Fly fishing with the boys!

Ethan holds a nice Black creek pike.

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to take the boys out for a little fly fishing at one of our favorite WNY warm water fisheries.

Black creek is one of those spots that never really disappoints. Sure, there are those days when the fishing is a little on the slow side, or maybe you don’t quit get that “big” fish you were looking for. But when a slow day is catching 20-30 bluegill, small bass, and crappie and that big fish happens to be a 14” inch smallmouth bass instead of that 19” inch bronze back you were hoping for….well….it really isn’t that bad!

Ethan and his sucker

On this trip however the fishing was just fine, and having the company of my two boys was even better.

We started our little adventure right near the spillway and eventually worked our way downstream before heading back up for a few last minute casts before the trip back home.

The fast water right near the spillway proved to be very productive as my youngest son Ethan hooked several nice bluegill and I, a nice pike, which my son very enthusiastically fought and landed for me. My oldest (Jonathan) worked a section just below us and eventually hooked a few fish for himself. 

We then made our way downstream and fished a section of the creek that resembled more of a trout stream. Here we picked up plenty of small largemouth and smallmouth along with some rock bass.

Jonathan with his sucker

Ethan then took a break and walked around for a bit, eventually wading down to a slower section of the creek, just below where Jonathan and I were fishing. It didn’t take long for him to spot some very large suckers and carp working the head of a long pool.

For the next thirty to forty minutes the boys and I had lots of fun trying to get some interest from the fish. And in the end persistence paid off and both boys were able to play a few and even land a fish for each of them.

Ethan's smallmouth bass

Our afternoon ended with a few “last casts” back up in the slower section, a good 90 feet or so below the dam. Ethan and I picked up a nice largemouth and then a few casts later a rather large carp intercepted our olive bugger and Ethan grabbed the 5 weight and tried as hard as he could to turn the fish. Within the next few minutes the carp tore off all of the fly line, took a right turn up at the spillway, and proceeded to break the leader off on a rock.

The largemouth before the carp!

Ethan could only stand there in awe of the power of his first carp battle on the fly rod. And even though he lost that round, he has since vowed to get back there and land one all by himself. And when we get that chance, I’m sure he will.

All in all another great fly fishing adventure with the boys!

Fishing with the kids

Ethan with his first bass of the spring

After looking through a few recent posts from Cameron Mortenson of the famed Fiberglass Manifesto I had to get after it! And I'm happy to say I finally did it. It took a lot of time to get there, but I did it.

I finally got the kids out fishing this spring – YES!

In fact, I was able to spend a little time with them on two separate occasions for some really great warm water fishing.

Last week after my son’s baseball practice we had a little time before work so we hit up a local pond to see what was swimming. 

The pond looked great and there were fish everywhere in the shallows. Even the bigger bass were easy to spot - Fish that my boys referred to as “2 footers.” And even though they did not get to hook into any of those fish, they did manage to hook and land plenty of large bluegill and a small largemouth or two. 

Jonathan with one of many sunfish and bluegill for him

Our next adventure landed all three kids and myself at one of our favorite warm water destinations – Black Creek. This is the place where all my kids have had plenty of great fly fishing successes in the past, and today would be no different. 

My oldest son quickly went to work with his five weight custom JP Ross fly rod and landed the first fish of the day – a gorgeous smallmouth bass which by the looks of it, had been feeding rather recently.

The other two had their spin cast rods working in overdrive – sending lures flying everywhere. It’s amazing that they don’t get snagged more often than they do. But the excitement that comes with tossing lures changed after Jonathan’s next fish.

Jonathan with a fine Black Creek smallie

While I was working with the two younger kids (most likely untangling lines) Jonathan had moved to another spot just downstream from a father and son who had been catching some very nice fish while using shiners for bait. He began to fish his streamer upstream and jig it back down next to shore. He soon got a fish to respond but after a quick head shake or two it was off. He raised his line to check the fly and discovered he had been bitten off – PIKE!  I searched through my bag for some heavier tippet and another fly. Ten pound test was all I had, and that would have to work. After re-rigging his line he went back at it. Within the next few minutes he managed to hook up again and this time he won out. And even better, he landed his first ever pike on a fly!

Jonathan holds his first ever fly caught pike

That was it! The other two now wanted a fly rod of their own. So back to the car we went. After a few minutes of re-rigging two more rods, we headed down stream. Again Jonathan hooks up first, and when he said “trout!” I had to ask again what he said, as I have never seen a trout in this warm water stream. And sure enough it was a brown trout. But as he was working it up close to shore, it pulled free. 

Katie ended up rounding out the day with nice little smallmouth bass of her own before she and Ethan decided they had had enough and began to play in the water.

Jonathan and I fished a little more but found no other willing fish so we called it a day and headed home. What a great day!

Katie with her smallie

I am constantly amazed by my kids, and their ability to try new things, including fly fishing. And I'm so glad that they enjoy being out there with Dad, tossing flies at fish. I feel truly blessed!