple of tiny, and I mean TINY, ones but I think my #14 Adams was just too big for them to set the hook. No worries, a great time was had by all and lifelong memories were made. While we may not venture to this exact location again any time soon in search of monster trout (we never thought they were actually there, but we can dream!), the majesty of this incredibly preserved valley beckons the call of anyone wanting to step back in time a little and experience a part of this country the way it was before highways & cell phones. Have a look at the video below and relive this remarkable weekend warrior adventure with us. -Stephen
It seems like it was long ago in January the we were planning our trip to the Canadian wilderness to try and be the only fishermen to adventure into lost lakes to find the perfect fishing experience. We targeted 30 lakes knowing we could not make it into all lakes. The float tubes limit your range to 3/4 to 1 mile radius but the fishing in the tube is a stealth mode to target shallow fish.
We did find that the Bears and the Impenetrable forest were our most difficult foes. We did find a few lost lakes where fish have not seen a lure or fly in a very long long long time. 30-50 fish at each lake was common, not bad for 4-6 hours, and we fished at least 2 lakes per day. We were at the post spawn for the smallies and they were in the shallows and on the shallow rocky points. The weed beds were just starting to emerge but did hold fish at the edges.
All smallies in these lakes were 14"-19" and just very active and hungry. My best made fly was the frog pattern flies with the tube flies being a big hit for the smallies and the northerns.
The muskies were tough in the lakes but we did have two attacks but no sucess in bring one in. Imaging a 30-35" muskie coming to your tube then to strike ... wow what a rush ! The northerns were similar in their attacks but not as exciting as a potential big muskie.
We had a great trip and adventure of a life time but did learn that the forest was diffucult to get through to the lakes that we could see,,(within 100 yards). The fishing was spectacular on the lakes that we did fish.
We look forward to more Canadian adventures but fly in with our tubes maybe the ticket.
Trip Summary Video
We have a great trip to Canada, doing a float tube adventure that most do not attempt. We learn alot aabout the wilderness area of Canada.. The forest is thick and the Bears are everywhere. We sill posting a video and picture soon but for now here are a couple of photos of the bass and northerns.
Some days, random events try to make you insane.However, these are the times that can be the
most rewarding.
It was a late Sunday afternoon in the middle of March and
the black caddis had been making the trout on the Chattahoochee crazy.So around 3:00 pm on a perfect mid spring
day, I quickly gathered my fishing equipment and headed to Cochran shoals for a
short late evening fishing adventure, knowing that the fish would be active at
that time of the day, feeding on caddis and midges.
I arrived and geared up with the float tube on the back and
headed up the trail on the east side of the shoals, around a ¾” mile hike.I typically do not rig up my bamboo rods
until I arrive on the river; safer to transport along the trail.Once at the river entry, I started to put my
rod sections together only to discover I had two sections of two different rods;
a 1/16” can be large at that moment.What to do?Too late to drive
back to Alpharetta.
I thought how this can be.I then remembered that I had performed
repairs on the river before on a broken rod tip and knew that a bamboo rod can
perform with a spliced joint.So I
packed up the gear and headed to the car to rummage through my equipment bag, a¾” mile hike back to the parking lot.
I always carry one
of the most important must have in the survival gear
duct tape.
I aligned two of the guides from the top and bottom
sections. Using a spiral wrap of the tape, I jointed the tip and butt around
the guide alignment. .A rod just like
new only 8” shorter.
So off to the river again, getting my exercise along the
trail.It turned out to be a banner day
of fishing with active fish all evening hitting caddis.Shorter cast but when fish are feeding it is
not a problem to get close to cast your dries.
So remember the duct tape and don’t let a broken rod stop
the fishing.
