Hi There, I had $100 of Christmas money in gift card for an expensive Fly shop in town, so I just purchased a Redington fly rod and reel combo. It comes with a weight forward line, leader and backing. It has been many years since I tried fly fishing. I need to get a tippet and some flies. Any suggestions for a 9' 5wt rod/reel and fishing for trout mostly here in NM. But I would like to catch some Texas bass and perch/bluegills too. I have been wanting to fly fish the catch and release ponds here in NM.

Where do you buy your flies? What else is needed or is very useful for you? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the game

There ought to be some fly shops there in Albuquerque that could sell you the very best local patterns. nothing like going to the locals.

For Texas bass and perch it's a far simpler process. Wolly Buggers, poppers, Clousers, Cat's Whiskers, Briminators, pretty much any of the patterns on http://www.flyfishvideo.com/ To tell the truth, there are so many good warm water patterns that it's hard to know where to begin. Something buggy that floats or sink, something amphibian that floats or sinks.

I fish Pete's Gurgle Pops, Briminators, Cats Whiskers because I liek to tie them and they catch fish. Same could be said for many other patterns.

Karpbuster,
are you willing to travel up to the Pecos headwaters or the caldera region?
You're very close to some native Rio grande cutthroats too!

Seems to me that van beacham mentioned good striped bass and LMB at Elephant Buttes res.

as for gear I looked up Charlie's in your town- thye might be of help too.

Les

Oh my gosh how can I have left out the Cap Spider? But I did. But now I'm not.

Thanks guys. Rrhyne I will stock up on those, Pete's flies I can get online I think. Les, I am always OK with the Jemez area it is close, but I am getting either too old or too lazy to wade the streams. It is more likely I will fish the catch and release ponds in town at Sandia or Tingley. I bought the rod/reel at Charlie's and will buy flies there, I am like a junkie buying things there (but they are expensive here but the info is worth it). But I was wondering what I should have in my tackle box when out and the "best fly" isn't working. For instance I fish crankbaits/spinnerbaits/swimbaits for bass, but always have a jig or plastic to try first.

I actually fish in Texas more than NM now. But I will run around on the weekend, and during the winter the trout fishing is best at those catch and release ponds. I have to say it is exciting to go fly fishing I can't wait.

What do you think of this for instance?

Beg Flies

I will go to Charlie's or Los Pinos is just a block away from where I work and look for those bass bugs.

can't go wrong there

Might as well grab this one while you're at it
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=76TK

Wow $10 thanks. Orvis is not the cheapest but may be the best.

Now I have something in my box. The Orvis deal can be placed in shirt pocket maybe, cool.

Yup. You simply cannot beat that deal without shoplifting....

Careful there, Warden, you'll tarnish your sterling reputation...

Just got back from Los Pinos, nice people. They had no clue as to Cat's whiskers, Briminators or Pete's gurgle pops. But I bought a popper, clouser, boogers and something called a Bass turd. The turd is like a feathered thing with a long tail. I also bought a few trout flies. And a Sexy shad spinner bait (strike king) 3/8 oz, can't help myself.

Of course I ordered those Orvis flies too. Now I will go apey this weekend.

Cool! Don't forget your camera!

Ok I did some research the Cat's whisker is sort of a crappie jig looking fly, the breaminator I can't find. Do you have a picture of one? Can I buy one in Lufkin at Academy?

Thanks.

Briminator
I have never seen one in any shop. They may be available online

Here's all I could find Briminator Google

You won't find either a cats whisker or the briminator in stores- only on you tube.
By the way, the cats whisker is a two hundred year old fly, and a gentleman in the Texas hill country ties another version "hook up" with a wing resting over it. So there's actually two versions you might find.


Les

Thanks guys, wow what a cool looking fly. I am going tomorrow, ditching work in the afternoon. Hope to take a few picts.

I travel to Albuquerque quite often on business, but never do a trip there without a trip to Sportsman's Warehouse off of I-25. As a "wanna be" fly fisherman, they have a great selection of flies at prices much better than I can find here in DFW. Granted, not enough of my fishing is fly fishing for me to put a ton of $$$ into it. For other types of fishing, the prices on a lot of their terminal tackle are great too!

Thanks yes I go there quite often, they have the best bass fishing selection in Albuq, the flys are right up there with Charlie's as far as lots to choose from. I would give Charlies or Los Pinos my fly business (smaller home grown companys) but the bass stuff is definitely Sportsman Whse.

Results ... I took off work and got on the pond just before 3pm. Sheesh. I strung my line in the 9' rod three times it kept falling back out, forth time the charm. I tied on a brassy nope, I tied on a nymph thingie, nope. I had bought that morning some asprin and a pistol pete in purple marabou plus feathers, tied that on (not very well) second cast boom came untied. Tied on my last Pistol pete in purple, boom 13" rainbow, sweet. I know I looked like an old woman beating off a bumble bee with a broom handle, some how I managed to tie knots in my leader, throw all my fly line into a pile right in front of me, snapped a few by my head and I snapped a few flys off. I guess I need some lessons.

I was a blast though it was a lot of fun. They closed the pond at 5pm. End of the day, lost 4 flys, two other fish that grabbed the fly when I was looking at the geese and sandhill cranes flying over, no fair! One fish caught.

Sorry no pictures, I forgot the camera. Next time.

Sounds like you had fun, you'll definately be hooked on fly fishing now.

Getting some casting help now will shorten the learning curve.

Here's a quick tip when stringing up the line in the rod. Pull off enough line from the reel for the fly line (the thick plastic stuff, not just the mono leader) to reach the end of the rod. Grab the plastic fly line and fold it over, then thread this loop of fly line up through the rod guides. The fly line is easier to hold than the leader material and if you drop it, the loop will usually catch in one of the guides instead of falling all the way out of the rod.

That is an excellent idea on the line, the end of that leader was tiny and hard to hold onto. I figured some one would chastise me for using a fly with a propeller, it did cast different and fall into the lake plunk.

Propeller-type flies are very well received here. Our pal George ties some beauties! Do a search on TFF for the Spinster.
As for the knots, they require practice, too! Get a big worm hook and a long piece of mono off of one of your old, no longer used fishin poles and sit down in front of the TV and tie your chosen knot, cut it off, tie it again, rinse and repeat. This is also a good way to see which knots you like to tie.

Welcome to the madness!

Kirk