Quick trip down to the in-laws in West Palm Beach and was able to hit the golf ponds on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday:
Overcast, in the high 70's and very very little wind. The water levels were super low, so a lot of structures were on the banks to be fished. Fished from 1600-1830.
I felt like a champion thrower of flies. With my trusty 7-WT and concentration on improving my casting technique...I was able to throw a popper really well. Put it where I wanted at the short and longer distances I was aiming at, it was grand. AND I CAUGHT FISH (see pics). Bunch of bluegills, some bass, and this non-native red-ish fish that fought like all the other fish put together.
Sunday:
Sunny and windy...pretty darn strong and constant wind. I was forced to fish from 1400-1700 (so not optimal).
I tried a popper with a drop fly (muddler minnow-black), no luck. Tried weighted streamers and wolly buggers...no luck. Went top water and no luck there either (expect loosing my last poppers to so trees). So I was skunked Sunday, except for the 5ft alligator watching me from the other side of the pond.
Question: I can throw my line with a fly or popper just fine. I have a weight forward 7-wt and about a 7' leader/tippet combo tied with blood knots (8lb tippet). I mean I can really get distance on that rig and lay the fly right down nicely. The second I put any weighted fly or a big bass popper on it's like I am trying to throw a line of boiled spaghetti off my rod. The line loads up, but it goes forward like crap and the leader/tippet just flops down in front of me. Same exact set up....just a heavier fly. What's up with this? Do I need to shorten my leader (I also had the problem with the popper/drop fly combo...it just flopped all over the place).
Thanks for any assistance.
Collin