Canadice Lake, originally uploaded by sailorbill.

Pre-season bass fishing from my Native Watercraft Multisport 14.5 Propel kayak last weekend on Canadice Lake in Western New York out on a day-trip with several guys who are in the WNYKFA – Western New York Kayak Fishing Association.

Pike, Deep Pond at Mendon Ponds Park, originally uploaded by sailorbill.

I went fishing with a bunch of guys who fish together in a group called the Western New York Kayak Fishing Association (WNYKFA) today. I caught one nice pike on a crank bait in Deep Pond. It wasn’t very cold but it was windy. No bass in my boat today. One other guy we were fishing with landed a smallmouth out in the middle of Hundred Acre Pond.

My new Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 Propel Kayak (or is it a canoe?). It is supposed to be in the 60′s this weekend. I can’t wait to wet a fly line from this boat!

]]> http://www.billblevins.com/2010/01/searching-for-steelheads-2/feed/ 0 http://www.billblevins.com/2010/01/beginner-fly-tying-class/ http://www.billblevins.com/2010/01/beginner-fly-tying-class/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:11:39 +0000 Bill Blevins http://www.billblevins.com/?p=305 Four of us started an eight-week beginner fly tying class at the local parks and recreation center here in Fairport, NY last night. We were told that we’d be learning the basics by tying “classic” patterns that “work in Western New York”.

I need patterns that work in Western New York!

Although I’ve tied flies for a while, I’ve never taken a formal class. I’ve read a lot of books, bought a lot of fur and feathers, watched a few instructional DVD’s, but mostly gained my knowledge to date watching videos on YouTube!

The class was educational, interesting, occasionally entertaining and most importantly fun to hang out with my fishing buddies.

I’ve already picked up a few tips (ie: hold on to your scissors while you are tying) and we completed two patterns – both steelhead jigs – tied on large hooks with molded heads.

Stay tuned for the whole series!

Chartreuse Marabou Steelhead Jig

Brown Bleeding Bucktail Steelhead Jig

I’m changing shirts! I always seem to have on this orange Filson moleskin!! I’m sure next time I’ll catch more fish with a black shirt.

This is Oak Orchard Creek in Western, NY, right below the point where the fish can’t go upstream any further – about 2.5 miles from Lake Ontario. (I don’t think they can scale this falls).

I didn’t catch anything but I hooked one and bent the #8 hook pretty good and I did cast at a nice brown and a 4-year-old rainbow (they call them steelheads here) but neither were hungry or I scared them off with the big 8 wt. and #2 hook on a 1x leader!!

Next time… smaller gear!!

I did see 3 steelhead caught on spin gear. They looked like 13-inchers and didn’t put up much of a fight for the guys reeling them in.

Beautiful day here with 53 degrees in December! Nice! Next trip will require steel studs on the boots I’m sure!

Fly Fishing for Salmon on Sandy Creek, NY, originally uploaded by sailorbill.

Caught a nice female Chinook Salmon this morning on Sandy Creek on the West side of Rochester, NY in Monroe County. I was using a 5 weight Winston Boron IIx fly rod with a 6 lb. leader and tippet fishing with a pink imitation single egg fly. The fish took the fly on the second drift then proceeded upstream for about 50 yards and then acted like a log for about 15 minutes. My friend Bret helped me land her because we didn’t bring a net. Next time… a big net! After the photo op, I let her go.

This little guy followed me all morning, originally uploaded by sailorbill.

Blurry iPhone shot of the little fawn that followed me down Oatka Creek for about a mile this morning. His mom and sister stayed quite a ways back in the woods but this one was within 20 feet the whole time.

Cold day of fishing on Honeoye Lake, originally uploaded by sailorbill.

I caught a few small bass today on Honeoye Lake. Morning temps started out in the 30′s but warmed into the 50′s by early afternoon, but the wind really picked up keeping a chill on. Had a good time though. Beautiful lake.

Fly fishing, Wiscoy Creek, Pike, NY, originally uploaded by sailorbill.