Open wide! I do mean your wallet!

This is a true statement of myself. When I started to learn fly fishing in March, I know exactly what I am getting into: open wide the wallet. Since then I bought 4 single hand fly rods, 1 spey rod, and 1 set of blank to be built. I also purchase 5 fly reals and 2 extra spoons to go with those fly rods. I first use WFF line from BassPro for those reels. Fishing in the small creeks for sandies or crappies, those lines are ok. When I took my fly rod to Texoma for striper fishing from the bank, I just can't get my line out to the distance I want. Of course I am still lacking the experience, my cast skill is not there yet. I worked my butts off, and almost broke my arm each time I tried. So I talked to RexW, watch more YouTube, and consult Rio's rep, taking recommendation of TFO tech rep, and decided to buy new line to replace those on the reels. New lines came last Saturday, I put two lines on one reel and one spare spoon: Rio Tropical series, Outbound Short, WF7F, 265 gr, and Outbound Short WF8F/I, 330 gr, for my 2 rods: TFO 8 weight BVK and TFO 9 weight Clouser Serie. I choose Saltwater line for the reason that I do few inshore fishing each year for flounders, reds, speckles, mangro snappers, sheep heads, etc. So every things that I need are here, it's time for a try out.

Last night, I set the rod up, put the spare spoon on the side, and got every thing ready for next day fishing. I got up at 4am, grabbed my rod, my bag, load the cool with ice, my wader, etc., etc. Got into the car, and took off. In the hurry, I forgot 2 things: my spare spoon with WF7F line on, and my fly box with all my small flies. Those 2 things that I forgot cost me dearly later. Haha.

I started fishing with my spinning rod/reel on Ok side for big stripers, no results. So I went back to the ramps at TX side after 8am. I want to try out the little popper I made few days ago. A popper on a intermediate sinking tip? You can see how bad it is. But I did manage to catch a sand bass with it. Hahaha.

Popping with a sinking tip is bad! After catching that sand bass, I switched to a clouser I tied earlier. it makes sense to use a Clouser Series rod to cast a clouser, right?!.

The results speak for itself. After putting on the clouser, I caught this beauty:

Hook up and fighting the fish:



my very first smallie on the fly:





Fish been released:

And I also caught this ugly thing, also my first on a fly:

Hoop up and fight:



Can you guess what fish it is?

That's a big, ugly drum. But for reason unknown, it looks so beautiful to me today! My first on a fly:

The fishes were hitting top water today. Lots sandies were chasing small fry close to the bank. If I had my spare spoon with WF7F line with me, I would be able to continue to use the popper, and may catch more fish.

If I did not forget my box with all my small flies, I would be able to catch more sandies, since they were constantly chasing small fry close the bank. A wise man always says: match the hatch.

But I have no complain. I managed to catch 3 different species in one hour. Not bad. Hat's off to myself! Hahaha.

That's all, folks.

Nice

Congrats! Looks like fun!

Very cool!

Nice work!

Great Job!!

Thanks friends!

Nice day, nice fish. Thanks for sharing!

the fly shops love guys like you!!.....and us........gotta have the gear-p-

Catching those would have made me happy. Good job