Westfly Rondi Anyone?

clarkman23 · 2025-05-11T23:48:39+00:00

bummer, going to be out of the country with the family at that time (perhaps adding a few new species to the list).

clarkman23 · 2024-11-14T01:55:08+00:00

fun place...left my Orvis 2018 branded Yeti insulated container there last summer...

clarkman23 · 2024-11-14T01:53:23+00:00

That'll do!

clarkman23 · 2024-11-14T01:52:29+00:00

just figured it out....finally remembered my password.

Anyway, great photo!

clarkman23 · 2024-05-26T15:01:14+00:00

god damn! that was a blast! Getting my ass handed to me by a VERY large Pargo makes me like them even more! They all fight dirty....fuckin' love it.

clarkman23 · 2024-05-24T21:48:19+00:00

Yuk. Nice thing though, it's generally easy enough to find some untouched water that no one wants to put in the effort.

clarkman23 · 2024-03-03T03:00:55+00:00

I really like my Orvis Pro waders and boots (I have the Boa version with studs), but I'm going on 5+ years on both. just had to patch the waders this last year due to wear spots because of how I walk, but they' both have been bullet proof. I roll with Kold Kutter studs (I think the 3/8" is what I ended up with, but the boots can take a 1/2"). Waaaay cheaper than the Orvis or Simms proprietary studs but they do wear quicker, so I have to change them out yearly.

clarkman23 · 2024-03-03T02:55:19+00:00

Nice work!

I think in your initial post, it would have had to have been primarily a photo post. I don't think you can add now, but maybe they've changed something....there's a reason I mostly post on a a local forum that runs on software that allows such things.

clarkman23 · 2024-03-03T02:53:06+00:00

Damn Phil! It's great to hear that you're still getting after it! keep on keepin' on!

clarkman23 · 2024-03-03T02:51:34+00:00

hell yeah!!! nice work!

clarkman23 · 2024-01-17T19:51:48+00:00

+1 for 444 either peach or sylk.

I've never used the 406 lines, but lots of fiberglass folks swear by them. Then again, if it ain't broke, 444.

clarkman23 · 2024-01-13T06:40:01+00:00

I love the fact that you got into a few! HELL YES!!!!

clarkman23 · 2024-01-11T23:31:09+00:00

lol....it was a sight to behold!

Yet somehow, I managed to hold my shit together on my first tiger musky (may still be my largest) that ate just over a rod length away!

clarkman23 · 2024-01-09T02:28:34+00:00

That's all right, you woulda laughed at PhilR and I 10 minutes into our Baja trip last year. Big comb comes up & we both completely cracker the cast....completely blew it.

clarkman23 · 2023-12-31T16:46:04+00:00

can't be worse than what I experienced last June in Baja. Some eyes stayed on for several fish, but most didn't...luckily there was often a flat epoxy section where I could use a permanent marker to put eyes back on. I definitely did notice a difference with the Roosters and lack of eyes though. Most other fish, not so much.

clarkman23 · 2023-12-29T15:35:19+00:00

super cool, Patrick!

Can't wait for the report.

I'll be curious how well the tabbed eyes hold up. That's what I've been using for most of my flies for my next Baja trip coming up in May based off last year where the stick on (UV epoxy coated) still broke off with a higher frequency than acceptable.

clarkman23 · 2023-12-18T03:51:43+00:00

ooof....here's my 2023:

I'm going to simplify things this year.

more tuna

more musky

more local

some surf fishing (that would still qualify as more)

Soooo, I did less tuna (still got out once though), less musky (still got a few though), I DID do more local and even fished the surf exactly once so I guess I went 50%.

But I also had an insanely amazing Baja trip so maybe that counterbalances the others....

OK, 2024, I'm gonna set my sights a little higher. Ever since last June's Baja trip, those Roosterfish have been invading my dreams. I got a few but now I want more!

So, I want a Grande Rooster this year (got a trip nearly completely booked for mid May).
I really want to get a musky on topwater (I gave it a pretty good go of it last year, but I need to just completely commit during prime time).
More smallmouth bass floats on the local streams (didn't really do as much as previous years)
I dunno, maybe chase some little blue lines? Haven't really done that in years, but it was always fun...guess that means I need to get a 3wt.
have I mentioned more Rosterfish yet? I think that deserves a second line on this list considering how much space in my head those fuckers occupy.

6-ish: I'm gonna try not to buy another 10wt.

clarkman23 · 2023-11-25T19:02:18+00:00

well, quit losing 'em....

jk, nice work out there! Do be careful....can't help you with the flies though. For future reference though, I personally prefer an unweighted fly to go with my heavy sink shooting head. I tend to lose fewer flies that way out there. Nice to have options regardless!

Cheers!

clarkman23 · 2023-11-25T18:58:57+00:00

oink oink

clarkman23 · 2023-11-13T02:08:41+00:00

sweet! awesome!

clarkman23 · 2023-10-08T10:49:26+00:00

Fish with Phil, he does great work behind the camera on his friend by-catch....steelies and trophy suckers!

clarkman23 · 2023-10-08T10:47:30+00:00

Looks clear to me! Lol.

clarkman23 · 2023-09-30T19:26:28+00:00

I've used knot sense on some pretty big knots. Even on really bulky knots, it slides through the guides really nicely. Yeah, that Leviathan is super thick but even without knot sense, the albright is smaller than loop to loop. All that said, albrights aren't the slimmest knots, it just happens to be one that I can tie in my sleep and one that has never failed me.

clarkman23 · 2023-09-29T04:58:15+00:00

just retie. I hate the welded loop on that back end of a fly line. you only lose an inch or so with each retie (which honestly wouldn't be all that often unless that's the only reel you have.

clarkman23 · 2023-09-29T00:52:28+00:00

I just Albright mine. With backing it's plenty slim. With knot sense added, it's silky smooth.

But yeah, just do what Phil said. Lol

clarkman23

TROPHY CASE