The Bass Are Ready

I'm calling it the official start to bass season. OK, not technically "bass season" if you are a keep and eat it kinda fisherman....and not really even "bass season" if you are a catch and release kinda fisherman. NY a few years ago opened up bass fishing for all year....but keeping them for the table is still only an option part of the year.  ....but that's all a tangent....I'm calling it the official start to BASS SEASON!!! Meaning....it's worth your time to get out.

Either out of ignorance, or wimpyness, I've never really gone after bass until at least April. And even then I didn't expect much top water action. Well, this winter decided to play in my favor and was nice and mild. Heck, my wife and I only shoveled the driveway 3 times this winter. The lack of snow was a blessing considering we had bald tires on the van. Those tires are replaced and the weather in March has been fantastic....even bordering on too hot for a few days.

I took advantage of this great weather (although today was a bit chillier) and got out for one my famous 1 hour trips (1 hour-ish trips.) I met up with my longest surviving fishing buddy and hit Twin Rock pond. A nice little pond that I'd likely never tell you the location of even if you asked. See, I think as much as it's great to share fishing spots with people, and I often do, there are some that I'm going to keep for myself. Suffice it to say that this pond is easily found on Google maps, and even has an updated image showing the current shape and size of the pond. Like many of the ponds I fish it has houses surrounding it. See, I've already given away too much info.

We met up about 9am this morning and started having success! I hooked the first two before he started catching some.

Thanks for playing, Mr. Bass

Yes, top water bass in March

Using his go to favorite fly, the white foam ant (this one with extended legs) he found himself wrestling some bass, and a huge bluegill!

So tiny....nice try punk!

A decent sized blue

Before he met me at Twin Rock, he was fishing Lions pond. Using the Fishin' Clips from Grasshopper Outdoors that he won at the Guys, Flies & Pies fly tying party last month, he had an easy way to break down his strung up rod for a quick ride to the next pond. Notice (above) how easy the clips stored away on his pack while fishing.

Ready to rock, ready to roll

Although we only fished for an hour, it was a good way to get out of the house (full of sick kids...myself included) for a bit. I can't wait till the bass heat up even more!

Topwater Bass in MARCH!!!

I got out fishing today for an hour with my 5 year old son. We hit a pond we found a few years ago that has been really good to us. It's a simple retention pond in a fairly new neighborhood and I don't think it gets much pressure at all. I've only seen one other kid fish it....I think.

We started off close to the car and saw a few fish. After trying for a few minutes I was able to catch a bass on a fly I tied months ago.

First fish of 2012

"Dad! I gotta pee!" is never quite what I want to hear when we've only been fishing for 10 minutes....especially since we were right there in a neighborhood. So, we hiked around to the back of the pond where there is a dirt bike and snowmobile (for winters when we actually have snow) trail and he was able to find a little privacy.....then it was back to fishing.

We made our way around the pond to the smaller section, which was shallower, and saw some movement near the shore. I switch up to a gurgler and started casting. Immediately I was getting hits...likely from bluegill. Not many casts later however, I had a bass explode and take my fly! It was game on! For the first time EVER, I was catching bass on top in freaking MARCH! Not March after the official day of spring.....but March BEFORE the official day of spring! I was loving it! This is my kinda winter! Shovel 3 times and start bass fishing in March! Bring it on every year till the end of time! Thank you global warming!

My son got to reel him in

After that first bass we ended up catching 2 more on the surface, and missing 4 or 5 others too. Crazy they were hitting like that. I suspect the shallower water, close to the inlet from the runoff from the neighborhood, got that water to warm up and get the fish active.

Splash!

Besides catching bass on the surface, something else I never thought I'd be doing in March was kayaking....especially in Lake Ontario. A friend of mine brought up a second sit on top kayak 2 weeks ago and we went out. The temperature was in the mid 40's and I stayed pretty warm. It was great paddling again, especially in a comfortable sit on top....I definitely need to figure out a way to get one of those!

Miles and miles of open water

Vote for monoMASTER

Right now, Walmart is running a contest to get new products on their shelves. One of the companies that is in the contest is GFP long time supporter, the monoMASTER.

Do you use a monoMASTER? Then you might be thinking this has no benefit to you, but consider what Ian at Grasshopper Outdoors has said..."Walmart sells thousands of miles of monofilament each year.  In my experience much of the waste mono I find in the bushes and on the bank..."

Help support one of the events longest supporters by giving up some votes. Yes, votes, with an "s". See, it appears that "each person can vote for all three products in single day and then they can vote again every 24 hours." Keep in mind Grasshopper Outdoors has three products in the running, and you can vote for ALL 3 each day. Rumor has it you can even vote 3 times with texting and 3 times with Facebook....that's 6 votes per day...if the rumor is true.

So, although I hope you support our sponsors (who without, our event wouldn't be as much fun and successful) all year long, here is a great chance to help them achieve some larger success, which could only mean more awesome products could come out of Grasshopper Outdoors! Win, freaking win situation here!

Here are direct links to each items page for voting.

www.getontheshelf.com/product/3051/monoMASTER-Waste-Fishing

www.getontheshelf.com/product/3049/seatMASTER

www.getontheshelf.com/product/3526/Fishn'Clips

Thanks for helping out our sponsors!

Thanks! GFP 2012 Was Great!

I'd like to thank everyone who joined us for the Guys, Flies & Pies event yesterday. We had a great turnout and everyone seemed to have a great time. I'd also like to thank our sponsors for all the great products and gear they provided. It's always great to have awesome prizes for everyone.

Every year there seems to be a few guys that stick around to the very end...and help clean up. I appreciate this every year. Yesterday I turned around and it was almost all done. Thanks guys for making the clean up go real easy last night.

For all of you that won something, feel free to post photos of the gear in action on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/guysfliesandpies or email me at mike[at]guysfliesandpies.com and I can add it. And as always, when possible, let our sponsors know you saw their stuff at Guys, Flies & Pies. Anyone with photos from last night, feel free to send those my way too.

Here's a few photos from last night, I'll go through the rest and post more another day.

Doug winning the JP Ross rod setup, with Landmark tube

Craig doing a demo

Look For These Signs

If you are coming out to the event today, look for these signs on the NORTH side of Latta Road.

The access road says it's a private drive, but you are authorized to be there!

See you in a few hours.

The house in the back of the next photo is NOT the building you are looking for...go down the driveway.

 

 

Here's the building!

Click here for directions

This Saturday!!!

Just to remind everyone, the big event is THIS Saturday...February 18th 2012!


I've been getting some great gear in the mail lately that will be part of the door prizes and raffles this year. Everyone gets a chance at the door prizes just for showing up, and you can choose to get in on the raffles if you'd like.

Just today I got a rod tube from Landmark Components and a sweet 6 foot 2 weight rod from Midwest Custom Fly Rods in the mail. These are very nice products from these companies who have been very generous to support our event for many years!

Custom built 2 weight

So, don't forget to pack your vise and materials and join us for the areas largest fly tying party! I pre-ordered the sheet pizzas yesterday so please come and help me eat them!

One last thing, the last day to pay in advance for a discount is Friday. See the website for details.

13 Day Notice, and Angler's Workshop Report

Consider this your 13 day notice about the big Guys, Flies & Pies fly tying party coming up in less than two weeks, on Saturday February 18th 2012. It will be yet another great year!

Yesterday I attended Angler's Workshop as a sponsor. Craig from Fly Fishing Chronicles puts together this event ever other year, and even though it was only the second year, he did a great job once again. It's event devoted to all aspects of fly fishing. There is a full schedule of seminars which included such topics as fly tying, knots, destination fishing, and women in the sport. There were plenty of raffles to get in on, which had some really great prizes donated by many of the sponsors that were on hand, and some that weren't able to attend. At the end of the day I got a chance to run a casting competition...that was a first for me. Even though the doors only officially opened at 8:45am for the public to come in, I was having a great time by 8:56am.

As a sponsor I got some table space and was able to show off some poppers I'm working on, sell a few, and tell a lot of people about the Guys, Flies & Pies party coming up in 2 weeks. I really enjoy this kind of stuff...tying flies, talking fishing, and meeting great people.

Tying a popper

Craig was very kind and hand some pretty sweet "thank you cards" made up for the sponsors. This bad boy is going up in my fly tying room so I can enjoy it and have it as a reminder to the wonderful time I had yesterday at Angler's Workshop.

Some weird guy with a sweet plaque

It was also great to run into lots of old friends and a few of the GFP sponsors. JP from JP Ross Fly Rods was there and had a great new fly rod holder for his table (I should have gotten a picture). Carl from Mad River Dubbing Company was also there with 12 feet of fly tying materials. Both JP and Carl gave me their donations to the event coming up. JP donated a very sweet 5 weight fly rod and reel that someone is just going to love to fish with this spring. Carl again generously donated lots of fly tying materials which many of you will get to go home with.

Keep in mind, it's because of our sponsors that our event is able to be so awesome, so when you're looking to buy, have a look at them and let them know that GFP sent you.

I'm looking forward to Angler's Workshop 2014...2 years will go by fast, but maybe not fast enough.

See you all in 13 days for Guys, Flies & Pies!

Tie Like A Girl t-shirt

Sure, it's called Guys, Flies & Pies, but the truth is we have women that attend the event, women that are great friends and even better fishermen (than other guys....NOT me...seriously, I'd never admit to that, so don't expect it.)

Now there's a shirt designed for all the girls. For $20 you can own your very own Tie Like A Girl t-shirt. The Seriously Shop not only will ship this anywhere in the USA for free, but Guys, Flies & Pies will let you into the event next month for the prepaid price ($10) if you are wearing one...even if you pay at the door (otherwise $12 the day of the event.)

Tie Like A Girl t-shirt

 To order yours go to The Seriously Shop on Etsy or click the Paypal link below.

Size

Small $20.00 USD Medium $20.00 USD Large $20.00 USD Extra Large $20.00 USD

Grasshopper Outdoors

Many of you who visit this site may have seen the link at the bottom for Grasshopper Outdoors. If you are not familiar with them, they are the ones behind the ever popular monoMASTER, the year old seatMASTER, and the fresh from the stork...Fishin'clips!

For years the monoMASTER has been a simple clean way for anglers to easily carry waste mono out from the water. No mess in the vest, no tangle in the pockets. A simple and easy product.

Master your mono

Last year they came out with the seatMASTER, a seat that attaches to the top of a stick, wading staff, or petrified dinosaur bone. Need a break, crack it open and relax.

seatMASTER

Now, if you are looking for a way to keep your strung up rod tangle free, use the Fishin'clips to keep things where they should be. What a great way to transport your rod, ready to fish, from spot to spot.

Fishin'clips

Again this year at the event (2/18/2012) we'll have some of their products on hand to check out and win. Of course, I'm still waiting for the deskMASTER I suggest they make to easily spin up (like the monoMASTER) and clean off the tying desk mess. Maybe someday....maybe.

Not coming to the Guys, Flies & Pies event next month? Then check them out on Facebook, you can enter to win one of their products. Every Monday until spring they are giving some away!

Event Update

I just wanted to let everyone know that things are coming together for the event, which is NEXT MONTH. Mark your calendars for February 18th 2012. It's from 3pm until...well, until you leave....we wont kick you out until midnight. Bring your vise and your appetite. Sit down and have a fun evening tying with other fishermen. Get in on the raffles and have a chance to win some great prizes. Around 6pm we'll have sheets and sheets and sheets of pizza pies show up for some dinner, eat all you want. Soda/pop and water are available so drink up! We'll have a few demonstrations to watch, but typically there are plenty of people willing to let you sit down and learn from them. We really have a great group of people who are so nice to share what they know.

Our sponsors are the best out there. Check out the list below and make sure to check out their websites. These companies have helped provide great products for everyone to check out and win. Make sure you tell them you heard about them from GFP.

Photo by Lucas Carroll Photography

Entry into the event is $12, but if you pay in advance you can save $2. Plus, if you wear your Guys, Flies & Pies t-shirt to the event, we'll let you in for $10 even if you pay at the door. If you are interested in buying a shirt for $20 send me an email about what size, mike@guysfliesandpies.com. To pay in advance hit the link at the top left of this page.

We will have some great prizes again this year and as always we'll have a lot of great guys (and girls) tying flies who are always willing to share what they know. Honestly, I host this event just to learn from everyone else about fly tying.

Only 34 more days, I can't wait! See you there!