Dave

Smerchly those flys are 2 inches and under...

Thanks Tyler, I think it will be my last trip there for a while....

Some new patterns going back to Cuba..Kind of excited about the Bastard Crab with the legs tied top side.Should have great action on the drop.More of the usual Gotcha style patterns but with more hot colours added...

I would be casting 2/5 Cleo's (blue/silver) on the lake side.....

Thats awesome !! New Zealand is a dream destination for fly fisherman. I definitely couldn't do over 20 hours in a plane at this age lol...Have a good trip!

Sorry to hear about your health issues Flyfisher....Heres a picture for inspiration....

These work to........

I might try more kayak this year...

Probably get the spey out soon for steelhead I hope. Then Lake O shoreline should start for Browns end of March. Will be in Cuba mid April for vacation with Bones and Barracuda...Then out to Cape Cod beginning of June for Stripers..Then off to Buckhorn for family vacation and Bass opener...Back to Lake Erie kayak and the Grand wading for the rest of the summer....And I'm sure some fishing in between 😆

Cayo Coco.

Thanks, probably going back in April. Its getting harder every year to fish southern Ontario in the winter 😆

I don't mess around now, ever since I had some skin cancer removed from my face..Now I wear swim tights under my shorts.I also have neoprene socks that come up to lower calf, as well as Saltwater flats boots.I have very little skin exposed now..I've also been stung by jellyfish in the lagoons so I'm hoping the swim tights will be an extra protective layer.. All you fisherman should be wearing SPF 50 sunscreen and protective sun clothing.Skin cancer doesn't show up until latter in life.Trust me many friends and relatives have had it.I dress almost the same way in Lake Erie when I'm in the kayak now..

So happens Cuba was having some of its worse cold fronts in 20 years according to some..This made some of the fish disappear in certain areas.Fishing was tough, cold water, and lots of wind...Add Christmas and my buddies birthday to the mix I didn't get out a whole lot...Last day with the guide made up for everything, landed 6 and dropped another 3.Mostly respectable sized Bones in the Lagoons and hit one small Cuda.As always I learned a lot about stalking fish on the flats...

Yes Smerch the Bonefish in Cuba can get big.They are also extremely spooky and can run at 40 mph..Typical water depth for fishing is knee to ankles.A 5-6lb. fish can open up your hook if the drag is set too tight...The fish at the top is a Mutton Snapper.I never new you could catch them in the shallows.Fights as good as a Bonefish but different..

I've been to Cuba so many times I can work a Cuban buffet and eat like a king.But I agree if you can't adapt not the place for you.I get budget guiding in the Lagoons for $200 USD and can get in some diy..

Decided to tie up some different patterns for Cuba this winter.I've already got lots of Tan Crab patterns so decided Olive green would be the next choice..Also a few micro sized crabs for the lagoon..My first attempt at a glue together fly tedious to build to say the least...Hopefully it wont blow apart casting.A few Barracuda flys at the top and some gotcha variations top right..

How much is the yearly pass DarrylL?

Had a visit with my local Bass expert.I can't say enough about the great advice at Peter's Tackle and Caden..Actually the whole staff there are very knowledgeable.He set me straight with colours and presentation.Seems I wasn't that far off with what I was doing.. I think I just have to give it a chance when I switch over techniques...Wind looks good today,I'll be out there....

I'm kind of new to spin fishing as I've been a life long Fly guy...I have been doing well fishing NED rigs all summer but thats about it...Since I'm in the kayak I'm mostly fishing 7-12ft..A close by boat was doing well with tubes but when ever I try, no success..What are your go to colours and sizes.I dont have lots, but probably all the necessary Pumpkin Green Colours in mini to large 4 inch..Should I be focussing on baitfish colours...My heaviest jig weighs 9 grams which is 5/16 oz but I bet they were labelled 3/8..I think I'm getting good bottom contact while on a "crawling" retrieve.. After getting Large fish on a small finesse TRD. I lack a little confidence when I put on a 4 inch tube!!

Grand is weed choked right now with lots of floating weeds...This happens every year triggered by cooler temperatures that we had a few weeks ago.But the weed growth seems excessive this year..Now that the flow has dropped there will be no way to flush it out.. I've been fishing Lake Erie shoreline in the Yak and it continues to produce...

I've used both Seafoam and a similar STP product.I found it great for my small engines.Also acts as gas stabilizer but you guys probably know that.I did mention using it in both our vehicles at home and mechanic said "it can cause more harm than good" hmmmm....

Yes, I've heard the ice jam theory as well and it does make sense.That doesn't explain how it dropped off north of Paris in Glenmorris unless they had the same winter freeze up, after all it is a very shallow river.I think it was tremendous fishing pressure as well as right about that time it exploded with guys kayak fishing those stretches..If you think C&R guarantees no fish kill, well I know I've released some bleeders..I'm sure there is fish mortality no matter what.Also my suspicion is some don't follow rules in the C&R zone...I remember almost getting fined by a CO back in the 90's for a barbed Woolly Bugger!! I haven't seen a CO in years...Also I wonder what impact all those watercraft from the Grand river rafting company have..Hundreds of people doing a float in one day..Never mind all the kayaks, rafts, those damn rubber ducky floaters would drive me crazy..I stopped fishing that circus act years ago..Its ok after labour day thou.I can find nice fish else where but its a lot more work now..

So 6wt. will be fine for local river Smallmouth. I use a 6wt weight myself for river fishing.A #6 gets a little tough in the wind and with bulky flys..I would recommend you start off with the Grand.You can catch Smallmouth ,Walleye, and even Catfish on the fly. I used to always fish the exceptional waters from Paris to Brant conservation area, it is a designated C&R zone..Fishing has really declined there last few years.The summer canoe traffic is also hellish but most ends on labour day..A good upper zone is Glenmorris. You can fish starting at Caledonia and work your way down for the lower stretch..I'm going to avoid giving out my mostly fished areas..I use only weighted flies but perhaps you don't need to..Here is what you need to start with to get fish with out overwhelming you with fly patterns, all size #4.Olive over white Clouser minnow, Bead head Black and olive wooly buggers..The same colours in a rabbit strip zonker pattern..Olive Sculpin patterns!!!!...There are of course other patterns that work...I posted some of the flies I use in another thread on the site...Put rubber legs in those wooly buggers!!

Awesome tell us how you make out.Watch that wind before you go..I started using windy.com lately but have been using windfinder.com for years to..

No all on NED rigs.But bite was good enough to bring one I guess.Decided to try more late season spin fishing on Erie going forth.. So appears I have an ankle sprain to add to the bruising I took in the boat launch..Like a dummy I fished on it twice this week. Now icing and resting....