Welcome to Warm Fly.THE source for warmwater fly fishing. If you love warmwater fly fishing, this site is for you! Warm Fly is dedicated to that elite group of fly fishermen who love the tug of a bluegill, bass, crappie or other warmwater species on a fly rod.
The Friday Spotlight is on my dear friend Mike Hawkins. Mike is organizing the Ark-La-Tex Tie In. All proceeds from this event will go to Project Healing Waters! Please read Mike's letter below and make every effort to attend!
Folks,
Project Healing Waters is a group that started in Washington D.C. that works with wounded returning soldiers that either fly fished before they were injured and want to adapt whatever injury they have and get back into fishing, or some that have never fly fished before and want to use fly-fishing, fly-tying or rod building for therapy.
We have just formed the Ark-La-Tex Chapter of PHW, and I am on the board. I am organizing our first fund raising event in Longview, TX. This will be a joint effort with the North Louisiana Fly Fishers (Shreveport) and East Texas Fly Fishers (Longview). All the proceeds go to Project Healing Waters. The clubs will keep none of the money raised, and all expenses will be covered by the clubs. I am calling it the “Ark La Tex Tie In”. It will be at the Gregg County Historical Museum on August 21 from 9am to 4pm. I am planning on having a fly swap between at least 13 tiers (a baker’s dozen) to have to raffle off. In addition, the Learning Center room will be filled with fly tiers from the region with additional flies as part of another raffle. Temple Fork Outfitters will give me a couple of their special “Project Healing Waters Rods” for the raffle and I hope to add to the list.
I have attached a link to the Project Healing Waters web page and a special youtube clip you have to see. Every time I watch it I am inspired and humbled. Every time I go fishing I take for granted what this guy struggles to accomplish.
While perusing the TFO website, I discovered that the Gary Loomis Freshwater Series conventional rods included a Spin/Fly model.Curiosity got the best of me, so I ordered two for my shop and one for me. The rod is a 6-foot, two-piece model, and the blank is a very attractive dark motor oil color. It’s a moderate/fast action rod. For spin casting, the power is listed as Ultra Light with a lure weight of 1/32 – 1/8 oz., with lines ranging from 2- to 6-pound test. (The rod also comes in a one-piece configuration.)
I took the rod out to a local pond with my grandson Henry for a little product research. I cast the rod with fly lines ranging from 3 to 6-weight and found that I had the best performance with the 5-weight line. I was able to cast 55 to 60 feet with the little 6-foot rod with no problem.
I love the design of the reel seat/grip. The synthetic reel rings held the reel tight and there was absolutely no wiggle from the reel. The reel seat worked as well for the spinning reel as it did for the fly reel. The grip is made of grade “A" cork and is very attractive.
Next, grandson Henry wanted to try the rod with a spinning reel. I was able to quickly remove the fly reel, which I had located towards the end of the grip, and mount the spinning reel. I mounted the spinning reel in the middle of the grip. Henry was able to make nice, long, accurate casts with a small beetle spin. He caught a few bluegills but told me they were too small for a photograph. He’s a true catch and release fisherman.
My opinion: The rod is handsome, extremely well made, versatile, casts like a dream and a bargain at only $99.95. It would be a great addition to any warmwater or coldwater angler’s repertoire of fly-fishing equipment.If you have any questions about the rod, please give me a call or drop by the shop if you would like to test cast.
Larry Offner - Green Trout Fly Shop - 219 Range Ave. - Denham Springs, LA - 225-978-1945 - www.greentroutflyshop.com
Show your support for the fishing guides that have their business along lower Plaquemines Parish and visit PlaqueminesFlyGuides.com.Capt. Alec Griffin of Louisiana Flywater has created a website and is currently selling a t-shirt for friends to show their support of our guides during the largest oil spill in history.
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to paddle a Freedom 12 kayak at the LSU Lakes in Baton Rouge, LA.Be sure read my review titled “Freedom 12 Kayak” in the “Product Review” board of the Warm Fly Forum.
World famous angler Flip Pallot has joined Temple Fork Outfitters, TFO President Rick Pope announced on Wednesday.
Pallot is the latest addition to the fishing tackle company’s growing team of experts, who already include Bernard “Lefty” Kreh, Gary Loomis, Ed Jaworowski, Nick Curcione and Bob Clouser.
“This is very big for us,” Pope said, describing Pallot as a longtime friend. “From his incredibly successful Walker’s Cay Chronicles, to his work as an author and teacher, Flip complements our goal of increasing participation in, and awareness of, fishing by offering the best possible combination of price and performance in fishing rods.”
Pallot’s responsibilities will include helping to design high-performance rods, developing educational programs and participating in the company’s general business planning, Pope said.
Kreh, who first introduced Pallot to Pope nearly 30 years ago, shared the enthusiasm.
“I am delighted that my old friend and fishing buddy Flip Pallot has joined the TFO Advisory Staff,” Kreh said. “Together I am sure we will come up with some products that will make TFO customers happy and help teach us all how to catch more fish.”
Pallot said he is grateful for the opportunity with Temple Fork.
“TFO has given me a chance to play in the same stadium with Lefty Kreh, Gary Loomis and the rest of my Temple Fork Family,” he said. “I must be dreaming!”
PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM TFO PRESIDENT RICK POPE:
I first met Flip Pallot nearly 30 years ago while he worked as a guide in South Florida – thanks to a recommendation from one of his mentors, Lefty Kreh. My first day on the front of his flats boat in Biscayne Bay, I knew he was a special person. His passion for the species we sought, for the environment and for perfecting the techniques necessary to succeed as both an angler and outdoorsman continue to be an inspiration to me.
Through decades of spending time around a campfire together, sharing hunting and fishing stories, business philosophies, personal successes and tragedies, we became best of friends. From rigging tarpon leaders to rigging duck decoys, from sharpening knives to cooking, I’ve seen him solve problems with great planning and insight - and I, like so many others, have benefitted from his wisdom and willingness to share ideas. From his incredibly successful Walker’s Cay Chronicles, to his work as an author and teacher, Flip complements our goal of increasing participation in, and awareness of, fishing by offering the best possible combination of price and performance in fishing rods.
Yes, we have a winner of the Soft Hackle tying contest! The announcement can be found in the Soft Hackle Contest Board of the Warm Fly Forum. Congratulations winners!
