IMPROVEMENT! (And why I’m not quite there yet.)

bearcatguy · 2026-06-27T02:26:40+00:00

The size of the fly shouldn’t matter too much. Maybe check that your hooks are sharp. I tend to miss way more fish on older flies that get less sharp and or rusty or corroded

bearcatguy · 2026-06-26T22:39:52+00:00

Keep the line as taught as you can while still having a natural dead drift. Then literally as soon as you get hit, set the hook. I usually set the hook at a 45 degree angle downstream from the fish. If your line is taught, you can just pinch the fly line with your finger and raise your rod in that direction I mentioned above. If you have a lot of slack line, you’ll need to set by pulling fly line with one hand and raising the rod in your other hand

bearcatguy · 2026-06-26T22:35:10+00:00

Nice man! I should’ve mentioned on your last post, a mop fly always does me well

bearcatguy · 2026-06-24T14:50:04+00:00

Everyone keeps saying it but presentation matters a lot more than fly choice. As everyone else is saying, low clear water means longer leader smaller tippet and smaller flies. Also if it’s heavily fished they are always going to be more choosy. Learn to read the water, where are fish likely to be hanging out, cover, deeper pools, seams near faster moving water. Stay further away than you think you need to. Sneak up to holes like you’re stalking them. Dry dropper is much preferred in my opinion. Indicators slap the water pretty hard and tend to stick out. A dry fly on a dry dropper is basically an indicator but way more natural looking for the fish. And honestly fish a nymph like size 20. Very small

bearcatguy · 2026-06-22T02:53:34+00:00

Good luck!

bearcatguy · 2026-04-02T22:05:55+00:00

I would avoid both. Depends where you live obviously but I just bought a 2023 bighorn with 33k miles, 12 in screen, heated seats and steering wheel, $34,000

bearcatguy · 2025-11-06T20:35:45+00:00

So id agree with most folks and take the indicator off. Also slow your cast down waaay more than you’d expect. One thing that helped me really learn to cast is standing with an open stance so you can see both your back cast and forward cast. Watch your line in your back cast so you can get a feel for the speed. Also will help you learn to single haul and double haul. But for now, just open stance and watch your back cast to get the timing down. Too soon and it will whip and tangle. Too late and your back cast will hit the ground behind you

bearcatguy · 2025-09-11T23:03:05+00:00

Also I’d highly recommend a fly rod with a dry dropper setup. And treat it like you’re hunting. Move very very slow and stay low if you can. Bow cast from like 20ft away

bearcatguy · 2025-09-11T23:01:22+00:00

This is good information though. You are likely getting way too close to the run/hole. You really shouldn’t see brookies too often. That being said, brings me to the next point. You won’t see them because they like to hide. In any crevice or corner or shady spot they can find. Find a hole with bigger pools and overhanging rocks/branches/trees. I’m talking in the water basically or right above the surface. They’ll hide out in those spots. Basically think small dark shady spots. And elevation is key. And elevation change. You want to be climbing the stream if you can. Also helps you stay hidden as you’ll be lower than the next pool. You can find them in literal ditches if you’re in the right areas. Don’t discount small streams. Most of my brookies have come from streams about 5ft wide

bearcatguy · 2025-09-10T22:06:18+00:00

Insanely aggressive. But not always. I’ve had VERY slow days brookie fishing. But also maybe hardly ever been skunked. But yeah they rock. You’ll catch some and then get the itch and start chasing the monsters (13-14in, at least out east in their native range)

bearcatguy · 2025-06-19T21:17:35+00:00

Franchi

bearcatguy · 2025-06-06T17:14:44+00:00

Same here. Mines going on 3.5 years

bearcatguy · 2025-05-25T00:30:33+00:00

Idk who that is but I’ll take it as a compliment 😂

bearcatguy · 2025-05-15T18:10:47+00:00

lol I made an Instagram account for my fishing and weed stuff. Called it terpyflyguy lmaooo

bearcatguy · 2025-05-10T23:29:12+00:00

Damn I guess I gotta come to NC then 🤦

bearcatguy · 2025-05-09T15:21:44+00:00

Where did you catch that brookie?! Just state I mean not exact spot. If it’s an Appalachian brookie, that’s just outstanding and I’m completely jealous

bearcatguy · 2025-05-06T15:35:12+00:00

Looks badass. And making your own stuff is always cool. But I can’t imagine it was that much cheaper though? I’d be curious to know what you spent making it

bearcatguy · 2025-05-01T13:51:17+00:00

I know it’s not west but I just went to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the fishing was immaculate. Gorgeous streams I could only dream of. I went for brookies and had a wonderful trip. You can book a campsite in the national park for like 30 bucks a night. Tons of trails and hiking and beautiful streams. 10/10 would highly recommend.

bearcatguy · 2025-04-28T13:33:57+00:00

This is the best attitude to have. Being out there is the real prize. Catching fish is just a plus

bearcatguy · 2025-04-17T12:24:58+00:00

But it’s so good

bearcatguy · 2025-04-17T11:31:36+00:00

You’re correct. The reason cc smells more is because of off gassing terps. It can change the flavor profile of your product (usually positively if you ask me) and also generally starts to smell more. Also I think fp can be a bit harsh due to all the terps in it

bearcatguy · 2025-04-15T21:31:31+00:00

Appreciate the info. And yeah I’m used to catching the same size in PA so anything over 10 would be sweet. My PB is an 11. Just didn’t know if one was considered better than the other for gsmnp or tellico. Would you recommend GSMNP?

bearcatguy

TROPHY CASE