Fishing The Lakes and Ponds of The Villages

You don't have to cast far to catch fish. You don't even have to cast your fly line.

I caught an 18" bass yesterday morning after about 3 hrs and on my second pond at The Villages. The nymphs I used in the past successfully were not working now. I saw my son catch two 12 inch bass on a small plastic black and white minnow at the first pond. I decided to pull out my rabbit fur leeches with a weed guard. I had one light yellow one unweighted (second fly from the left in hte picture) that when it landed on the water it was very slow sinking. I retrieved it very slowly and thought that it really looks nice. Nothing on the first cast.

Next cast I got it out about 60 feet and slowly brought it back. I saw a dark shadow following it at about 40 feet. It then felt like I caught it on some grass but, I knew better because I could see what happened.

So, what does that have to do with not casting your fly line??

We proceeded to fish the rest of the morning and back again in the afternoon before the rain without another bite. After the rain-caused break, we returned expecting to kill them and got nothing!

I was standing along the bank thinking about the days I fished some of the creeks in Pennsylvania. I would wade up the stream looking for pockets to put my fly. In the early days when I was a real novice at fly fishing I did not catch much. But, I remembered that most of the fish I did catch reminded me of Johnny Cash song, “I Walked the Line”. I realized that I probably caught more fish wading up stream with my fly dangling behind be about 20-30 feet. I think it attracted the fish because the way I waded walking over and around rocks gave my fly a very herky-jerky movement.

The only fish either of us hooked the rest of the night was the 16" bass I got when “I Walked the Line”. I did cast it out about 20 feet and then walked another 30 feet letting out line. I let it sit for a few minutes and then walked about 100 feet along the bank when the fish hit my yellow leech pattern. I did not jerk the rod when walking. I just held it out at my side and the only movement was my walking along the bank. I realized this when I got home because I did not catch another fish walking the bank that night. Probably because I was excited about catching the fish the way I did. You become anxious and start jerking the rod more to give the fly more action when in reality it needs less action to attract the fish.

I maybe all wet with this but, I am passing on what I found worked for me.

-- Bob Heinbach

Lessons Learned by Ed Rapisardi

As I sat at my workbench, repairing a broken fly rod, I could not recall ever having broken a fly rod of my own. I am not an overly careful person so I suppose I have been lucky. That brings me to the subject of repairs and salvage. I tell all friends that they should never discard a broken rod, especially if it is an expensive rod with a lifetime warranty. Those manufacturers will forgive your own carelessness but will require all the broken parts to fulfill their lifetime warranty. If it is not an expensive rod, then by all means keep the broken parts as the rod may be repairable. Sometimes, depending on where the break is a rod can be returned to its original performance but not always. If the repair is to be made at a critical bending point, it might be just be a little stiffer because of the repair. You might need to adjust your casting stroke to get the result you want.

If it not repairable, the broken parts can be used by a repairer to make sleeves for future repairs. Sometimes metal ferrules will do but that stiffens a rod's action considerably and is necessary in repairing solid rods like old glass rods and cane rods, but on hollow graphite rods the same material is OK, but hollow glass rod sections work better as they are softer and a bit more flexible than graphite making for a better repair.

Another example of salvage is re-working a 3-piece WW2 Japanese bamboo fly rod or a non-expensive “Hardware Store” 3-piece bamboo fly rod we call “hangers” as they were a bear to cast with heavy mid-sections. Discard the butt section entirely and put a new reel seat and cork handle on what was the middle section and you will have a great little 6-foot trout rod if the sections were in good condition.

Some like a little longer rod so the alternative is to cut off the butt end of the original butt section and discard. Put a reel seat and cork handle on the remaining piece and now you have the ferrule to attach to the center section. The rod will now be about 7 feet long with the butt section shorter than the two original sections. (Most normal rods have sections of equal length.) You would be surprised at how well they cast. I have several 6-footers made from those old Japanese rods of years ago. It works well if the rod was in good condition...just a little time and patience and you will have a great rod for those tight streams of the Georgia and Carolina stocked trout streams. Good for sun fish in our many lakes down here in Florida a well.

Good fun projects such as this are what make for a good change of pace in the “off season “

Until next time, tight lines ..laugh a lot and keep your fly dry. Ed “Soggybottom” Rapisardi
(All Lessons Learned archived here.)

Minutes of the TCFF Breakfast Meeting -- April 4th

Monthly business meeting --.Pembroke Grill

Meeting called to order by Club President Tom Green -- 8:30 AM
29 guests and members present.

Minutes for previous meeting read and approved.

Treasurer's report read and approved as read for period ending 3/31/2012

Membership report given by Tom Fahey -- 45 members paid to date with hopes
of a few stragglers to move to 50.

Bill Kuggelman reported on the “Village Expo” held March 31st and April 1st. He thanked
all who participated in the 2 day event. They plan to move date to a a more suitable period for next year. Bill will be resigning as chair person for the event after many years of distinguished service to the club and Bob Murray will taking over the chair.

Tom Green reported on the upcoming “Women of the Wild” event to be held 4/21/2012 at the Circle C Gun club from 9:00 AM till dark. Tyers and casting instructors are need. Sign-up sheet available. Breakfast and lunch will be furnished.

Ed Rapisardi reported the breakfast at “Pembroke” is $8.50 per person including tax and gratuity.

This months Wednesday evening meeting will be a free pizza and drink night. Tying and casting instructions available. Hopefully this meeting will give members a chance to include their thoughts on the direction the club should be pursuing

Tom Green asked for any fishing reports or adventures from members

Bill Kuggelman mentioned the mini reunion of a group of guys
from the club that had been getting together for many years and how rewarding it had
been thru the years.

Bob Murray gave a brief report on the salt water outing at “Picnic Island”

Frank Matousek gave a report on the recent Georgia trout fishing trip which included Frank, Felix, Dave Smith and Joe Manjoine

Doug Dombeck mentioned there would be an outing to Hilochee State Park on Saturday, 4/12/2012

Tom Green reported that trout are abundant right now in the mouth of the Crystal River -- give it a try.

New business -
George Shillington -- looking for info on trolling motor parts and repair

50/50 held -- Bill Kirkchner.#764

Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Joe Manjoine

The May 10 Fresh Water outing will be at Lake Harris. Launch at Venetian Gardens at 0800, or earlier. Lunch will be at 1130 on Monkey Island in the Venetian Bay. Normal Chef Count de Dog faire will be offered. We will supply Hot Dogs, soda chips and cookies and condiments. The cost of the lunch is $3.00.

Monkey Island is within easy reach of the Venetian Gardens Boat Launch for Kayaks and Canoes.

Fishing has been good in The Ninth Street Canal, across the lake at the entrance to Helen Run, and around the deep area across the lake near the shore on a heading of 330. (you will need sinking line here for Wipers)

If you are planning to go, please let me know. We need to know the number. We need Skippers, so if you boat owners can make it, do so. We always have more people who would like to go, but cannot find a boat. Skippers and Crew will be set up at the May Breakfast meeting.